Daredevil plans replication of Evel Knievel's Snake River Canyon Jump on Saturday

[Cooley Hurd]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/14/us/evel-knievel-jump-eddie-braun-snake-river/index.html


Stuntman Eddie Braun, left, and Kelly Knievel in 2015 with Braun's "Evel Spirit" rocket.

(CNN)On September 8, 1974, Evel Knievel climbed into a steam-powered "rocket cycle" and blasted off a cliff over Idaho's Snake River.

He failed to reach the other side when his craft's parachute deployed too soon and landed him -- largely unhurt -- at the bottom of the canyon, but the much-hyped stunt only added to Knievel's daredevil legend.

Now, 42 years later, veteran Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun plans to pay homage to the late Knievel by making the jump himself. After years of planning, Braun says he will attempt the Snake River Canyon leap on Saturday with the same type of aircraft and technology.

<snip>

Some people, including Kelly Knievel and a Twin Falls city councilman, have been vocal about their doubts that Braun can pull it off.

"I wouldn't get in a piece of tin and blast off over a cliff," Knievel told CNN. "If he makes it, he'll be honoring my dad's legacy. If he splats his brains out in the canyon it'll be a different story."

</snip>

Crazy? Perhaps...

[Jerry442]

1. I remember people being in a sulk at the time because...

...the Bob Truax-designed Skycycle X-2 looked like a "sure thing." They wanted to see Knievel do it on a Harley.

[deathrind]

2. Not exactly...

"I wouldn't get in a piece of tin and blast off over a cliff," Knievel told CNN. "If he makes it, he'll be honoring my dad's legacy. If he splats his brains out in the canyon it'll be a different story."

A ringing endorsement...

[Binkie The Clown]

3. Another candidate for the Darwin Award. n/t

[rurallib]

4. suppose someone did a stupid stunt and no one came and no cable nooz showed up

[lovemydog]

5. Wow, that's whack.

I'm interested in seeing it if he makes it successfully.

Not sure I could watch it live.

I wish him well.

Viva Knieval!

[catnhatnh]

6. It could be worse

he could try something real dangerous like ejecting from an f-35...

[RedRocco]

7. I remember watching the Knievel attempt

The parachute deployed before he cleared the ramp. I always thought he chickened out at the last second.

[Waldorf]

12. I also watched Knievel attempt it, and I always thought that chute was designed to come out early.

Then you can say I attempted it but had mechanical failure.

[Dr. Strange]

8. This raises two questions...

First, how do they work this into the plot in a meaningful way?

Second, wouldn't it make more sense for the Punisher to make the jump? Daredevil doesn't really ride a motorcycle.

[Jerry442]

9. Captain America. Yeah, definitely Cap. NT

[Dr. Strange]

11. Well...

good luck getting the funding for a guest appearance by Captain America on Daredevil!

[Glassunion]

10. No, not crazy.

Playing it safe is crazy. Crazy is waking up every morning, getting dressed, and showing up to a job. You do that job for 8 to 10 hours a day, then go home. Just in time to get some dinner on the table, watch a TV show or two, allowing the screen to suck whatever energy we have left off into nothingness. You then take a shower and go to bed. The next morning, wake up and do it all over again. Perform this all-too-safe, and monotonous cycle for the next 40 or so years. The whole time telling yourself that you'll travel or have an adventure once you accumulate enough money. Next thing you know you'll find yourself in a retirement community, your health waning, lamenting that you should have done that one thing... Just imagine that moment when you find yourself too old, or frail to seek out that adventure. That is crazy.

[cwydro]

13. I'd like to rec your post.

Last edited Fri Sep 16, 2016, 05:52 PM - Edit history (1)

You said it perfectly.

I still remember being amazed by that guy that jumped from the atmosphere.

Forgot his name, but dayum, I admired him. An Austrian I think.

I was working in a cubicle at the time, and I kept that picture there just to know that he did it.

[Glassunion]

15. Felix Baumgartner

[cwydro]

17. Thanks!

Still amazed by that feat!

[ProfessorGAC]

14. I'm With Ya, Glass!

I getting close to retirement. And, i do have enough saved to live fairly comfortably.

But, while i was working full time, for 25 years i played in a band all over the Chicago market. 40 to 48 weekends a year. I'm too old to do that again now, but i know that when i really get old, i will regret not one second of the late nights, the rehearsals, the keyboard programming, learning parts on guitar and keys, etc., etc., etc.

We only live once.

Now, admittedly i didn't quit my job and pursue a "rock star dream". But, made some coin, had fun with my friends (btw: one of the bands had 3 of the same 4 guys for 20 years, so i was playing with friends), and got to do something most don't get to do.

Not exactly an adventure and not high risk, but still. . .

[Glassunion]

16. Everyone has a different size and shape to their comfort zone. But only when you get out-

side of it, are you truly living.

I also used to play in a band, now I just fill in here and there. When I first started performing, it was well out of my comfort zone to have that many people looking at me. Not so much now, and it is far more fun.

One of the perks of my job, is that I get to coach people through their fears. But the pay off for me is when we get to celebrate their accomplishment of getting out of that comfort zone. Some of them can surf home on their wave of accomplishment.