If you were crossing Putney Bridge on Sunday 25th May. You may have taken a double take as just above the shoreline glistening in the brief sunshine. You would have taken a first glimpse of the E4’s ‘Evel Knievel Rocket Skycycle’.
The full-size replica of the famous ‘Snake River Canyon’ Rocket was once again poised to cross a fast-flowing river, this time ‘Old Father Thames’. A feat the great Evel himself considered. The E4 Evel Knievel team had set up camp on the banks of the prestigious Putney Wharf complex. The team joined in the day’s events at The Wandsworth Arts Festival which was winding up at the wharf.
However the Rocket remained firmly tethered to its take-off ramp, as let’s say, weather conditions thwarted its attempt to cross the Thames. And maybe the fact that apart from a small effects rocket booster, the rocket itself has no engine!
It's all in good cheek as this monster is our ride for The Redbull Flutag. It’s actually pronounced ‘Floog-tag’. The Rocket with Evel (that’s me!), will be pushed along its launch ramp, and unless a major miracle occurs will end up in Hyde Park’s Serpentine seconds later!
The highly-trained team (sniggers) has been working on the creation for over four weeks now and the Arts Festival proved to be a great dress rehearsal. The main event is in a little less than two weeks' time.
To give it an American feel the E4 Cheerleading troop brightened up the day with some slick dance routines. They made everyone forget about the typical English Bank Holiday weather and smiles were had by all. The troop took the opportunity to finalise their routines and hope to psych up the some 80,000 fans on the day. They will be wearing their E4 t-shirts and waving their pom-poms and helping to get the crowds into a party mood. Head cheerleader Jessica said, 2We cannot wait to dance and show off our moves. And if a wet Sunday can be this much fun, bring on a roasting Saturday and an 80,000 crowd!"
The girls also used the time to raise over fifty pounds for Breast Cancer . "Well done girls!"
The Flugtaggers are all on the final push of the build now and competition is very tight. We hope our little rocket excites the crowd and we have a couple of tricks up our sleeve to hopefully sway the judges. So if you’re coming down on the day, bring an air-horn or your best set of lungs and get those Evel shouts going!
Come on E4 - let's give London the best show on earth!
‘Happy Landings!’ The Evel Knievel Team x
