Stuntman to attempt Evel Knievel’s legendary Snake River rocket jump

This is going to make every child of the 1970s with a passion for motorcycles sit up and take notice. It’s take-two of Evel Knievel’s iconic launch across Snake River Canyon.

Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun, fuelled by the memory of the late daredevil, plans to strap himself into a steam-powered rocket cycle on September 17 for his most death-defying role yet – replicating a launch across the landmark in Idaho, USA. It was a stunt that almost cost Knievel his life when he attempted it 42 years ago.

Braun, pictured above, has named his rocket ‘Evel Spirit’ after his boyhood hero. Powered by compressed steam, it’s nearly identical to the model Knievel used for his unsuccessful canyon attempt on September 8, 1974. Braun wants to prove Knievel could’ve made it had his parachute not prematurely deployed.

Along for the ride in this endeavour are two sons eager to complete the legacies of their fathers: Kelly Knievel, who was present the day of the crash, and rocket designer Scott Truax, whose dad, Bob, constructed rocket cycle for the original jump.

“Evel took off on one side of the canyon in 1974. I’m hoping his spirit lands on the other side of the canyon in 2016,” said the 54-year-old Braun, who has completed the necessary paperwork and will launch a few miles away from Knievel’s original site – still a tourist attraction today – near Twin Falls, Idaho. “How many people get to fulfil the dreams of their hero? It’s kind of like touching Superman’s cape.”