There's probably a good reason why nobody has launched a truck off a ramp to execute a backflip. Despite that, Rhys Millen wants to be the first to pull it off. However, the dangers are very real and sometimes one's health is more important than the glory. While recently practicing for his Red Bull Experiment, Rhys Millen suffered an unfortunate accident leaving him with five fractured vertebrae. The incident took place after Millen successfully completed the flip three times into a cushion of cardboard boxes. It was the fourth and final jump test that landed him in the hospital. The truck apparently overshot the landing area and hit the ground -- hard. Thankfully, Rhys's injuries are non-threatening and although he won't be performing the trick in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, he'll be back in action in due time. We wish him well and hope for a full and speedy recovery.
[Source: Red Bull]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rocketboy @ Dec 26th 2007 8:53AM
Darn it... I was looking forward to it to. Now all that's left is the lame ball drop... *sigh*.
cowboy bob @ Dec 26th 2007 8:55AM
Since this guy apparently isn't the brightest bulb in the show, the obvious solution is to put HIM in the ball!
Carlos @ Dec 26th 2007 3:02PM
I really dont care for these sort of tricks - not worth putting someones life on the line for my 5mins of enjoyment.
Rocketboy @ Dec 26th 2007 4:13PM
Yes, because he was being forced against his will to do the trick. Now that he cannot, his family will be slaughtered.
EJ25RUN @ Dec 26th 2007 9:08AM
i dont get how this is cool.
Whiplash @ Dec 26th 2007 9:28AM
The jump is always the easy part. Landing is tricky. :-)
Benfolio @ Dec 26th 2007 9:29AM
See? That's why practice is for sissies. BREAK YOUR BACK ON NATIONAL TV FOOL!
Chuck @ Dec 26th 2007 9:46AM
"Rhys Millen suffered an unfortunate accident leaving him with five fractured vertebrae."
When you are practicing a truck backflip, I don't think you can call the injury an "accident". If you are driving down the street, and someone pulls out in front of you and you collide, that is an accident.
Benfolio @ Dec 26th 2007 9:57AM
That's still not an 'accident'. The driver that pulled out in front of you made a dumb decision as well.
gitagrip @ Dec 26th 2007 9:47AM
Another idiot (and I use that turn loosely as this guy's not bright enough to earn this low praise) whose willing to trade his life for "fame(?)" or worse, "some money".
Darwin award wannabee, you go guy!
garrett @ Dec 27th 2007 7:49AM
rhys millen is an awsome driver and person. wikipedia him to find out more. it only gives his experience as a drifter but his career goes beyond that.
T @ Dec 26th 2007 10:21AM
The stunt itself seems so uninteresting - what's the point?
Shaun @ Dec 26th 2007 12:39PM
I think its because flipping a vehicle is tough. With a bike, or a snowmobile, you can throw your weight around to cause it to flip. With a car all they can do is angle the ramp to cause it to flip in the air, they must calculate the landing and speed, so as he does not over flip / under flip.
I agree its kinda dumb, but the physics of the matter is interesting.
S.
Tagg @ Dec 26th 2007 11:52PM
Exactly!!
At least with a dirt bike or snowmobile the driver/rider (the person putting their health at risk) is the one actually performing the trick. With this they could put a crash dummy it, launch the truck like a rocket and achieve a similar result all without a roll cage.
FThorn @ Dec 26th 2007 10:39AM
I don't think it's worth it to try.
mark_welby @ Dec 26th 2007 10:45AM
A potential lifetime of residual pain, just to unsuccessfully be the first person to flip a truck. A stunt that'd garner about 30 seconds of "Yeah, EXTREME, brah!!! ", then silence and the sound of crickets as the people have moved on to the next guy and his ridiculous attempt at motorized glory.
Good for you, man.... Good for you.
pc4554 @ Dec 26th 2007 11:13AM
thats awesome! doing backflips up until now has been restricted to snowmobiles, jet skies, dirt bikes, and mountain bikes. This could start a whole new generation of sports though if it could be done with 4 wheeled vehicle. You people that are saying its stupid just don't know what extreme sports really are.
Nicko @ Dec 26th 2007 1:45PM
Some guy sitting in a roll cage with a 5-point harness and pressing the accelerator pedal off of a specially built ramp is NOT extreme, just foolish.
CEMan @ Dec 26th 2007 11:16AM
As the old Irish song goes:
"It's not the fall but landing, that alters social standing"
Darwin was almost right again..
rygar @ Dec 26th 2007 11:33AM
Peter Dumbreck flipped his Benz over three times, what 8 years ago? Sure it wasn't on purpose. And he didn't land back on the road. But whatever, beat that Rhys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbgSe9S54I&feature=related