I grew up watching him and remember the Snake River Canyon jump. There are a couple of movies about his life out and they are reall amazing. Another amazing man still alive is Gen. Chuck Yeager. If you ever get a chance to read about him it is truly amazing. True hereos.
<< <i>I grew up watching him and remember the Snake River Canyon jump. There are a couple of movies about his life out and they are reall amazing. Another amazing man still alive is Gen. Chuck Yeager. If you ever get a chance to read about him it is truly amazing. True hereos. >>
Not to detract from evil, but Oct. 14 is a Holiday in my home. (Go Chuck)
He was a great showman... I often wondered how he felt right before one of his major jumps... He must have had enough adrenaline pumping through him to keep him awake for days. RIP Cheers, RickO
Evel was awesome and truly a product of his times- as a kid I had the coolest T-Shirt with an Evel "iron-on" on the front. We used to jump ramps on our bikes and do the standard Evel Knievel running commentary.... very sorry to hear he's gone, and interesting to hear he was a coin collector.
"College men from LSU- went in dumb, come out dumb too..." -Randy Newman
Jeez. Good child of the '70s that I was, we had almost all the EK toys. We had the motorcycle where you cranked up the stand before releasing the energy of the bike -- almost like Screamin' Demons or the SSP but with a different energy source. I remember buying the Snake River Canyon jumper, too, though there wasn't much to jump except the missing grate on the storm drain at the nearby schoolyard. Could Evel jump the 16 inches needed to clear it or would he fall into the pit?
I remember that bike being almost indestructable. Being boys, we put that thing through some real stress tests. Let's jam Knievel into the wall! Let's release him from a platform three feet high!
As far as pretending to be him, I remember when my brother Mike went down into a storm drain on the schoolyard blacktop and waited for me to jump the hole vacated by the grate we removed. Jeez, this was probably around 1977 or so. Equipped with my BMX bicycle, I tried it. I'd actually done it several times before. He wanted to see the view from below, at least that's what he said. Well, I pedaled and pedaled and got a good head of steam going, but just as I was jumping over the hole, Mike threw up a crappy old coat he found down there. Right as I was going over it! It freaked me out and I lost control of the bike. I flew over the top of it and "munched," as we called it, and the screw on the gooseneck ripped a nice gash into the skin in my chest above the breastbone. I can't believe to this day that it didn't leave a scar.
Damn. Evel Knievel was part of my Wide World of Sports childhood along with Muhammad Ali fights back when championship boxing was on free TV. Another piece of my childhood passes on.
<< <i>The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle was quite possibly THE best toy of all time! >>
...and the Six Million Dollar Man doll. R.I.P., Evel- thanks for one of the fun parts of my childhood!
You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
Definitely a noteworthy passing. Can't say I'm as big a fan as others. As big a daredevil as he was, he was far less than heroic as a person and really a poor role model on a deeper level. I most remember two things about him--how much he was impressed with himself, and when he and Richard Pryor both appeared on the Tonight Show together. You can guess who came out on top in that interaction. I don't think I've ever laughed harder. I'm much more impressed with his son Robbie, but there's no doubt Evel's carved out an idelable place for himself in history.
<< <i>Definitely a noteworthy passing. Can't say I'm as big a fan as others. As big a daredevil as he was, he was far less than heroic as a person and really a poor role model on a deeper level. I most remember two things about him--how much he was impressed with himself, and when he and Richard Pryor both appeared on the Tonight Show together. You can guess who came out on top in that interaction. I don't think I've ever laughed harder. I'm much more impressed with his son Robbie, but there's no doubt Evel's carved out an idelable place for himself in history. >>
I think you're confusing the degree to which someone was simply a childhood icon with the degree to which someone was a hero to be emulated.
I spent a day with Knievel in Las Vegas and got to know him pretty well after that. We talked on the phone fairly often for a spell. He was one of a kind, no doubt about it. Here's the piece I wrote with him in Golf Digest, if you're interested. The stories he tells are fantastic. I have several hours of mp3 files of my interviewing him.
<< <i>I spent a day with Knievel in Las Vegas and got to know him pretty well after that. We talked on the phone fairly often for a spell. He was one of a kind, no doubt about it. Here's the piece I wrote with him in Golf Digest, if you're interested. The stories he tells are fantastic. I have several hours of mp3 files of my interviewing him.
<< <i>Another amazing man still alive is Gen. Chuck Yeager. If you ever get a chance to read about him it is truly amazing. >>
With all due respect, there is apparently an awful lot you don't know about Yeager. He is/was a pariah among his peers and he's far from any hero. Sorry, I used to think similar things till I learned better. The man has taken credit for the actual deeds of others most of his life. There was a reason he wasn't one of the first 7 astronauts and was refused to ever be considered by NASA. Sorry, I'm betting most of the stuff you have seen or read about Yeager was missing most of the facts if not a complete fabrication. He's not the actual holder of nearly all the records he claims.
The joke used to be that his ego was way too big to ever fit into a space capsule and besides, there wasn't any way to line the craft with all the mirrors Yeager would have demanded.
On topic..... I was lying in traction in a hospital bed when I watched the Snake River Canyon jump attempt. Yes, I was there due to piloting an airborne motorcycle. The nurses had more than a bit of fun with me that over that.
Evel was really one of a kind, a true living legend. He had the showmanship down to a science. I'll always remember the jump over the fountains at Las Vegas. That was amazing!
"Lenin is certainly right. There is no subtler or more severe means of overturning the existing basis of society(destroy capitalism) than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and it does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose." John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
<< <i>The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle was quite possibly THE best toy of all time! >>
...and the Six Million Dollar Man doll. R.I.P., Evel- thanks for one of the fun parts of my childhood! >>
I have both of those items downstairs....
I like this part of your interview best Guy....
I learned one thing from jumping motorcycles that was of great value on the golf course, the putting green especially: Whatever you do, don't come up short.
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A "triple struck" coin issued in 1974 & sold at the SNAKE RIVER CANYON jump.
He was a great entertainer with his daring motorcycle stunts.
He will be forever missed. To me he holds an equivalnce to the King of Rock and roll, Mr Elvis Presely
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Can't believe he survived.
Did watch the Snake River 'jump'.
AHH, memories.
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http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
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RIP Evil...
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<< <i>I grew up watching him and remember the Snake River Canyon jump. There are a couple of movies about his life out and they are reall amazing. Another amazing man still alive is Gen. Chuck Yeager. If you ever get a chance to read about him it is truly amazing. True hereos. >>
Not to detract from evil, but Oct. 14 is a Holiday in my home. (Go Chuck)
-Randy Newman
I remember that bike being almost indestructable. Being boys, we put that thing through some real stress tests. Let's jam Knievel into the wall! Let's release him from a platform three feet high!
As far as pretending to be him, I remember when my brother Mike went down into a storm drain on the schoolyard blacktop and waited for me to jump the hole vacated by the grate we removed. Jeez, this was probably around 1977 or so. Equipped with my BMX bicycle, I tried it. I'd actually done it several times before. He wanted to see the view from below, at least that's what he said. Well, I pedaled and pedaled and got a good head of steam going, but just as I was jumping over the hole, Mike threw up a crappy old coat he found down there. Right as I was going over it! It freaked me out and I lost control of the bike. I flew over the top of it and "munched," as we called it, and the screw on the gooseneck ripped a nice gash into the skin in my chest above the breastbone. I can't believe to this day that it didn't leave a scar.
Damn. Evel Knievel was part of my Wide World of Sports childhood along with Muhammad Ali fights back when championship boxing was on free TV. Another piece of my childhood passes on.
<< <i>The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle was quite possibly THE best toy of all time! >>
...and the Six Million Dollar Man doll. R.I.P., Evel- thanks for one of the fun parts of my childhood!
Can't say I'm as big a fan as others. As big a daredevil as he was, he was far less than heroic as a person and really a poor role model on a deeper level. I most remember two things about him--how much he was impressed with himself, and when he and Richard Pryor both appeared on the Tonight Show together. You can guess who came out on top in that interaction. I don't think I've ever laughed harder.
I'm much more impressed with his son Robbie, but there's no doubt Evel's carved out an idelable place for himself in history.
<< <i>Definitely a noteworthy passing.
Can't say I'm as big a fan as others. As big a daredevil as he was, he was far less than heroic as a person and really a poor role model on a deeper level. I most remember two things about him--how much he was impressed with himself, and when he and Richard Pryor both appeared on the Tonight Show together. You can guess who came out on top in that interaction. I don't think I've ever laughed harder.
I'm much more impressed with his son Robbie, but there's no doubt Evel's carved out an idelable place for himself in history. >>
I think you're confusing the degree to which someone was simply a childhood icon with the degree to which someone was a hero to be emulated.
Here's the piece I wrote with him in Golf Digest, if you're interested. The stories he tells are fantastic. I have several hours of mp3 files of my interviewing him.
Evel Knievel
<< <i>I spent a day with Knievel in Las Vegas and got to know him pretty well after that. We talked on the phone fairly often for a spell. He was one of a kind, no doubt about it.
Here's the piece I wrote with him in Golf Digest, if you're interested. The stories he tells are fantastic. I have several hours of mp3 files of my interviewing him.
Evel Knievel >>
Evel was in a class by himself. Great article.
<< <i>Another amazing man still alive is Gen. Chuck Yeager. If you ever get a chance to read about him it is truly amazing. >>
With all due respect, there is apparently an awful lot you don't know about Yeager. He is/was a pariah among his peers and he's far from any hero. Sorry, I used to think similar things till I learned better. The man has taken credit for the actual deeds of others most of his life. There was a reason he wasn't one of the first 7 astronauts and was refused to ever be considered by NASA. Sorry, I'm betting most of the stuff you have seen or read about Yeager was missing most of the facts if not a complete fabrication. He's not the actual holder of nearly all the records he claims.
The joke used to be that his ego was way too big to ever fit into a space capsule and besides, there wasn't any way to line the craft with all the mirrors Yeager would have demanded.
On topic..... I was lying in traction in a hospital bed when I watched the Snake River Canyon jump attempt. Yes, I was there due to piloting an airborne motorcycle. The nurses had more than a bit of fun with me that over that.
Evel was really one of a kind, a true living legend. He had the showmanship down to a science. I'll always remember the jump over the fountains at Las Vegas. That was amazing!
John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
<< <i>
<< <i>The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle was quite possibly THE best toy of all time! >>
...and the Six Million Dollar Man doll. R.I.P., Evel- thanks for one of the fun parts of my childhood! >>
I have both of those items downstairs....
I like this part of your interview best Guy....
I learned one thing from jumping motorcycles that was of great value on the golf course, the putting green especially: Whatever you do, don't come up short.