General Lee Soars Over Somerset as 35,000 Gather for Dukes of Hazzard Stunt Tribute

SOMERSET, Ky. — More than 35,000 people packed downtown Somerset on Saturday for a spectacle pulled straight from television history, as the iconic “General Lee” made a dramatic airborne leap over Fountain Square—just like in the classic TV show The Dukes of Hazzard.

The jaw-dropping moment was part of the Somernites Cruise’s 25th anniversary celebration, a popular monthly classic car event held April through October. This month’s installment featured a headline stunt by the Northeast Ohio Dukes STUNTLIFE team that recreated a legendary car jump from the 1979 series.

Behind the wheel was Raymond Kohn, who piloted a modified Crown Victoria designed to replicate the famed orange Dodge Charger. Saturday’s jump marked Kohn’s 30th General Lee stunt, a personal milestone that made the event even more meaningful.

“I thought it was going to be a one-time thing and go away,” Kohn told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “It snowballed out of control. It was so popular the first time, people asked me to come back… and I became the go-to guy to jump the General Lee.”

Somernites Cruise organizers confirmed the record-breaking turnout in a post on social media, noting the crowd size was the largest ever for a jump at the event. The stunt was made possible through coordination with local law enforcement, the Somerset City Council, and the Pulaski County Judge-Executive’s office.

Adding even more emotion to the moment, Kohn revealed he had recently undergone surgery to remove a life-threatening brain tumor. His first question to his surgeon? “Will I be able to jump after the surgery?”

Saturday’s performance was also dedicated to actor Rick Hurst, who portrayed Sheriff Cletus Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard. Hurst passed away Thursday, just two days before the event.

While the show has faced controversy in recent years—particularly over the Confederate flag symbol on the General Lee—Kohn emphasized the show’s values and enduring popularity.

“In The Dukes of Hazzard, the bad guys always lose, and the good guys always win,” he said. “There is no racism depicted. It is a family show with family values. I like to think my life is based off the Dukes of Hazzard, and this is my little part to keep it alive.”

As fans cheered and the dust settled, Kohn summed up the energy of the day with a grin and a question: “How do you top that?”