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The Thrill
Show
Who’s Joie
Chitwood? As we enter this Senior Moment, would you think back then there
would be a day that question couldn’t be answered? While the William
Curley’s pictures from the Dan Fleenor Thunderbird Hell Drivers appearance
at Vineland Speedway in June of 1958, may light memories for you, there are
some Vault reader who may wonder “What is the slide for life?”
Does Dan Fleenor have the “look” as he posses for a shot with Vineland
promoter Bill Nocco? Wearing the high top boots and the motorcycle riding
“britches”, the essence of thrill show mystic begins.
The basic thrill show “Death Defying” stunts I recall were: the cross overs
and introductions, the Clown and his appearances between stunt set-up times,
the slide for life, the human battering ram with the wall of fire, tunnel of
fire on a motorcycle, the “iron chest” as a man is run over by the wheel of
a car or truck, the roll-over contest, T-Bone crash, the ramp-to-ramp jump ,
the reverse spin and in later years balancing the car on tw0 wheels.
Wow! The T-Bone crash was spectacular! Wouldn’t we like to have that sedan
body today? Where’s the driver? Usually bent over with his arms wrapped
around the front seat on the passenger’s side, as the lean back was removed
before the show.
The finale was a Ramp- to - Ramp jump in a 1955(?) T-Bird! I wonder how long
the suspension on the jump car lasted ?
By today’s standard of motorsports events, drifting and the extremes on
cycles, it’s easy to see why the thrill show faded into history.
Last question for those who were there in the day, do you have your lucky
token? The one with the horse shoe and thrill show name on it?
Senior Moment by Russ Dodge
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