Your Groovy Bell Bottoms are Now SFI Approved

Tim Odell

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1970s nurburgring crashes beetle1970s nurburgring crashes beetle

That’s right, forget that no-synthetics allowed nonsense, we’re going all polyester. At least, that’s the best explanation super-hoon ZombeeRacer could come up with as to why this video is so carnage free (at least, regarding the vehicles’ occupants). Shot on a famously tricky corner, the film from 1970 features 7 minutes of a number of (mostly) rather plebeian looking German cars succumbing to the combination of moderate speed, 5″ wide tires, swing axle suspensions and inappropriate steering inputs. Also, remarkably appropriate music. Jump.

We’re not big on showing borderline snuff films, so here’s the disclaimer: If you love VWs, this might be a little hard to watch. Otherwise, theres footage of crashed car that looks like it might’ve “not gone well” for the occupants.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwc54G2Ur8[/youtube]

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Tim Odell

Tim Odell

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26 responses to “Your Groovy Bell Bottoms are Now SFI Approved”

  1. DerangedStoat Avatar
    DerangedStoat

    Christ, I cringed so hard when the convertible beetle with 4 people in it came around! (@2:26) Given everything before it, I thought it surely wasn't going to end well!

    Reply
    1. Mr_Biggles Avatar
      Mr_Biggles

      Same cringe here. It was one of the few cars that actually made it through unscathed. Given all the people watching, it must be an event of some kind. In which case, what the hell were they thinking when they entered with 4 people in the convertible? Extra weight to keep the flat side down?

      Reply
  2. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    This is why we can't have nice 'rings.
    Seriously, I love this video. It was the first post I ever found on Jalop, many moons ago.

    Reply
    1. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      Is it the same one?
      Crap. I thought it was different from that one.

      Reply
      1. theeastbaykid Avatar
        theeastbaykid

        It's better here, somehow. Less Transformers.

        Reply
        1. Tim Odell Avatar
          Tim Odell

          Awww…shucks.
          No gray-on-gray text, either.

          Reply
      2. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        It's not quite the same – this is about three minutes longer, but they share some footage (like the trio of 2002s spinning out, and the bewildered looking guy getting thrown from his Bug). Although, whoever cut this version missed my favorite part of the other one – the guy on the bike who powered through going off the course (I can only imagine he stores his massive cojones in a trailer back at the paddock).
        On the other hand, the music in this one really brings it together, like a good rug.

        Reply
    2. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      Ah, the synchronicity of it all. Much like an old box of forgotten photographs, what is old becomes new again.
      Master Jedi Alff, you have taught us well…

      Reply
  3. Froggmann_ Avatar
    Froggmann_

    Ahh the good 'ol days when just about every car was equipped with an ejection seat.

    Reply
  4. ZomBee Racer Avatar
    ZomBee Racer

    I can't believe how many doors flew open and occupants got ejected, miraculously getting up on their own feet. Seeing this reminds me of a time back when saying someone got in a car accident was always horrible news. These people were seriously lucky.
    I first saw a different edit without music and slightly less carnage. Then I saw this version which had the groovy soundtrack, but added 2 borderline creepy scenes. They turned out to be fairly mild, but had I I seen the videos in the reverse order I may not have continued watching.
    I struggled with which one to submit because several scenes in this version kinda took away from what the music added.
    In the end the music won out. But I still think the girl nearly getting obliterated is creepy. Makes me double-think about speeding along in my old Datsun. It may be time for a cage.

    Reply
  5. PFG Avatar
    PFG

    I must have watched the music-free version of this footage at least 30 times on YouTube. I find it to be most thrilling when synched with "Ace of Spades."
    Also, the gentleman at 1:36 has the right idea about the proper way to exit your vehicle (backwards, at speed, with your pants down.)

    Reply
  6. retro Avatar
    retro

    The moral of the story seems to be that if you drive a 914 your indiscretions will go more or less unpunished.

    Reply
    1. dragon951 Avatar
      dragon951

      Yep, and if you are in a 911 you will end up ass first, but still right side up.

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      … and you can raise Alff's blood pressure by nearly putting your rare Alfa Junior Zagato into the fence.

      Reply
  7. damnelantra™[!] Avatar
    damnelantra™[!]

    and the nsu triumphantly soldiers on!

    Reply
  8. packratmatt Avatar
    packratmatt

    Cool video. As for the music, I was expecting the Benny Hill theme.

    Reply
    1. njhoon Avatar
      njhoon

      It isn't? (I cant use sound here at the Gulag.) It does seem like a natural fit for it.

      Reply
  9. njhoon Avatar
    njhoon

    The person at 30 seconds is lucky to be alive. The one at 7:20 it looks like the guy hurries up and throws his beers back in the car.

    Reply
    1. dragon951 Avatar
      dragon951

      Yeah, that girl half out the window was my most cringe-worthy moment, especially in the very second the car is righting itself and you know her head is gonna smack the door frame. Seat belts!
      And there were quite a few spilled beers in those crashes. I guess "Hold my beer" is an American past-time.

      Reply
  10. Smells_Homeless Avatar
    Smells_Homeless

    That is a lot of androgynous Germans, right there. Yikes.

    Reply
  11. CptSevere Avatar
    CptSevere

    Hell, not even bikes can hack that turn. It must be a real treacherous decreasing radius type of deal. We have one leaving town, bikers on cruisers are always biffing it there. It's right where you'd be tempted to step on it, going downhill, but the gentle curve gets tighter and tighter. It'll fool you. If you're a half-lit biker on a full dresser, you might just scrape a pipe or footrest and you're done.

    Reply
  12. Armand4 Avatar
    Armand4

    Awesome video, but it was a little hard to watch. I cringed when I saw VW Beetle carnage. I gasped when I saw NSU Prinz carnage. I looked away when I saw a Mercedes W114 slide off track. But I nearly cried when I saw what happened to those poor Renault R8s.
    Gosh, based on what happened to the Beetles, R8s, Prinz/TTs and Fiat 850s in this turn, you might think that it can be a bit of a disadvantage to have the engine hung way out back and a roll center way the hell up in the air. Or maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions…

    Reply
    1. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      You will not cast aspersions on Herr Doktor Porsche's design!

      Reply
  13. PapayaSF Avatar
    PapayaSF

    What's the yellow targa-top one at about 5:07? I want to say Fiat but the front end and rear window don't look familiar.

    Reply
    1. straight6 Avatar
      straight6

      It´s a Matra 530.

      Reply
  14. KAH Avatar
    KAH

    yikes what no Helmets, HANS devices, Five-point harnesses roll cages
    Ok I’ve owned 2 of the car models that were rolling often the Opel Kadett Bs and Beetles and 2 that showed up going unintentionally sideways VW Square Back and Opel GT and I’ve driven at least 3 others a time or 2 914,Manta,2002. maybe more, when I think back on the crazy things we did in those cars we are lucky to be alive.
    Thanks Hoos for such a slobbering image of how cars and racing have gotten safer over the years

    Reply