If you say the word “daredevil” one image universally comes to mind- a man wearing red, white and blue leather riding a motorcycle up a ramp to complete an incredibly dangerous stunt. Evel Knievel is the quintessential daredevil and one in which we might never see again in our lifetime.
Evel Knievel is true grit on wheels, with a showmanship that is unequaled; he exploded onto the national consciousness from humble beginnings. His stunts are legendary and while he known for his successful stunts, his failures are probably better known. In his lifetime, he is estimated to have broken over 400 bones (433 to be exact, a Guinness Record). A true daredevil, Evil Knievel is quoted as describing himself as “nothing but scar tissue and surgical steel”.
While his incredible failures cemented his persona as a true showman willing to risk his life and limb for the masses this type of individuals was exactly what the national conscious needed to occupy its time during the dark periods of the 60’s and 70’s. Evel Knievel with all his faults and failures is still considered a true daredevil performer.
For more daredevil facts about the man, the legend and his wheels, please visit Smithsonian Magazine at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/
Daredevil, Evel Knievel, Black Holes, Wrigley Field, Forbidden City
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