Since that auction, Beckley was convinced he’d ink a broadcast deal, which would be the main funding source of the stunt. Not more than an hour after winning the auction, he said he had numerous phone messages from area codes in New York and Los Angeles and an offer “from a network with a ‘C’ on the end of it.”

The Twin Falls City Council, however, turned down his bid to launch his rocket from Knievel’s dirt ramp, now city property, citing concerns about Beckley’s ability to keep the town safe from the hordes of spectators the event would draw.

In mid-March, Beckley was hospitalized with four broken ribs when his attempt to jump nine cars on his motorcycle came up one car short and he was thrown, end-over-end, during the New Mexico stunt.

In the months since, Beckley scaled back his plans for a 40,000-attendee event concurrent with the jump, scrapping the idea altogether in early July.

The daredevil told the Times-News in May that he had spent $1.6 million on the project and had not turned a wrench on a rocket-powered motorcycle.

The team pushing the Braun-Truax jump has always stayed at arm's length of the ups and downs Beckley faced, consistently designing and building rockets throughout the planning process.