Helps to push past Evel envelope

A GOLD Coast stuntman has helped pull off a seemingly impossible feat that had beaten Evel Knievel 42 years ago.

Mick Van Moorsel of Yatala was vehicle supervisor on the Evel Spirit project.

His job was to get a steam rocket over to the other side of the 427m-wide Snake River Canyon in Idaho.

Van Moorsel, a 35-year veteran in the danger industry, modified the launch ramp and rocket that helped Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun to achieve two weeks ago what Knievel had failed to do on September 8, 1974.

The new rocket reached about 644km/h before its parachute deployed, allowing Braun to land safely.

Van Moorsel’s involvement came about after a friend introduced him to Braun, who funded the Evel Spirit, two years ago. But it wasn’t until this year that he became closely involved.

“I was so fortunate to be part of it,” Van Moorsel said.

“Evel Knievel inspired me to get into stunt work.

“I like a challenge and the stunt business offers you challenges because you rarely do the same thing twice.”

The rocket, which was almost identical to the model Knievel used for his failed attempt four decades ago, set two world records for the longest and highest flight by a steam rocket.

For the team of 25, the successful stunt on September 17 was the result of years of hard work.

For pilot Braun, who is Hollywood star Charlie Sheen’s stunt-double, it was a $1.6-million investment.

And for rocket designer Scott Truax, whose father Bob built the original X2 Skycycle for Knievel, it was months of testing the rocket after working for about seven years on ways and means of getting the rocket stunt to succeed.

Truax had followed his father’s blueprints down to the last bolt and deviated only by reconfiguring the parachute system, which had caused the original stunt to fail.

In 1974, Knievel landed at the bottom of the canyon when his parachute prematurely deployed part way across, but walked away with only minor injuries.

Van Moorsel said the team’s efforts proved that Knievel could have made it across the canyon if his parachute had deployed at the correct time.

Eddie Braun soars to success across the Snake River Canyon.

Mick Van Moorsel of Yatala has played a major role in rewriting the stunt record book by working on a steam rocket which flew acr across theh 427m-wide Snake River Canyon in Idaho; renowned stuntman Evel Knievel (inset) failed to make the crossing in...