Updated: Final practice video added after the jump. Warning: It's a bit of a tease.
Unless you're afraid of flying cars or really hate energy drinks, you're understandably excited about watching Travis Pastrana attempt to jump a Subaru WRX STI rally car from the Pine Street Pier in Long Beach, California, out onto a barge floating in the harbor on New Year's Eve. That's tomorrow. Today we took a few minutes to talk to Pastrana and his top tech, Gregg Hamilton, who formerly wrenched for the Subaru WRC team. We also looked at the cars (there are 2) and walked part of the jump ramp. And we learned it's 240 feet from the end of the pier to the barge.
The STI on the right in the above photo is the primary jump car, because "it's the most expendable," says Hamilton. This is the car that is said to have "crashed" in practice, though whatever happened, the damage was only cosmetic, Hamilton told us. In addition, this STI was driven by Dave Mirra in the X Games. The second STI is a back-up in the event of a mechanical failure.
Evidently, the cars are exactly like any other Subaru Rally Team USA car, though a different, less restrictive restrictor plate lets the 2.2-liter boxer four-cylinder make more power -- about 400 horsepower and 451 pound-feet of torque. Unnecessary stuff like the navigator's seat, the spare tires and the underbody protection have been deleted to lighten the car to 3,000 pounds from 3,400. The windshield is plastic.
Additionally, the front aero package has been removed to enable Pastrana to better "fly" the car...
Lots more photos and info after the jump.
Pastrana is no stranger to flying, but he has always jumped bikes. He claims the STI rally car is surprisingly adjustable in midair, though
"We took the aero off the front to keep the back end down because we've got no weight in the back," he told a group of journalists taking shelter from the rain in his Red Bull trailer. (In addition, ballast was added on the passenger side to help offset the deletion of the passenger seat.)
This has the effect of pushing the nose of the car up, he said. "The first time I pulled the handbrake, I almost cartwheeled it."
There's some work to be done at the wheel to counter crosswinds. "During practice we had a 17-mph sidewind so you actually had to aim for right to the edge of where the landing ramp would be and kind of play the wind. If you turn into whatever way you're going and gas it, it stands it straight but then it gets [the nose] flying high, so the day with the wind, I'd turn the wheels, give it some gas, pull the handbrake and level it in... like in Space Cowboys, 'bring the nose in.'"
Headwinds and tailwinds are also a factor, which is why Pastrana abandoned his original, perfectly insane idea of jumping between New York City skyscrapers. "A 5-mph headwind is 40 feet on the back side of a jump. Can you imagine on a skyscraper if there was a gust, a 10-mph gust and all of a sudden, you're 80 feet short?"
Pastrana expects to touch down on the barge at 95 mph, give or take a couple mph depending on the wind. (The STI is fitted with BF Goodrich gravel rally tires, which Hamilton told us can better withstand a hard landing than harder-compound tarmac tires.)
"If I don't grease that landing, if that car bounces at all... flying [nose] high actually kind of sets down pretty nice. Flying low, it bounces. If it's long and it hits the bottom, that car does not settle. If it doesn't look smooth as in 'that was way too easy,' there's no way I'm stopping.... I could slide it in sideways, but I'd hate to do this big jump and then crash on the landing."
Fortunately, there's a scuba tank on-board the STI in case Pastrana goes into the drink and has the presence of mind to equip himself. In addition, there's a camera mounted on the passenger-side A-pillar to record the priceless look on his face.
Inside Line Feature: Travis Pastrana: Rallying With Brutal Speed and Graceful Landings
123xlr8 says:
07:50 AM, 12/31/09
Such a waste of talent.
subytrojan says:
11:17 AM, 12/31/09
I wish the jump would be longer.
I hope Travis nails it! :o)
Don't try this in an Evo, folks! Its nose dips as it travels through the air!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8yGXFrAcF4
firstclass says:
02:05 PM, 12/31/09
I don’t want anyone to get hurt…but I have to be honest…, I really want to see the car land in the harbor. If he makes the landing it’s just another energy drink publicity stunt.