They were the pinnacle of a certain 1970's macho Americana: men in one-piece, Elvis-in-Vegas-era jumpsuits, commanding crowds at drag ways and county fairs throughout the land. Men climbing atop motorcycles or into scrap-heap-rescued, made-in-the-U.S.A. cars, and proceeding to jump buses or buildings or airplanes. Sometimes, they even set themselves on fire.

In these days of special effects and extreme sports, such men - and the audiences that adored them - have nearly vanished. But a few dedicated daredevils survive, and they are the subject of Hell Drivers: America's Original Crash Test Dummies, an hour long documentary featured this weekend at Concord's annual S.N.O.B. (Somewhat North of Boston) film fest.

Filmmakers Darren Garnick and Peter Koziell - both New Hampshire based - will attend the screening and answer questions afterwards; they will be joined by Jim "Crash" Moreau, the self-named "Maine Maniac" who is featured in Hell Drivers. (Moreau's features, are, in fact, are displayed quite prominently in Hell Drivers. Several years ago, Moreau brought his crash 'em show to a nudist colony, and in order to fit in, he performed wearing only work shoes, socks, and his helmet; the event is memorialized in the movie, but the filmmakers have promised Moreau will be fully clothed during his S.N.O.B. appearance.)

Filmmaker's Garnick and Koziell both came of age when Evel Knievel's daredevil exploits helped to define '70s era, action-hero manhood and made Knievel a household name. Both are pop culture fanatics and with Hell Drivers, they tell not just the story of a bit of popular culture in decline but of a small set of guys who are committed to doing the things they love: jumping and crashing.

"I loved my Evel Knievel doll and I would have him do fantastic jumps over the bricks in my driveway," recalled Garnick.

Neither filmmaker is a motor sports devotee, though, and their film is

designed to have wide appeal. Hell Drivers takes a good-natured, superhero approach to its four subjects, evoking the 1960's TV show Batman, with its occasional "ka-pow!" written on the screen. It has its comic moments - including one of the drivers dressed in a gorilla suit and fearlessly jumping a row of bananas - but stops short of mockery.

"We wanted to tell the story of this piece of our history and where it is and ultimately, we wanted the audience to enjoy it and respect the guys who are committed," said Koziell.

The filmmakers spent the 2006 daredevil show season following around the four-featured drivers as they crossed the country sleeping in their cars and tents, chronicling their dedication amid shrinking audiences and rising costs. They say they genuinely liked their subjects, and that affection comes through in the movie. A scene, for instance, in which one driver offers a slightly off-key but sincere karaoke rendition of "My Way" could have been very mean-spirited. Instead, the scene is poignant and real.

"They are really very gutsy guys, and you can't help but admire guys who continue with their dreams, despite the lack of financial reward," Garnick said.

To that end, some truly spectacular feats are seen in the film, including Doug Danger's Guinness Book-worthy, 251-foot motorcycle jump over 42 Chevy Cavaliers at the New Hampshire International Speedway in 1991. The true hazard of the profession is documented too: Within a year of setting the Guinness record (since broken,) a seemingly routine, 11-car jump by Danger at a speedway in Hudson resulted in a crash that left Danger with a broken skull, numerous broken bones, and brain injuries so severe that he had to relearn basic skills.

After two years of rehab, Danger wanted to return to stunt driving - he and future-ex-wife had their few minutes of tabloid fame when they appeared on a short-lived Gordon Elliott show with the theme for the day, "I Refuse To Give Up My Motorcycle For My Wife." While his wife gave up on him, his mom didn't; she is featured prominently in the movie, clad in a leather jacket and concluding that being a daredevil is simply her son's nature.

Nor is it a life without reward.

"People say I'm getting old, but this is keeping me young," said Moreau, now in his third decade of crashing cars.

And perhaps there's hope for a new generation as well.

"I showed the movie to my son Ari - he's 6, and he liked it," Garnick said. "And later I found him with his Legos, setting them up with ramps so they could be jumped. So . . . .you never know."

(Hell Drivers: America's Original Crash Test Dummies plays Friday night at Red River Theatres at 7 p.m.; the film is followed by a Q& A with filmmakers Darren Garnick and Peter Koziell, as well as thrill-master Jim "Crash" Moreau. The S.N.O.B. film festival runs tomorrow night through Sunday night at Red River Theatres and the Sweeney Auditorium at NHTI. For a full schedule and ticket information, visit snobfilmfestival.org.)