Originally published April 30, 1984
MILDURA daredevil motorcycle ace Clarry Jones defied the odds to survive a perilous 40-metre plunge into the Murray River.
In a stunt his family begged him to drop, Jones set fire to himself and rode a motorcycle at more than 100 kilometres an hour off a cliff-top ramp at Wicketts Point, upstream from Monak.
An electrified crowd of about 3000 saw Jones rocket from the ramp before tumbling from the Honda XR500 bike in mid-air, and landing face-first about 30 metres out in the river.
The death-defying stunt will write Clarry Jones' name into the Guinness Book of Records.
The jump is believed to have easily eclipsed the previous record for a similar feat.
Ski divers and an ambulance boat raced to his assistance when he surfaced seconds after hitting the water with back-breaking force.
For several seconds, Jones, who was face-down in the water, struggled against the buoyancy created by his suit, to get over on his back.
Bleeding from facial cuts and severely swollen around the eyes, a groggy Jones managed to wave to the crowd within a minute of being dragged from the water.
An ambulance officer said the first words Jones said when lifted aboard the boat were: "Get my head off, get my head off", referring to the helmet which had cut his face.
As the rescue boat approached the bank to transfer Jones to a waiting ambulance the plucky speedway champion renowned for his after-race bonhomie called out: "I'll have a beer with you later, Schultzie."
He was referring to Adelaide dirt track rider Brian Schultz, a frequent speedway opponent.
The stunt climaxed months of planning by Jones and friends after he accepted a bet during the 1984 national sidecar speedway championships.
Jones, who was the 1983 champion, said before the titles he would perform the death-defying feat if he didn't win again.
He finished third and despite pleas to call it off, he honoured his promise.
In the week before the jump it was reported that his brothers offered him thousands of dollars not to go ahead with it.
More than $3000 was spent building the ramp and preparing Jones and his bike.
YouTube Clip below.
