Stuntman, writer, director Hal Needham, passes at 82
Smokey and the Bandit is still the greatest movie about the south ever made. 
He was a cool guy, enjoyed this Fresh Air interview he did a couple of years ago
I’m watching Hooper tonight in his honor.
The scene near the end where they drive through the exploding buildings, etc. was shot a couple of miles from my house in Tuscaloosa, AL. This was when I was a kid and before I moved to Tuscaloosa. The bridge jump was shot near Birmingham.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20120703/NEWS/120709977?p=1&tc=pg
I knew some guys that had a band named Hooper. They had bumper stickers that read “Official Hooper Stunt Car” and “My Other Car Is A Jet Car”.
Legendary stuntman and director of Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run.
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Man, I’m slow this week.