2:58 - 3:24 "The old man used to teach some of the neighborhood kids how to drive one summer. How those kids managed to not kill him or send him to the looney-bin for an indeterminate amount of time is the stuff of legends on our street! At least he had his major award to comfort him, something which irked my mother to no end!"
But remember then the minimum wage (if you could get it) was in the $1.65 range and then you realize speed costs about the same .You get a new corvette in the $4000-5000 range so cars were still expensive,
Adjusted for inflation its closely the same. There is just way more things to buy and stuff you think you need to own these days. So people feel broke.
Cars are a lot safer than they were in the 60s... But there are still fatalities and injuries no matter how much driver education is out there... 😥....
I think they filmed this in New Jersey, the state seal on the motorcycle cops helmet is that of New Jersey, not to mention the accents. sounds like south NJ or near Philly & Delaware.
In the old days affluence afforded teenagers to have cars. When I was in high school a lot of people had new Camaros, Mustangs and Corvettes. Even their parents gave them better hand me downs. It doesn’t help that even today you need a car to get around. In the late 70’s I knew or heard someone had a serious accident. One killed her best friend driving under a truck and nearly killed herself in that accident. Another wanted to make curfew and ended up in a canal. They were really good kids makes straight A’s. It’s the lack of experience more than being bad kids.
The gentleman @10:50 would more convincing without that goofy tuft of hair five inches above the bridge of his glasses. But to answer his question, he should blame his wife.
13:50 For a second, I thought that was Walter Vin Huene, the Big Ears extra in so many Happy Days scenes. But this guy’s ears are regular size. Plus, Jean Shepherd?! Crazy finding him here.
Very subtle joke in this film- when the hearse shows up, instead of it being a Highway Scare Film from the 1950s- a teenage band unloads their guitars and drums. You'd have to really know highway scare films to get the joke and I wonder if Jean Shepherd, who is a brilliant cultural satirist, tossed that idea into this film.
Interesting early look at the use of computers to identify trends. Unfortunate that it's currently being used for "surveillance capitalism". Overall I have to agree with the films sentiment regarding high-performance street driving in this video (for anyone, not just kids). It just doesn't belong in the street. Don't get me wrong, I love high-performance tech ...automotive, aviation, IT, telecom etc, but there are three reasons why it doesn't belong on the street. 1) Innocent victims- the risk that you hit a pedestrian or another driver is high 2) Intersecting thoroughfares- race tracks don't have 'em 3) Build quality- Street cars hold up to accidents a lot better than they used to, but they are simply not designed to withstand wrecks the way purpose-built racing cars are.
I was a U. S. soldier in West Germany in the early '80s. I NEVER drove ANYWHERE! I took trams, buses, and rode with friends. German drivers are INSANE! I went to West Berlin once, and you better believe I took the train!
@@bradjohnston8193 If you drive here all the time you get used to it. I'm lucky I haven't had an accident with my 1995 VW Polo our other car got a little scratch on the front bumper, someone backed into it and the car was just one week old.
My first new car was a 1967 Mustang. I was 18 years old. This video brings back fond memories
Wow...I bet you wish you still had it....was it the fastback?
How did you manage to afford to pay for a car like that at 18 years old?
2:58 - 3:24 "The old man used to teach some of the neighborhood kids how to drive one summer. How those kids managed to not kill him or send him to the looney-bin for an indeterminate amount of time is the stuff of legends on our street! At least he had his major award to comfort him, something which irked my mother to no end!"
The late great Jean Shepherd was a columnist for "Car and Driver" magazine for a few years.
A Real Gone Gasser, Man! Groovy!
The good old days when street racing was more common...
There was less population here. Too many people today, and way more laws. I saw it go away in the early 1980s.
The fellow with the IH tractor got a head start learning on tractors first.. An advantage for us who come from farms...
Thomas Barnard
Absolutely
Ok?
Performance was a lot cheaper back then... But the performance cars of today are more well rounded and do more than just go in a straight line fast...
But remember then the minimum wage (if you could get it) was in the $1.65 range and then you realize speed costs about the same .You get a new corvette in the $4000-5000 range so cars were still expensive,
Good Point..
Adjusted for inflation its closely the same.
There is just way more things to buy and stuff you think you need to own these days. So people feel broke.
Cars are a lot safer than they were in the 60s... But there are still fatalities and injuries no matter how much driver education is out there... 😥....
If it reminds you of "A Christmas Story" at all....it's because Jean Shepherd is the narrator. Excelsior Fathead!
I think they filmed this in New Jersey, the state seal on the motorcycle cops helmet is that of New Jersey, not to mention the accents. sounds like south NJ or near Philly & Delaware.
In the old days affluence afforded teenagers to have cars. When I was in high school a lot of people had new Camaros, Mustangs and Corvettes. Even their parents gave them better hand me downs. It doesn’t help that even today you need a car to get around. In the late 70’s I knew or heard someone had a serious accident. One killed her best friend driving under a truck and nearly killed herself in that accident. Another wanted to make curfew and ended up in a canal. They were really good kids makes straight A’s. It’s the lack of experience more than being bad kids.
Remember you have to be a defensive driver and watch the other guy...
Drive as though your life depended on it. It does!
Like that late 50s Vette with the mags...
You good bro?
Way to cool dude....Yaa that's it...To cool man...Thanks PF
Washington Texaco is now Murphy’s Garage.
The gentleman @10:50 would more convincing without that goofy tuft of hair five inches above the bridge of his glasses. But to answer his question, he should blame his wife.
Kooooool! Late 60s.
Maybe the courts are tougher but there are still many injuries and fatalities on the road.... 😥 but true...
Cool dragsters!!
Drag racing MG's...what a laugh, couldn't find a couple of muscle cars for that scene? Hemi Road Runner? Big block Chevelle?
I'll take one of those 0.79 cent porterhouse 6:30.
Groovy.
Now we all know what a Driver Education teacher goes through!!
All those young hooligans !
At least these kids WANTED to drive. Nothing like the little queens we have now days.
Dude I'm half queer and I love driving my Cadillac. And my 1953 Plymouth club coupe.
13:50 For a second, I thought that was Walter Vin Huene, the Big Ears extra in so many Happy Days scenes. But this guy’s ears are regular size.
Plus, Jean Shepherd?! Crazy finding him here.
Drivers Ed should be Back in the high schools! Because driving deaths are UP !
Nice Stingray!!
Awe....Fudge!!!!
Public service film from Volkswagen groovy!
Sometimes the slower drivers are as dangerous or more so than fast drivers...
Statistically: speed kills....
Ralphie gets his license.
Of course I bet that MG corners well...
Very subtle joke in this film- when the hearse shows up, instead of it being a Highway Scare Film from the 1950s- a teenage band unloads their guitars and drums. You'd have to really know highway scare films to get the joke and I wonder if Jean Shepherd, who is a brilliant cultural satirist, tossed that idea into this film.
Only made better if they had tried to jump the Cal Sag Channel between Chicago and Hammond where Jean lived....
Driving isn't a right. It's a punishment.
Little did they know gen z came along
Interesting early look at the use of computers to identify trends. Unfortunate that it's currently being used for "surveillance capitalism". Overall I have to agree with the films sentiment regarding high-performance street driving in this video (for anyone, not just kids). It just doesn't belong in the street. Don't get me wrong, I love high-performance tech ...automotive, aviation, IT, telecom etc, but there are three reasons why it doesn't belong on the street.
1) Innocent victims- the risk that you hit a pedestrian or another driver is high
2) Intersecting thoroughfares- race tracks don't have 'em
3) Build quality- Street cars hold up to accidents a lot better than they used to, but they are simply not designed to withstand wrecks the way purpose-built racing cars are.
Be careful, you could shoot your eye out drivin like that.
You people get your license to easily, come to Germany and try, and don't forget to bring 2-3 thousand dollars with you.
I was a U. S. soldier in West Germany in the early '80s. I NEVER drove ANYWHERE! I took trams, buses, and rode with friends. German drivers are INSANE! I went to West Berlin once, and you better believe I took the train!
@@bradjohnston8193 If you drive here all the time you get used to it. I'm lucky I haven't had an accident with my 1995 VW Polo our other car got a little scratch on the front bumper, someone backed into it and the car was just one week old.
Why is there a sperm in the title?
You can see the huge generation gap here lol.