Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard, congratulations on winning the bid for the Tucker 48, looking forward to seeing the rare barn find at the upcoming spring LI car shows.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Howard,
Awesome! Really enjoyed reading the history of this great car. What a surprise ending. Can’t wait to see it.
Mark

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Great News

It’s wonderful to have a Tucker on Long Island. It’s one of my favorite classics.

Good luck with it. Howard

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Whee!  Kirk Gibson?  HA!  That’s clearly Rudolph Hess at the wheel in ‘42/49!  Sorry, Jr.  Steve, bring up the Review-Star again and hit Print/Screen; I’ll try it later.  Great work, Howard.  Sam, III<http://sbiii.com/dudgeon.html>

From The Dudgeon "Red Devil" Steam Wagon Legal Case Updated: 1/20/2017

I would think Austie and James Melton were good friends, they had the funds to pick up all the great car in this area. Austie pulled an ALCO Touring car out of Ridgefield. Ken Purdy lived in Wilton, Briggs Cunningham was in Greens Farms. There was a restaurant at the Melton Collection in Norwalk, Mom and Dad said they went there a few times before I was born. Bob

From The Melton Museum of Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-1953)

Howard,
Congrats!!!  Another unique car added to your “stable” of unique vehicles - what a fortunate purchase for us also, as now a Tucker will be here on Long Island where it will be shared with the public to also enjoy.  Based on your photos, I think my favorite aspect of the car is the Tucker radio.  My only question is why would someone repaint it root beer brown?  I would think the original green would have been more appealing, of course it was the 70’s.  Does this older “restoration” lessen its collector value or is it just that rare?
Gary
_____________________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick:

Gary, you make an excellent point. Brown was likely a favorite color of the Tucker’s owner in 1972.  Similar to the auction for Chrysler’s Chrysler, the peeling paint and color probably hurt the auction price - a relatively simple fix down the road.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

Hi Howard:

  Congrats to you on this great acquisition and enjoy !!!!!  Hope to see it in
person.

                  Cheers !!!!  Ron Ridolph

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: The Tucker 1044 at the RM Sotheby's Auction in Scottsdale

That stunt was from the 1974 James Bond film “The Man With The Golden Gun” starring Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, and Herve Villechaize. The stunt was filmed in Thailand and used an AMC Hornet Sportabout Hatchback Coupe. The driver was Loren “Bumps” Willert who is often incorrectly identified as “Bumps” Willard. It was the first movie stunt that was computer modeled before filming and it was accomplished in one take. The major criticism was the addition of a slide whistle sound effect during the jump. The stunt was first performed using an AMC Javelin in 1972 at the Houston Astrodome during an automobile thrill show and was officially called the “Astro Spiral Jump”. It was performed a few times after 1974 by Jimmy Canton, who was a friend of “Bumps” Willert, as part of Jay Milligan’s “Hell Drivers” stunt shows.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

I’m going to revise my earlier answer to the last question and say it was performed after the movie as documentation by its originator says it toured as stunt before and after the movie.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

In which film did this car stunt appear? Provide the film’s release year and its major stars. : 1974 James Bond film “The Man with Golden Gun” starring Roger Moore with Christopher Lee, Pritt Ekland, Maude Adams and Herve Villechaize. 

Some movie clips of the stunt.
http://jalopnik.com/the-james-bond-corkscrew-jump-was-the-first-computer-mo-1711459704

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s—MaYGl9Ol—/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1299822428119295528.gif

Short versions
https://youtu.be/fzCIbhLUUA0
https://youtu.be/trJocyjCBzo

Long version
https://youtu.be/sCU8fVgGsPg

Where was this stunt filmed? Thailand

Identify the manufacturer of the car and its model.  AMC Hornet X

What was the name of the stunt driver?  Bumps Willard

Why is this car stunt credited with making cinematic history?  First automotive movie stunt extensively using computer modeling.  Also was successful on the scene’s first take (thankfully).

What was the major criticism of the car stunt as seen in the film?  The whistle heard during the stunt.

When and where was this car stunt first performed prior to appearing in the film?
The stunt was patented in 1972 (patent documentation being sent to Howard along with more).  It was first performed that year in the Houston Astrodome.

What was the official name of the stunt? “Astro Spiral Jump”
 
Has this car stunt ever been successfully replicated? No

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

Mystery Foto #3…This stunt appeared in the Bond film called “The Man With the Golden Gun” Released in 1974, starring Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland and Maud Adams. The stunt was filmed in Thailand. The car was an AMC Hornet driven by Loren “Bumps” Willard. The cinematic history regarding this stunt was… First car stunt to be computer modeled or simulated so that could get it right without killing someone. The criticism of the car stunt was a rather poor, hokey sound track.
Stunt first performed prior to appearing in the film was 1972 in Houston Astrodome. The stunt name was “Astro Spiral Jump” or “Bond Corkscrew”.
This stunt was replicated by Hollywood stuntman Brent Fletcher. He accelerated his buggy at a scientifically pre-planned speed of 54 mph. He sped into a split-level ramp which enabled the car to “corkscrew” through the air at a rate of 230 degrees per second.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

This is an easy one.

This is from the Dukes of Hazzard, filmed in Hazzard County, GA. The car is a 1969 Dodge Charger was known as the “General Lee” and was owned by cousins Bo and Luke Duke.  They were probably being chased by Sheriff Riscoe Pico Train who was supervised by Boss Hogg. This must have been a trailer of some sort because the “01” is not on the car door yet nor is the confederate federate flag on the roof. What a great show!

Ok obviously this is not correct but hopefully brought back some memories!

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

.....and lastly…...In 2008, the British automotive show, Top Gear, tried to recreate the cork-screw jump but failed to pull it off. Top Gear claims the stunt has never been successfully recreated.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

The stunt is from the 1974 “The Man with the Golden Gun” with Roger Moore as James Bond an also starring Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Marc Lawrence.

The car is an AMC Hornet.

The stunt on Youtoob.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzCIbhLUUA0

The science to the stunt first performed at the Astrodome in an AMC Javelin and was known as the Astro Spiral Jump and conceived and first completed by Jay Millikan.  I recall reading about this back in the early 70’s.  As I recall he was to perform 2 jumps however on the first jump the car lost oil pressure and was unable to start for a second attempt.  So somewhere there is a famous Javelin that can’t start.
http://jalopnik.com/the-james-bond-corkscrew-jump-was-the-first-computer-mo-1711459704

The Bond stunt was performed in 1973 in Thailand for the movie by British stuntman Loren “Bumps” Willard and credited as the first computer simulated/aided car stunt.  It was accompanied in the movie by an unfortunate slide flute sound which was condemned as minimizing the danger and mastery of the jump.
https://jt78.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/the-man-with-the-golden-gun-corkscrew-jump/

.....and lastly…...In 2008, the British automotive show, Top Gear, tried to recreate the cork-screw jump but failed to pull it off. Top Gear claims the stunt has never been successfully recreated.

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

1974 RED AMC HORNET X   CORK SCREW JUMP IN THE MOVIE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN IT WAS THE FIRST COMPUTER SIMULATED JUMP
CONCEIVED BY JAY MILLIGAN
FILMED IN RURAL THILAND
8 CAMERAS TOOK THE FILM
THE STUNT WAS PATENTED SO NO ONE ELSE WOULD US IT

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

Hi Howard:
  The stunt is from the movie:  The Man With The Golden Gun starring Roger Moore
as James Bond from 1974.  I believe the stunt is called an Aerial Twist or Astro Spiral.
The car is a AMC Matador and was filmed in several locations including Thailand.

            All The Best Always,  Cordially,  Ron

From Mystery Foto #3 Solved: The Greatest Car Stunt in Film History in the "Man With the Golden Gun"

The original Tribune article was printed in 1938. I found a similar article on the front page of the Nassau Daily Review-Star dated June 23, 1938. You’ll have to take my word for it - the site was protected and would not let me copy, save, or forward.

From The Dudgeon "Red Devil" Steam Wagon Legal Case Updated: 1/20/2017

The two photos of the engine submitted by David Grappolo, listed as intake and exhaust, I think it should be reverse.

From Mystery Foto #2 Solved: The Apperson Jack Rabbit Racer Built for the 1906 American Elimination Trial

Bonjour,
Louis Wagner était le frère de ma grand-mère et en cherchant des documents sur sa carrière, je suis arrivé sur votre site. Je pensai, ainsi que mes cousins, qu’il avait commencé sa carrière de pilote en 1905; mais d’après vos archives c’est en 1903 qu’il a débuté. Formidable, je vais pouvoir compléter le diaporama que j’avais commencé pour la famille avec les photos que je possédai déjà.
Encore un grand merci.
Alain
__________________________________________________________________________
Translation

Hello,
Louis Wagner was my grandmother’s brother and I have been looking for documents about his career and found your website. I thought, as did my cousins, that he had begun his career as a driver in 1905; But according to your archives, he began in 1903. I will now be able to complete the slideshow I had began with the family photos that I already owned. A big thank you.

Alain

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: From the Helck Family Collection- Driver Louis Wagner

HOWARD:  VERY NICE TRIBUTE TO THE AIRMEN LAST SUNDAY,  MY FATHER TOLD ME THE STORY MANY TIMES AND i WENT TO NHP. MEMORIAL H.S. ACROSS THE STREET.  THE KITCHEN WINDOW WAS CRACKED FROM THE BOMBS, IN 1942 AND MY FATHER TOLD ME WHY THE WINDOW WAS CRACKED, AND WE LIVE 1.1 MILES FROM THE LOCATION.  GREAT JOB, AND THANKS   ARTIE. ( I still live in the same house but have changed the window!) .

From Town of North Hempstead to Hold Memorial This Sunday for Five Airmen Killed in a 1942 Bomber Crash