Las Vegas Weekly

September 19, 2008 · 3:06 PM

Exclusive: Daredevil Robbie Knievel swaps Caesars for Mirage volcano in world record attempt

By Robin Leach

It’s the story you won’t read anywhere else. Daredevil Robbie Knievel won’t be jumping the fountains of Caesars Palace on New Year's Eve after all -- but his quest for a new world distance record will still take place in Vegas on Dec. 31!

Luxe Life has exclusively learned –- and confirmed -- that instead of water he will leap through fire. Robbie will now jump the new Mirage volcano

Photo: Mirage

Volcano rendering.

right on the Strip. He will hurtle at over 100 mph on his supercharged motorbike above the fireballs and eruptions of the new tourist attraction set to open Dec. 7.

Details were still being finalized late yesterday and although both Robbie and Mirage officials have signed onto the deal with the live FOX network TV special, it still requires logistical blessings from our Metro Police Department and of course the fire officials and Clark County commissioners.

As I understand it, when the Strip is closed to only pedestrians on New Year's Eve, barricades will be placed around Robbie’s two large ramps and the final pieces will be anchored in at the two driveways of the resort.

It's expected that it will take three days of work to erect the approach and landing ramps. At 4 p.m. our time Dec. 31, the driveway pieces would be set in place for the live 6 p.m. West Coast satellite broadcast for 9 p.m. primetime back East. A midnight Strip fireworks show to coincide with the volcano explosions will be co-coordinated and Robbie’s two ramps will be all packed away by dawn Jan. 1.

Robbie hasn’t yet decided if he will jump from north to south or in the opposite direction – but he wants the jump as close to the sidewalk area

of the volcano as possible. Mirage executives told me last week that the public will be able to stand as close as 30 feet to the 900-degree firejets, which will add 11 degrees of heat to the tourist’s viewing experience!

Robbie will “jump” across the front of the fiery lagoon at the moment of its loudest eruption – so he will go way over the near 50 feet of final flames exploding behind him from the volcano’s highest point. Luxe Life will, of course, monitor this developing story – and be on hand for the amazing record attempt jump, too.

— From Vegas Deluxe

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