# Greatest Russian dashboard cam video ever. Cannot be topped. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 3, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331 "2014-09-03T04:05:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/21 "2014-09-03T15:40:08Z")
Fake, unfortunately. It’s a viral campaign to raise awareness for an upcoming vote. [Explanatory link](http://newsru.com/russia/03sep2014/cheliab.html) [QUOTE=Google Translate] In Chelyabinsk Luntik SpongeBob beat the bus driver to tell you about the elections on September 14 … At the beginning of the recording fights behind the scenes in a car that was driving in a minibus, there is a conversation about the upcoming elections in Chelyabinsk. Buddies who ride in the car, talk about the fact that elections will be held on September 14 the Governor and members of the district councils and it is necessary to vote. Observers conclude that the author of the video, which is nothing more than a viral advertising - spin doctors working in local elections. … In the election for governor of the Chelyabinsk region in mid-September, involved four candidates. January 15, 2014, Mikhail Yurevich was dismissed from his post as governor of the Chelyabinsk region by President Vladimir Putin. Acting governor was appointed Boris Dubrovsky, who intends to participate in the upcoming elections with the support of the party “United Russia”. His opponents will be Konstantin Natsievsky of the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Pashin Vitaly and Vladimir Brizhanin (deputy chairman of the party “Russian Cities”). [/QUOTE] Shout out to **HairBolus** at [Fark.com](http://Fark.com) for the investigative work. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/22 "2014-09-03T15:57:26Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Fake, unfortunately. It’s a viral campaign to raise awareness for an upcoming vote. That’s a conjecture, according to your link. A pretty weak one, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/23 "2014-09-03T16:14:47Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > That’s a conjecture, according to your link. A pretty weak one, IMO. This is pretty standard viral marketing, and an ounce of skepticism will serve you well while navigating the internet. Why would costumed characters be travelling and fighting with gloves, foot coverings and headdresses on? These items come off easily, and would be expensive to replace if damaged. Plus it’s nearly impossible to see well out of many mascot’s headdresses. Leaving one on during an unscripted street fight would be a recipe for disaster. Two of the costumed characters struggle to keep their headdresses on during the fight, one scrambling to put an errant one back on. Not the sort of thing you’d normally be worried about during a no-holds-barred street fight. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/24 "2014-09-03T16:27:48Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > This is pretty standard viral marketing, and an ounce of skepticism will serve you well while navigating the internet. The elections are past. Thus if it were marketing, that would come out now. At least the people responsible would boast about it. As I said in the OP, the conversation in Russian sounds extremely natural and unforced. So either very good actors were employed, or it is for real. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/25 "2014-09-03T16:53:35Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Why would costumed characters be travelling and fighting with gloves, foot coverings and headdresses on? These items come off easily, and would be expensive to replace if damaged. Plus it’s nearly impossible to see well out of many mascot’s headdresses. Leaving one on during an unscripted street fight would be a recipe for disaster. OTOH, if it’s real, what’s the victim gonna do? Call the police? _“HELP, Mickey Mouse and Spongebob Squarepants just beat me up!”_ They’d throw him in the drunk tank for admitting that. But yeah, I’m guessing it’s a viral ad, esp. in light of the conversation’s topic. The actors sound natural, but good actors have no problem sounding natural. That’s what makes them good actors. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/26 "2014-09-03T16:55:39Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > The elections are past. Thus if it were marketing, that would come out now. At least the people responsible would boast about it. September 14th is just under 2 weeks away according to my calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/27 "2014-09-03T16:57:34Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > September 14th is just under 2 weeks away according to my calendar. My mistake. I guess we will find out in 2 weeks, if those guys come out with it. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/28 "2014-09-03T17:00:52Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > But yeah, I’m guessing it’s a viral ad, esp. in light of the conversation’s topic. The actors sound natural, but good actors have no problem sounding natural. That’s what makes them good actors. No guessing required. If my first link and post didn’t convince you, here is an english article: [Global Voices Online](http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/09/03/what-went-into-making-russias-most-viral-dash-cam-video-ever/) ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/29 "2014-09-03T17:01:58Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I certainly didn’t expect that. That’s what I was going to say! > [@Mangetout](#): > > I can’t watch the video from here, but from the conversation, it doesn’t sound like the one where the motorcyclist rear-ends a car at high speed and ends up somersaulting into a spiderman pose on top of the roof - which makes me wonder if the ‘cannot be topped’ claim will hold up… It will. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/30 "2014-09-03T17:02:59Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > No guessing required. If my first link and post didn’t convince you, here is an english article: > [Global Voices Online](http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/09/03/what-went-into-making-russias-most-viral-dash-cam-video-ever/) Noted in that link: > [@](#): > > In the video, there is a vehicle registration number visible on the back of assault victim’s truck (“Х490УМ”). According to at least one report in a Russian online car forum, however, this license number belongs to an entirely different make and model car. Moreover, the first instance of anyone posting a link to the YouTube video on Twitter belongs to a Chelyabinsk resident who used an election-themed hashtag: > > > [@](#): > > > > Tough Disney, Chelyabinsk-style. #EveryoneHeadToTheElections ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/31 "2014-09-03T17:07:00Z")
Суровый Челябинский Дисней, indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/32 "2014-09-03T18:23:19Z")
Merged the two threads about this. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/33 "2014-09-04T19:17:45Z")
The suspicious part to me, is that the driver of the dash-cam car stayed there behind the bus so long, instead of just going on around it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/34 "2014-09-04T19:24:48Z")
Staged or not it’s pretty damn funny. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/35 "2014-09-04T20:36:36Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The suspicious part to me, is that the driver of the dash-cam car stayed there behind the bus so long, instead of just going on around it. He wasn’t behind that long when the front driver was out & already approaching the rear vehicle. Lots of people would stay to gawk. However: 1. the vehicle on the left passes the vehicle in the middle lane, then pulls in front & hits his brakes. (I thought this was going to be one of those pull in front, slam on brakes, claim to be rear ended & then mug the guy when he gets out scams caught on tape.) 2. I’m not sure the two vehicles colided at all, even after rewatching the video. 3. the camera angle is pivoted where most are fixed in place with suction cup mounts. Why would they think to move it over unless they were in on something? 4. If you’ve ever worn a mascot costume, the heads are heavy, hot, & have limited visibility. I don’t see the four of them wearing their headpieces while driving early morning, yet they are out of the van, with them on w/in 10-12 seconds of the front driver approaching their vehicle. No way they spontaneously decided to get dressed, get out & kick his ass that quickly. Also, if you’re going to kick someone’s ass, you don’t do it where you’re using your hands to worry about your costume pieces while you have limited visibility. 5. Luntik (the grey one) kicks other driver with alternating feet, dancing style & then immediately stops to get his head when it falls off. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/36 "2014-09-04T21:36:42Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If you’ve ever worn a mascot costume, the heads are heavy, hot, & have limited visibility. I don’t see the four of them wearing their headpieces while driving early morning, yet they are out of the van, with them on w/in 10-12 seconds of the front driver approaching their vehicle. No way they spontaneously decided to get dressed, get out & kick his ass that quickly. I’m not entirely convinced that they were even in the van in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/37 "2014-09-04T21:55:26Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Why did they stop ? > > I think maybe the guy in front stopped because of the animals driving the van. > Why did camera van stop ? I suspect they were stopping because of they were travelling with the performing artists. I have to agree. \*\* 100% staged.\*\* If that were a real road rage incident, the characters surely wouldn’t have come to the fight in costume. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/38 "2014-09-04T22:06:35Z")
Or they are in the van going to a fancy dress event and one if them says “wouldn’t it be funny if we all put our heads on and beat this guy up in full costumes?” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/39 "2014-09-05T09:49:17Z")
I for one believe it happened. (I know. I’m being wishful). Hilarious if it did happen after a long night of drinking. Can anyone transcribe the Russian spoken by the car occupants??? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331/40 "2014-09-05T12:26:15Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I certainly didn’t expect that. _Nobody_ expects the Russian Inquisition. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-russian-dashboard-cam-video-ever-cannot-be-topped/697331.md?page=3)