One of the first things that caught my eye as I entered the gates of the recent LA Custom Motorcycle show in Long Beach was a rocket bike. Intrigued, I stopped and questioned the man sitting next to the silver jet. It turns out it was Mad Mike Hughes, a motorcycle daredevil and independent candidate for California Governor in 2010.
Hughes is going to try to jump his “X2 Skylimo” rocket motorcycle over the Colorado River on Friday, October 15th. The rocket-powered jump will start in Arizona at Lake Havasu City, and (hopefully) end on the opposite shore in California. The plan is to break the existing world record in a 1/2-mile jump.
The rocket’s propulsion system and the launch ramp will be similar to what Evel Knievel used in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. Knievel’s September 8, 1974 jump was an embarrassing failure. Hughes obviously hopes for a much more successful jump. Hughes says that Knievel was a hero to him and he will pay homage to the iconic daredevil with his jump.
In preparation for Hughes’ attempt, here is a video of Evil Knievel’s failed attempt at the Snake River Canyon jump. Good luck Mad Mike!
