o/t but which automotive personality would you make a movie about?

It would be an epic adventure about the fearless leader of the Orlando traditional hot rod scene, and all of the fonzie wannabes that clamor to gain his favor.

"Nads Max, Beyond Poserdom"

Two men enter, one man leaves!!!

Bust a deal, spin the wheel!!!


Just kidding Nadeem. Me love you long time.

 

For movies you do need something other than cool fabrication techniques.
Hows about DeLorean, What the heck is his first name?. He had it all - $$ / women / fame and a car with HIS name on it. Tried to pul an Easy Rider coke deal to save his failing car company and wound up with free orange overalls and a mountain of debt.
Sounds like the American dream.. or nightmare.

PS The DeLorean was built in Belfast wasn't it?.


Powerband - (Soon in a theater near you!.)

 

Caroll Shelby.

 

ooh yah!!! but just stop before the the Omni incedent!

 

I drove one of those.

Years ago when I tried to be a car salesman, (McCrackin Ford, Pittsburgh PA) a bunch of high school kids came in and wanted to test a black Shelby turbo Omni GLH-S (Goes Like Hell-Somemore~no shit!). "If I like it, my MOM will buy it for me", the 16 year old boy said. Uh-huh, I thought, but it was the end of the day, I was bored, pissed off because these were my only customers that day, so I said, "Sure, what the hell".

The "customer" took the shotgun seat and his two douchebag friends wedged themselves in the back. I pull out onto McKnight Road and mash the gas. Not much happened at first, and I thought, "This car's a do-" when the turbo kicked in suddenly. I had just enough time to recover from the near-whiplash to keep it from torque-steering itself onto the sidewalk, then I remembered to upshift so the valves weren't floating for TOO long. I turned right onto Evergreen Road, a winding, narrow two lane and showed the boys what it would do in the twisties. "Uh, dude, could you slow it down a little?" the kid said. "Don't worry", I lied, "I've got a competition license!"

I found a place to pull it over and asked him if he'd like to drive it back to the dealer's. "Uh that's OK". I figured they had enough abuse and I drove back like an undertaker. They were all about two shades whiter when they got out.

Next day, the kid's mother comes to the dealer looking for me. She wanted to see the car her son checked out. The kid wasn't lying! I took her out to the lot only to find the GLH-S had a big F-150 print on the driver's side; left there by the stupid lot attendant after I went home. No sale. He would have killed himself in it anyway.

I was as good at selling cars as Shelby was at chicken farming.

 

oh,hell yeah! sunbeam tigers , a.c. cobras, 427 cobras, that sexy daytona coupe,his own racing career as well as mentoring others careers?more damn records than a fully loaded ipod? oh, HELL YES!!! I would pay to see it in theatres,buy the t-shrt,and the dvd! Too bad whorellywood would fuck it up. maybe some "indie" guy will make it but hwood would do it wrong . Steve McQuenn made "Gran Prix" as a movie about and for RACERS.{or was it "le mans"}but it was not a big draw even for McQuenn fans

 

Mike, I totally agree that Lockhart would be a sensational movie subject. The man was so fast that he set a lap record at San Jose in, I think, '27 that stood for 20 years! Tragic ending, of course.

Considering that we're talking about MOVIES here, as in motion pictures, as in action, it's the superhuman drivers that would make good action film and good stories. Some more, most already mentioned:

Doug Wolfgang
E.J.Potter
Willie Borsch
Stirling Moss
Juan Manuel Fangio

Although with the irreplaceable vehicles involved and the near-magic driving skills, any of these would probably have to be CGI projects. Fun to think about.

 

I just remembered that there was rumbling of a movie about sprint car racing several years ago that was to star Terry Bradshaw and Mel Tillis. I thought that sounded like a total hoot!

 

With his partner Duane by his side ready to defend his partner at all costs...including his life.

 

I think that the Mickey Thompson story would be interesting. From a race driver to a race promotor to a guy who did questionable business, to a guy that was murdered along with his wife. Lot's of action and conspiracy-- good makings for a hollywood movie.

I'll also classify Sonny Barger as an automotive personality of sorts... I think a movie on his adventures is coming out, and should prove to be real good.

-scott noteboom

 

thats is...either that or delorean...it needs ups and downs...and mt and dmc have both...drama

 

nothing quite like a good bit of turbo lag to wake up your day.

I worked at a Porsche/ Audi shop for a summer. The owner had an eraly 90's 750 Bimmer sedan that he had converted over to twin turbo. I am guessing the smaller turbo was kinda toast, cause cruising down the fwy on day at 75 some dude cut me off so i mashed the gas to dodge him...nothing (3 seconds go by) and proceeded to smoke the meats up to 100 getting really squirrely and scaring the piss out of myself.

 

Yeah, I read about that awhile ago and I think John Goodman is portraying Roth in the film.

 

Easy to think that it won't happen if Hollywood has anything to say about it.

Then again, maybe.

Hollywood's got it's troubles right now and it ain't just because they've been doing movies by committee.

Hollywood's been losing money, they recently announced they won't be making as many movies as they had been.
Along with that, the big stars have agreed to take pay cuts.

$20 Mill per big star per movie?
C'mon.

Course, compare that with what the movie makes and it seems reasonable.
Comparing movie star pay with the CEO of Exxon's published yearly pay of $146 Mill per year and maybe it's a bargain.

The general public is getting tired of Hollywood pushing their overly liberal PC agenda and the weird cowboys movie is but one.

Seems like America got tired of the Sarandon's, Robbin's and Garafalo's insulting our troops.
They've cooled it a bit, but it doesn't make any difference, I wouldn't go to or tune in their movies anyway

Mainstream America doesn't seem to forget.
Anyone remember the Dixie Chicks?
Talented girls, but they seemed to have cut their own throats.


Along with that, a writers board I frequent notes that Hollywood seems to be lacking in the telling-a-good-story department.
I agree there.

We need Lucas to do another American Graffiti style movie.
Obviously with a different plot and maybe even a different viewpoint, perhaps into the early 60's muscle car era with a little harder edge.

Something along the lines of serious street racers and for Chrissake's, get it right.

We don't need another Fast and Fluky or whatever the hell it was....

 

Hollywood needs to pull its head out of it's ass, yes. But there is more to it than people aren't watching movies (there has been a downward trend in movie ticket sales now for a while.)

I don't remember the last movie i saw in theaters. do you?

But what i was thinking about is while there have been many good movies lately they all seem to have been small budget with good margins (as a project manager i appreciate this), it seems that for now large budget/ huge block buster movies have slowly gone by the wayside.

Even the Lord of the Rings Trilogy cost around something like 40 million per movie to make and market (i maybe wrong) which still translated to a 120 million cash out lay and 10 years of work...though it made well over the billion dollar marker

"the slow and the languid" may have sucked but it did very well and represented a aspect of society's mental image of itself.

I think that movies need to focus more on making of films that actually present an experience, tell a story well, or present an arguement. Rather then just pander mindless drivel to the masses.

George Clooneys' work this year has been phenomenal. Brokeback mountain might talk about gay cowboys but may be a good movie (it definately has drawn attention).

It seems to me that movies today seem to do better if they are spread by word of mouth rather than an advertising blitz.
sorry for the ramblings...

 

Co-starring Christopher Titus!

 

Topgun.



Excellent points fur biscuit.

I imagine I sound a little disappointed in today's offerings from Tinsel Town and in truth I am.

I like movies, they're a terrific escape from the real world for at least a little while.
Even so, I haven't seen too many offerings lately that intrigue me enough to drag off to the theater.

Most of them I watch today are on tape or disc.

I have been enjoying Turner's classic western oaters recently.
It's a trip back in time to when we tossed our dimes at the ticket lady and watched the latest John Wayne, Bob Steele, Tom Mix et al.
Fun stuff on a Saturday afternoon.

What changed all of that for me was seeing the original "Hot Rod" film.
The one with all the roadsters.
It was a life altering experience....

 

Ummm...actually, there were some other guys running then who did pretty good too.

Sox & Martin
Gapp & Roush
Bob Glidden

Grumpy lost a few races y'know.

I bet a Roush movie would be good...it'd draw in the NASCAR crowd and his early exploits on the dragstrip are almost unknown, but shouldn't be.


Shelby would be a great subject...he's still making things happen.

Others?
Miller
Ricardo
Offenhauser
Petty
Barris
McMullen

Mickey Thompson is also a good call, as is Garlits.
DeLorean would have "Hollywood" appeal, no doubt.

But, will anyone ever make the big investment to tell the story of hot rodding, and will they do it with the respect it deserves and the accuracy it requires?

I'd rather have no movie than a bad movie. "World's Fastest Indian" has set the bar pretty high. Let's hope that if such a film is launched about our hobby, they'll try and do at least as good a job of it.

~Scotch~

 

What about Vic Edelbrock Sr.?

 

Thats why A. The Worlds Fastest Indian is doing so well and B. How Donaldson got Hopkins to play Burt in a 2 bit low budget monster of a movie

Next up keep up the Kiwi Flavour with Bruce McLaren or the Bruce and Denny show (how a hick from the sticks and his mate cleaned up Can Am)....

I too reckon Smokey Yunick would be a good story, but there are heaps of others Garlits and Evel Kinevel....

 

This guy.

And I am surprised noone mentioned

 

I didnt see it mentioned but there is actually a movie about Ed "Big Daddy" Roth being made, staring John Goodman as Roth.

Heres a few links...
http://www.sphinxproductions.com/pages/ratfink.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491698/

I dont know that it will make it into the theatres (straight to DVD I'm sure) but its still gotta be worth checking out.

 

I just read this whole post and maybe I overlooked it but, I haven't seen anyone mention Wally Parks! You could talk about the founding of the NHRA, his involvement with the SCTA and his record setting driving. I think you could incorporate enough of the other people mentioned to make a pretty good movie. Just a thought.

 

Stone, Woods, Cook
Donald Campbell

 

Bass,
I agree. Mr. Thompson was the consumate hot rodder. We all miss him. They'd have to do it right.

 

Lord have mercy! 3 whole pages and NO mention of the Golden Greek, Chris Karamasenes??? Not one?? Learn your history, kiddies. You guys from Chicago can ask the old timers. The Greek is still racing at 75, I've seen him spin out at Lions and still blast through the lights at 200 plus. In the 60s!! Best driver on marginal tracks. EVER! I have a signed pic of him in my office. The closest I've ever come to having a Hero!

Other choices would be, Gary "The Plume" Gabelich. Did it all, with style.

Ak Miller.

A Cheech & Chong type movie about Mike "The World's Fastest Hippie" Mitchell, on tour. Add parts portraying Jeb Allen, Jungle Jim, Sneaky Pete and Porky the Pirate. I'd go see THAT one and buy the DVD. And the soundtrack.

But you guys don't look like you know history for omiting the Greek. Geeeeze!

chili

 

Fat Hack....................

 

I would pay money to watch the Fat Hack Story on the big screen. Though it would probably be more appropriate if the theater accepted weird 80s small displacement motors as the admission price.

 

If my take on Fat hack is correct, his story might be a better fit for off off off Broadway live theatre. Or a film directed by John Waters. Hmmmm?

 

Especially if his handle is based on Fat Jack Bynum, the originator of the Famous Drag Racer Charm School. ;-)