40 years after Knievel, daredevil will try to jump Snake River Canyon On Sept. 17, Braun plans to strap himself into a steam-powered rocket cycle nearly identical to the “X2 Skycycle” used by Knievel in his ill-fated attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon on Sept. 8, 1974. The jump aboard the “Evel Spirit” — expected to reach a top speed of 400 miles per hour — will start from the canyon’s north side, just east of the Hansen Bridge east of Twin Falls. The canyon is about 200 feet narrower at that spot than the 1,600 feet Knievel tried to clear. The trajectory will be at a higher angle, Braun said, and he expects to clear the canyon wall by 1,000 feet. Chute stopped Evel in mid-air Knievel failed to reach the north wall of the canyon when the rocket cycle’s parachute deployed early and stopped the ship’s forward thrust. The rocket cycle floated toward the water before a gust of wind blew it back to the rocks on the south shore, below the launch site. Knievel suffered only minor injuries and a bruised ego. More: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/state/idaho/article99686832.html
I was going to say something similar myself . A higher trajectory? 45 degrees will get you the furthest, I guess it is needed to clear something on the other side? Going for a narrower point will mean of course that even if he does succeed, he still hasn't achieved what Knieval failed to do. Also a 1000 feet safety margin on a jump that is 1600 feet seems a little much, you have to consider that even if they tried at the same stretch as Knieval there will still be an 800 foot safety margin. Going for the shorter distance would be like someone trying to beat Bolt's 100 m record by starting at the 20 metre mark, and after running the 80 m faster than Bolt's 100 M saying that you've beaten Bolt. You haven't. Not trying to diss the fact the attempt is tryng to be made, but like I said, he's not achieving something that Knieval failed at since the distance is 200 feet shorter in addition to having a 1000 feet safety margin.
Sweet! Perhaps it's nostalgia but just I love stupidly dangerous and unnecessary stunts such as this! I'm glad there are folks out there willing to do it. I say if he crosses it, he did what Knievel never could, regardless of the spot being a bit shorter. It's still 1400 feet. I say that qualifies as crazy. Evel would be impressed.
