Cannonball Run (the movie)

I think Dean's drunkeness was more an act than reality. Sure, he was no teetotaler, but he didn't drink that much ... he was just very relaxed.

Now Joe E. Lewis ... that's another story!

"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."

 

I think she was driving the Aston Martin.

 

Here it is

From Booklist
With a budding movie and stunt career, von Beltz suffered near-fatal injuries during the filming of Cannonball Run in 1980. Damage to several neck vertebrae led to a harsh diagnosis of permanent paralysis with little chance of improvement. "She will never again move below the earlobes," one doctor told her parents. However, she was determined to disprove such medical opinions and to get on with living. Strong support from her parents and friends (Melanie Griffith is her closest friend) aided her recovery, as did Christian Science, holistic medicine, visualization, and hope. Her robust optimism about getting better--in the face of repeated negative medical opinions--was rewarded with physical control never deemed possible by numerous doctors, nurses, and therapists. After devoting herself to exercise programs and mental therapies for the last 15 years, she has straightened out her spine (S-curved by the crash), regained movement in every part of her body, and become a role model for others stricken with spinal injuries. This inspiring story offers both a view from a Hollywood insider and a testament to the power of her determined, positive will. Jennifer Henderson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

I wonder how she is doing now

 

Well, then he should have gotten a Oscar for that performance.

 

wow i think that would blow my mind! Maybe she was the reason i was strangely attracted to lambos ever since then!! LOL

 

Tara is her name...We shot the movie in the summer of 1980..L.A.-Vegas-HOT-Lanta..Jacques..over...

 

Are you saying you worked on Cannonball run, thats is impressive. Got any pics from the production, of the cars? especially the countach!

 

Heidi was paralized permanently from the neck down..no seat belt..it happened 50 feet from me..we were shooting on a not yet opened freeway just outside of LasVegas in the summer of 1980..I was operating the third of 5 cameras...The Lambo was not involved in the accident..Heidi was in the Aston MartinDB3 which was doubling for the True and authentic James Bond DB4..complete with all the toys..I can see the wreck as if it was an hour ago..still makes me cry..blood and wreckage everywhere..it did'nt have to happen you see..we had already done it perfectly 3times..Director Hal Needam wanted more speed..senseless macho bastard...by the way..we all got to drive the black Lambo which belonged to the owner of Hawiian Tropics suntan lotion...We all felt like heros because in 1980..it really was the stuff of heros...sorry for rambling..Jacques..over..

 

sorry to hear about heidi i never knew about that, id like to say your lucky for having driven THAT car but in comparisom to what youve posted about Heidi it seems shallow.

 

How did it happen exactly?

Were you guys filming in the Vegas area in Aug of 1980?

 

To really know the WHOLE STORY about the Cannonball Run, check out the book CANNONBALL by Brock Yates.....I can't recommend this book enough. There are fantastic accounts of Brock's involvement in the 'REAL' race, and how it was made into the movie.....the record for coast-to-coast driving time is currently held by a Dino 246, if I can recall correctly.

Brock himself won on the race's second outing with the assistance of Dan Gurney and a certain Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona that used to make the 'rounds at Ferrari Historic Challenge races with period pinstriping and Dan's name on the door. I was surprised to read that much of the knucklhead ideas used in the movie were actually employed once or twice in real life to thwart the cops.....including the ambulance ruse....you go to jail for that now, I think, but this was the early 1970s....

 

I have a picture in my office of me standing next to it when it was at Road Atlanta's Challenge back in 99

 

Notes from Melanie Giffith

http://www.melaniegriffith.com/in2mec/fp_02_15_01.html

On an entirely different note, I have a favor to ask. My best friend, Heidi Von Beltz, was in an accident 20 years ago while filming a stunt on the film Cannonball Run. She was put in a car that had been switched from a left hand drive to right hand drive. The production was in a hurry, they were losing the light, the switch was done rather haphazardly and a seat belt was not installed. For the stunt Heidi was in the passenger seat in a car going about 60 miles per hour headed straight for a van. The driver was supposed to veer off at the last minute, but was unable to because the steering column locked and they crashed into the van.

As a result of the crash, Heidi broke her neck at the fifth vertebrae and has been paralyzed ever since. This woman is the strongest person I know! She is defying all odds and will walk again. I introduced Heidi to Dr. Catherine Saltzman, an amazing woman who has been working with me. Catherine's mentor is Dr. Dick Versendaal. He's a doctor whose treatments are so advanced that once everyone knows about his method of healing it will change everything so much. The two of them are working together to help Heidi. To find our more on this treatment, you can visit (url)

 

hEIDI..Heidi..You may not remember me..but I will never forget you..I still have the Stuntmen Unlimited cap that you gave me on "Cannonball"..You were engaged to Bobby Bass(r.i.p.)..you were 29 at the time if my memory serves me..do you remember when Harvey and I would come to visit with you?..I am comming to L.A. in afew weeks..would you like to visit with me..I would just love to see you..I'm searching for a neurosurgeon for myself..ironic huh?..It seems that life has served you well..you know..when I need strength, I wear that cap..it's an antique now you know..What a miracle this Ferrarichat forum is..for me to find you again..what wonderful people you have in your life..God bless you and Miss Melanie..thank you..John [email protected]...

 

Send her to me: I would hire her !!

 

LOL....I think I was there, too! I have several shots of someone's 512 S....

 

I just bought Von Beltz's bio. Pretty amazing lady.

 

Wow, I did not know Jackie Chan was in it... Got to watch this again. Anyone got a good torrent?

 

So Katherine Bach was not in the first Canonball Run but in the second one with a blond, correct? She started out in a Countach but then into a few different cars after that, correct? I love the doctor who was with Jamie Farr, what was that actor's name? He was hilarious. Jackie Chan was in a Mitsubishi Starion with the guy that played "Jaws" in the bond movies. Classic, fun movies.

Jeff

 

correct

 

Perhaps this would be of interest:
http://www.32hours7minutes.com/

 

Patrick, I don't know what's going on in planet Belgium, but the Gumball Rally movie was inspired by the actual Cannonball Run races, which was created by Brock Yates. Yates wrote the screenplay for the first Cannonball movie and appeared in the movie.

The timing of the Gumball and Cannonball movies has little to do with the actual Cannonball Runs.

Enjoy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannonball_Baker_Sea-To-Shining-Sea_Memorial_Trophy_Dash