Las Vegas Weekly

December 12, 2008 · 11:41 AM

Robbie Knievel begins practice runs for NYE leap over Mirage volcano

By Robin Leach

Robbie Knievel rolls in for a surprise appearance at The Mirage's volcano premiere.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

The high-throttle roars of the motorcycle engines from the mechanics’ mobile trailer workshops parked at The Mirage have gone silent for the moment. Stunt driver Robbie Knievel has moved them all now to a secret desert location for the practice runs in advance of his dangerous jump over the new Mirage volcano on New Year’s Eve.

Fox cameras will present the live broadcast from here in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. -- 11 p.m. on the East Coast. Some 50 minutes into the show, Robbie will make the jump and hopefully land safely as the network cuts away to the midnight ball drop in New York’s Times Square.

I’ve known Robbie many years since we went riding together with John Paul Mitchell hair products king J.P DeJoria on an early Sunday morning fundraising ride through Austin, Texas! Robbie and I stood together earlier this week watching the new Mirage volcano roar back to life (click HERE for our Tuesday report and video).

As the awesome rumble and flames quieted down, I asked him having now seen it for the first time if he would still go ahead with the jump. Robbie will have to jump the 120-foot-high water jets that simulate the molten lava and go through the searing 900-degree-heat fireballs!

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

The Mirage volcano makes its debut.

He told me: “Yes. This is my eighth live show, and I have been in this business since I was 8, so we’re definitely going for it. Without a doubt, that volcano is mighty impressive, but I’m going to jump it -- as I do with all my jumps -- in honor of my father. He still holds the record for the most-watched show on the world of sports, and the fans are everything. All of his jumps back then were on tape, but today we have the added excitement of being able to do it live as it happens.

“I’ve watched the volcano. I’ve thought about it already. I’ve planned out the practice runs in my mind that are necessary for this particular jump. I don’t think I’m going to have to change anything yet. I’ve thought it all through already. I’ve had a new bike specially built for this. I think honestly it will be a piece of cake for me, and it is so much fun to be back in Vegas. I’m exactly like my father. He lived for these jumps. My dad believed in God, and Evel Knievel went to heaven because he smiled in his coffin.”

Photo: Erik Kabik/ RETNA/www.erikkabikphoto.com

You can check out all of Robbie’s jumps and his latest videos at www.knieveltour.com. Robbie’s TV special is being produced for Fox by my pal Jeff Androfsky, who has invited me down to the desert practice runs.

On New Year’s Eve, he’ll supervise a crew who will close down the two driveways on the Strip front entrance to The Mirage. They will install the takeoff and landing ramps. He’ll synchronize Robbie’s starting time in the middle of The Mirage volcano fireball eruptions and water cannons so he flies right over it at the correct moment.

Thousands of fans and thrill-seekers are expected to jam the Strip, which will be closed to all traffic after 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Photo: Erik Kabik/ RETNA/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Robbie added: “Don’t let’s kid ourselves. This is going to be a very big jump. I still hold the record for the biggest with Eddie Kidd from England. I learned from the best -- my father. To have had a father like him is rare, and I try to carry on the name. I’ll go out to the desert to rehearse all this. Since I always dedicate my jumps to those who give their lives to protect us, I like to watch the jets flying out at Nellis. I’ve been going out there since the Caesars Palace jump I did back in 1989.”

I had to ask Robbie if The Mirage volcano was going to be more difficult, more dangerous and even tougher than his own successful Caesars jump that nearly paralyzed his father from serious injuries sustained in Knievel Sr.’s failed attempt.

Robbie replied: “I would rather be dead than paralyzed. The older you get, the more positive you become mentally. I am 46 and a grandfather. I can still out jump any other grandfather on Earth. I couldn’t take it if I went down, so even though you get older physically, you actually get more determined to succeed.”

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