For the 40th Anniversary, the film was rescued from director Richard Taylor's garage and restored for a one night special screening at the Wildey Theater, located in the city most of the movie was shot - Edwardsville Illinois. Some cast and crew were in attendance, and the sold out audience all received a free limited Blu Ray of the film created especially for the event. Dubbed the "Garage Edition," every single copy was personally autographed by film villain Sherry Jackson. The HD restoration, Q&A from the event, new interviews, and other unique extras were later collected in an official Blu Ray release in 2021 from Dark Force Entertainment.
Credited as "MAN IN ELEVATOR," Craig Leitner worked for years as the Wildey Theater project consultant. The Edwardsville, Illinois theater was driven by twice in the film, and later hosted the 40th Anniversary Director's Cut screening event. Craig passed away in February 2021.
8 minutes into the film as Lonnigan and Tony are coming through a door, a mother and daughter are seated on a bench talking to each other. They are director Richard Taylor's real life wife and daughter.
Writer / producer / Director John Carl Buechler got his very first feature film work on Stingray as a makeup artist. He even made his acting debut in a small funny role as appropriately named "The Flamer," playing a rude bar patron who gets his crotch set ablaze by Sherry Jackson's villain Abigail Bratowski. John enthusiastically wanted to take part in the 40th Anniversary screening festivities, and said he would do anything asked of him to show his adoration and fondness for the film that started his career. John sadly passed away just before the screening took place.
Hick characters Alvin and Leroy attempt to hit the Stingray for fun, then block Lonigan and Tony from passing them on the road, only to end up with a grenade blowing up their pickup as their comeuppance. They clearly ended up unharmed because they can be seen hanging around at the Ronnie B's bar later in the film.