BUTTE -- Stuntman Spanky Spangler will attempt the largest car crash of his career during this year's Evel Knievel Days in Uptown Butte.

Spangler says the stunt is in memory of Knievel, who died Nov. 30 at age 69, and promises a fitting tribute to the king of the daredevils.

"It's going to be the biggest hit I've ever done," he said during a telephone interview from his Arizona home. "This is the most weight I've ever tried to take out with a car."

Spangler, who has some 22,000 stunts under his belt, will attempt to knock over two buses standing on end Friday, July 25.

He said he plans to drive a car up to 70 mph, launch off a ramp roughly 25 feet into the air and crash into the first of two buses.

The trick to this stunt, Spangler said, will be wedging his car into the bus and riding the wreckage down into the next bus, which also will be standing on end nearby.

"I'm going to domino them down. If I bounce off I'm in trouble," he said. "It's a lot of weight and hopefully I can take it out."

While he will be protected by a roll cage, a protective seat and other safety features, Spangler admits the stunt will be among the most dangerous of his career.

"You can only protect yourself so much. It's always a stunt," he said.

With each bus weighing 40,000 pounds, Spangler said the combined 80,000 pounds is the most he's ever attempted to knock down using a vehicle.

"I'm calling it the big hit," he said, adding that the stunt will be marked with fire and explosions.

Evel Days organizer Bill Rundle anticipates a strong turnout for this year's three-day event, July 24-26, and said Spangler's stunt should be a fitting tribute to Knievel.

"This is going to be unreal," he said. "We want to make it a good year." Spangler will arrive in Butte July 21 to begin on-site planning and preparations for the stunt on East Park Street.

"We're going to make it pretty dramatic," he said.