007 Spiral Stunt Car
For Immediate Release -- West Springfield, Mass. -- August 2009
JAMES BOND SPIRAL STUNT CAR COMES TO THE BIG E
For the first time ever, visitors to The Big E will have the opportunity to see the famous car which performed the historic "Astro Spiral" 360° jump in the iconic James Bond movie "Man with the Golden Gun," starring Roger Moore. The James Bond Spiral Stunt Car Exhibit, sponsored by Uncommon USA, will be available for viewing throughout the Fair in the Young Building.
The red 1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback is part of the personal collection of Jay Milligan, creator of the historic "corkscrew" jump. Milligan, of Hamburg, New York, who keeps the "secret" of the jump to this day, will be on-hand to speak with fairgoers on Opening Day, Sept. 18.
The spiral stunt was completed on location in Thailand in one take during the filming of the movie. The dangerous and seemingly impossible feat was achieved due to Milligan's expertise and the daring of British stunt driver, Loren "Bumps" Willert. During the jump, the Hornet was propelled into the air and spun like a football. Legendary Hell Drivers (HD) stuntman, Jimmy Canton, who often performed the stunt at fairs, described it on the HD website, "It spins so fast, it's just like a barrel roll in an airplane." According to the website, which promotes the professional stuntmen who often planned and enacted stunts in the earlier Bond movies, starring Sean Connery and Roger Moore, this is "the most impressive Bond stunt of all time..."
The new, at the time, and breathtaking jump set a new standard for stunts and special effects in action films.
Bond aficionados and car enthusiasts alike won't want to miss this spectacular collection which also includes memorabilia, artifacts and never-before-seen photos and videos.
The Big E takes place Sept. 18 - Oct. 4, 2009 in West Springfield, Mass. For tickets and more information visit TheBigE.com or call The Big E Info Line at 413-205-5115.
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