Bob Correll

Infobox Person
name = Daredevil Bob Correll


caption = Bob Correll in a 1976 publicity photo
birth_name = Robert W. Correll
birth_date = birth date|1948|1|7
birth_place = Long Beach, California, USA
nationality = flagicon|USA American
occupation = Stunt performer

Bob "Crazy" Correll (born January 7, 1948) is a former daredevil and stuntman from Long Beach, California. According to his official biography from Balls, Unlimited, Inc., Correll has enjoyed a varied career racing motorcycles, drag cars, stock cars, and go-carts. He has also flown hang gliders, sail planes, powered planes, and hot-air balloons. [Official biography of Bob Correll, available directly from Aerovisions, Inc. or Balls, Unlimited, Inc.] From the 1970s to the late 1990s Bob Correll was associated with the following ventures:

*The "Kitecycle" - Designed in the early 1970s and patented 1975 [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4068810.PN.&OS=PN/4068810&RS=PN/4068810 U.S. Patent Office] , by Doug Malewicki of Aerovisions, Inc., the Kitecycle is a motorcycle/hangglider combination that has been featured on the television programs "That's Incredible," "The New and Spectacular Guinness Book of World Records," "CHiPs," and "," amongst others. Correll's distance record with the Kitecycle is 423 feet. [http://www.nhra.com Burgess, Phil. Probably quoting Malewicki himself. Inside National DRAGSTER. Friday, July 04, 2008. Find link on page for Inside National DRAGSTER.]

*The "Original Jet-Powered Dragster Motorcycle" (The "Jetbike") - Correll's jet-powered motorcycle was not chain-driven, but operated using pure thrust. Craig Arfons converted the General Electric T-58 military helicopter engine for the project. The motorcycle itself and the jet engine's afterburner were designed primarily by Doug Malewicki, and created and operated by Balls Unlimited, Inc. Officially clocked at more than 200 mph in the quarter-mile distance, the bike featured more than 1,350 horsepower and was capable of speeds approaching 300 mph. [http://www.canosoarus.com/09JetBike/JetBike01.htm Malewicki's personal website.]

*"Robosaurus" - Built by Monster Robots, Inc. of Sun Valley, CA. Bob Correll was the backseat operator ("co-pilot") from 1990 to 1993. [http://www.robosaurus.com/controlled.html Monster Robots, Inc. official website] [http://www.robosaurus.com/bk/Robobk15.htm Monster Robots, Inc. official website]

*The "F/18 Jetbike", a dragster motorcycle that featured an engine from an F/A-18 Hornet. The bike received national exposure on the FX television program "The X Show" but was never licensed for exhibition racing. According to Malewicki's personal website, Tim Arfons did the engine conversion and Chip Bassett did the machining and fabrication. [http://www.canosoarus.com/20F18Jet%20Bike/JB01.htm Malewicki's personal website.]
Since 2000, Correll has retired from the spotlight. He currently lives in Southern California.

References

External links

* [http://www.cyclejumpers.com/correll.html "Cycle Jumpers" - features early photos of Bob Correll and the Kitecycle.]