Smokey and the Bandit sponsored a racer in Atlanta's Southern Classic and wants to celebrate in style when he wins. They find local legend Bo "Bandit" Darville at a roadeo at Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta and offer him $80,000 to pick up 400 cases of Coors from Texarkana (the closest place it could be legally sold at that time), and bring it back to Atlanta in 28 hours. Bandit takes the bet and recruits his partner Cledus "Snowman" Snow to drive the truck, while Bandit drives a black Pontiac Trans Am bought on an advance from the Burdettes as a "blocker" to divert attention
Hal Needham other innovative equipment to the industry. Needham at one time lived in Burt Reynolds' guesthouse for the better part of 12 years. In 1971, he and fellow stuntmen Glenn Wilder and Ronnie Rondell formed Stunts Unlimited. Needham had written a screenplay titled "Smokey and the Bandit" and his friend Reynolds offered him the chance to direct. The film was a huge hit, and the two followed it with "Hooper", "The Cannonball Run", and "Stroker Ace", and "Megaforce". Needham also directed the 1986 BMX film "Rad". In 1977, Gabriel Toys introduced the "Hal Needham Western Movie Stunt Set" complete with a