Longest Monster Truck Jump!!!September 7, 2010
by Joe Sylvester
This accomplishment was a result of planning and preparations by me, my crew, and my family over the past couple years. We made it happen despite many setbacks and hurdles.
The trouble started one week before we began the testing for the jump. After hitting the very last jump of the last show I was doing before my world record testing, the Chevrolet engine in BAD HABIT let loose and completely blew up leaving me without a motor. Thanks to John Kyle and APD Racing Engines in Genoa, OH, BAD HABIT was back up and running with a newer, stronger, better running motor than ever!
With the new motor in the truck, me and my two crew members Kyle and Scott got on the road to Columbus, PA. We arrived at the Miller Farm, site of the Cornfield 500, around 5pm Monday evening and while Kyle and Scott got the truck ready for Tuesday’s testing, Blair and I finished preparing the take off jump. Speed tests went well on Tuesday but the first jump test did not. With my new APD engine not even at full throttle, I hit the take off ramp and flew about 60 feet high in the air and landed straight down on the front of the truck at the 195 foot mark. The impact ripped the right front wheel off BAD HABIT sending it into five violent flips. After the truck came to rest around the 300 foot mark, the front axle housing was bent, the body was completely destroyed, the wheelie bar and sway bar assembly was completely ripped off the back of the chassis, a shock shaft was bent, a 4-link bar was bent, a tire was flat, the front tie rod was bent and ripped off, and a front steering ram was torn apart. Not to mention I had one heck of a headache. Although most would have thrown in the towel after a crash like this, we put our heads down and got to work, 17 hours a day until Sunday to be exact. Big thanks to Kyle, Scott, Mike, my family, and the Cornfield 500 staff for all lending a helping hand to getting BAD HABIT back together in time for the big jump on Sunday.
After heavy rains all day and night Saturday, it was looking doubtful that it was going to be dry enough for the jump Sunday. The sun came through and the winds picked up and the track dried out very well in time for the jump. After making a couple runs past the great crowd and a short speed pass down the runway, I took to the newly redesigned take off ramp without hesitation. I would also like to thank Gary Bauer for his help rebuilding my takeoff ramp so that we could avoid another disaster like Tuesday. Wound out to about 75 mph, BAD HABIT flew through the air perfectly and landed at 197 feet which would not be enough to beat the current record. The truck was still in good shape and after letting it cool down a bit and changing the pitch of the takeoff just a little; I took to the ramp for a second try at the record. Hitting almost 79mph on this run, the truck once again flew through the air perfectly and this time landed at 208 feet! A New World Record!
This has been a dream come true and I can’t thank everyone enough who has helped and supported me through the entire process!! Watch out for more on the edge stunts in the future from Joe Sylvester Motorsports and the BAD HABIT Monster Truck!
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