Hundreds of Islanders gathered beside the River Medina on 10th July 1976 to witness one of the most unusual charity fundraising events ever staged on the Isle of Wight.
Half a century ago, East Cowes man Roger Sharpe set out to achieve something that sounded more like a Hollywood stunt than a local charity fundraiser: launching his Vauxhall Victor across the River Medina.
The ambitious challenge was organised to raise money for disabled Islanders and quickly captured the public imagination. Long before social media and viral videos, word of the planned jump spread across the Island, drawing hundreds of spectators to the banks of the Medina to see whether Roger could pull off the seemingly impossible feat.
Preparations had been extensive. Before attempting the jump, Roger carried out trial runs at Seaclose Recreation Ground in Newport, where the Vauxhall Victor reportedly reached speeds of around 100mph. The successful tests gave him confidence that the car had enough momentum to clear the water.
By the afternoon of 10th July, the scene was set. A ramp had been constructed beside the river and safety precautions were in place, including a support boat, swimmers and leading diver Dick Shepherd, who stood ready in case anything went wrong.
As the crowd watched, Roger accelerated towards the ramp and sent the Vauxhall Victor hurtling into the air. For a brief moment, it appeared that the daring stunt might succeed. Instead, the car fell short of the opposite bank and plunged into around 12ft of water, sending up a huge splash and bringing a dramatic end to the attempt.
Fortunately, the outcome was far less serious than many in the crowd initially feared. Wearing a lifejacket, Roger emerged from the river unhurt and was quickly brought ashore. While the Vauxhall Victor had failed to complete its intended flight, its driver escaped with little more than wet boots and a memorable tale to tell.
