Whatever Happened To The Famous Jumping Combine
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Ernie Brookins first appeared in FARM SHOW in 1985 with the Jumping Combine (Vol. 9, No. 4). The 7,000-lb., 21-ft. long machine with its 1,200 hp. dragster engine was loosely modeled after a Gleaner combine driven backwards. It was equipped with combine wheels, a 14-ft. header, and a Deere combine steering system. It was called the Silver Bullet.
Its first jump was in front of 6,000 spectators in Fargo, N. Dak. Rolling down a 1,000-ft. runway and up a 42-ft. ramp at close to 50 mph, it cleared a $30,000 reproduction classic car.
“We ran the Silver Bullet for 5 years as a special attraction. We even did a Coors Light commercial with Chuck Yeager, the test pilot, and were in the movie American Harvest.”
The Silver Bullet bit the bullet in Kenosha, Wis. “It broke a front wheel off as I jumped it,” recalls Brookins. “I did a wheelie as we came down, but when I dropped the front end down, the broken front axle dug into the ground.”
Anyone wanting to hear more about the Silver Bullet can go to www.machinerypete.com/podcasts. “He did an hour-long interview with my wife Gail on the Jumping Combine and our other special attraction vehicles,” says Brookins.
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Whatever Happened To The Famous Jumping Combine COMBINES Miscellaneous Ernie Brookins first appeared in FARM SHOW in 1985 with the Jumping Combine Vol 9 No 4 The 7 000-lb 21-ft long machine with its 1 200 hp dragster engine was loosely modeled after a Gleaner combine driven backwards It was equipped with combine wheels a 14-ft header and a Deere combine steering system It was called the Silver Bullet Its first jump was in front of 6 000 spectators in Fargo N Dak Rolling down a 1 000-ft runway and up a 42-ft ramp at close to 50 mph it cleared a $30 000 reproduction classic car “We ran the Silver Bullet for 5 years as a special attraction We even did a Coors Light commercial with Chuck Yeager the test pilot and were in the movie American Harvest ” The Silver Bullet bit the bullet in Kenosha Wis “It broke a front wheel off as I jumped it ” recalls Brookins “I did a wheelie as we came down but when I dropped the front end down the broken front axle dug into the ground ” Anyone wanting to hear more about the Silver Bullet can go to www machinerypete com/podcasts “He did an hour-long interview with my wife Gail on the Jumping Combine and our other special attraction vehicles ” says Brookins
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