Sir Chris Hoy has been seen on two wheels again, but not in the way we are used to seeing him – this time it was on a Nissan Juke.
The former-Olympian managed the tricky technique of two-wheel driving in a Nissan Juke in just two days of instruction – a feat that would usually take drivers about two months to execute.
Under the guidance of world-record-breaking stuntman Terry Grant, Sir Chris spent one day at Silverstone Motor Circuit and another at Kendrew Barracks, learning to drive the specially modified Juke crossover.
Driving on two wheels or ‘skiing’ as it is often referred to, is a stunt made famous over the years from James Bond films such as Knight Rider and the Dukes of Hazzard. The activity requires precision, advanced handling techniques and a great deal of driver instinct.
On his first day, Sir Chris had a roll cage fitted for protection in the cabin whilst a specially-engineered stabilizer wheel on the outside prevented the car flipping on its roof. After Terry demonstrated the required techniques, Chris attempted the challenging stunt for the first time. After numerous attempts, the former Olympian began to get the hang of it, even achieving a few controlled drives of short distances with just two wheels on the ground.
On the second sessions, Hoy’s confidence and consistency improved to the point where Terry was comfortable to remove the stabilizer wheel. Despite the added pressure of having nothing to stop the Juke from rolling over, he quickly rose to the challenge, taking the ramp at the correct angle and speed, catching the vehicle before it rolled over and then driving balanced on two wheels. In one of the later runs he even managed a 400 metre distance!
Terry Grant commented: “Chris nailed it two for two! Driving on two wheels in two days – most people would take two months to master that. I think it highlights his ability to soak up instruction and apply discipline to something that’s both mentally and physically challenging – of which he’s got plenty of experience. I’m really impressed.”
Sir Chris added: “I loved it. I never thought it would be as much fun as it was, but I just wanted to keep going. On day one I felt like I was only getting a first foot on the ladder and it’d be weeks before I’d be driving without a safety net. Then today when they took the stabilizer wheel off and there was the risk rolling the car, the pressure didn’t get to me. I remembered Terry’s instructions and it all came together. When I caught the roll and was suddenly driving on two wheels it was such a rush of adrenaline and relief in equal measure – an amazing experience.”
Terry Grant is no stranger to two-wheel driving. Among his impressive 23-strong Guinness World Records he holds the record the fastest mile on two wheels, set in a Nissan Juke NISMO RS at Goodwood Festival in 2015.
To see the video of the stunt, click here: https://youtu.be/Uar4wDxGGUA
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