Stuntman will attempt record

Press, 8 November 1984, Page 38

Stuntman will attempt record

The Christchurch stuntman, Chris King, is no stranger to dangerous activities, but this Sunday at Ruapuna Park, he will attempt one of the more nerve-wracking feats in his 10-year career as a daredevil.

In a special attempt, he will try to create a new world record by leaping a car over 20 others which will be parked side by side — a distance of over 45m.

Although King has never attempted a jump of this distance before, he has calculated that his car will have to be travelling at least 120km/h when he leaves the launching ramp to enable it to clear the 20 cars and land safely at the other end.

King, aged 29, has chosen the Ruapuna motor racing circuit as a venue because it is the only site that will afford him a long enough run-up area for the car to gather that sort of speed. To help lessen the expected impact on his spine when the car lands, King will drive the car in a tilted

back position on the driver’s seat with sponge rubber packed under his back. A roll cage will be fitted to the car. To be considered a world record, the car must land safely on its wheels at the end of the jump. The present world record is believed to be a jump of 15 cars.

King first became interested in stunt work when a visiting team from the United States performed in Christchurch more than 10 years ago. His enthusiasm gained him a job with the team as a mechanic, and although most stuntmen jealously guard the secrets of their trade, he watched them work and was eventually allowed to attempt some stunt work of his own.

Through his determination to succeed in the difficult job, King was offered a chance to join the Crazy Kiwi stunt team and spent some time travelling with this group before going on to work in England and Ireland.