For those who remember 1974, then you will probably remember the day when Evel Knievel, one of the most famous stuntmen ever, tried and sadly failed to jump the mile-wide chasm of the Snake River Canyon on September 8. Now, a Hollywood Stuntman named Eddie Braun wants to do the same mile-long leap, and he has the funding, permits, and the team to try and hopefully succeed, 42 years later.
According to Fox Sports, Eddie Braun, a 54-year-old stuntman who has performed in films like Transformers, The Avengers, as well as other films and TV shows, wants to repeat this stunt with the rocket Evel Spirit. The Evel Spirit is modeled after Evel Knievel's steam-powered rocket X-2 Skycycle.
On the fateful day when Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon, his drogue parachute malfunctioned and opened on take-off. It is believed that Evel would have made it if that chute hadn't prematurely opened. This caused the Evel and his Skycycle to float to the bottom of the canyon, landing on the riverbank directly below his launch ramp. You can watch the video of the famed botched jump below.
According to Roadside America, if Evel Knievel had gone into the river, he might have drowned due to his safety harness. Evel's fans didn't abandon him after that, and there is a monument erected to the event at the city of Twin Falls vistors' center.
What is strange is that the actual jump site, a big earthen lump used as a ramp, is still visible. There is a report that the Twin Falls Police Department was using it as a backstop for their shooting range.
However, the saddest part is that Evel Knievel is not going to be able to witness a second attempt at the Snake River Canyon from Braun. Knievel died in 2007 at age 69 after battling diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, his Evel Spirit will be with Braun for certain.
In fact, on Braun's team is Evel Knievel's son Kelly, who was there for the original Snake River Canyon jump. Also on the team is Scott Truax, the son of the original X-2 Skycycle's designer. Truax has said: "With this recreation, it is my intent to clear his [father's] name and tell his amazing story. I like to think that instead of looking up at the rocket launch, he and Evel will be looking down on it and that's a much better view."
Braun's jump is set for September 17, and it will be only a few miles from the original jump. It will be live-streamed over the Internet, but we don't have the exact URL of the website.
