Daredevil Extraordinaire Evel Knievel

For those that grew up in the 60’s 70’s and early 80’s, one man defied the odds and became a legendary daredevil. Evel Knievel will always be one of the best and notorious stuntmen ever to walk the earth and his incredible successes as well as dismal failures have become celebrated throughout America and the world.

Evel Knievel was possibly more famous for his incomprehensible crashes than his incredible achievements. This daredevil it seemed defied the laws of gravity and sailed endlessly on a motorcycle. However, on a few occasion, Evel Knievel crashed violently doing great harm to his body, but never to his ego. Evel Knievel holds the record for most broken bones by the Guinness Book of World Records. It is said that he had broken 433 bones during his lifetime, although he had disputed this amount saying the total was much lower.

While daredevil Evel Knievel did survive all of his incredible stunts, at the age of 69, he did succumb to pulmonary disease. For those that enjoy the myth and legend that was Evel Knievel, Smithsonian Magazine offers an interesting article. Please visit us today at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Quincy Jones, Glacier National Park, Daredevil, Phantom of the Opera

The Most Famous Stunts of Daredevil Evel Knievel

Unlike most of today’s stuntmen, Evel Knievel was a true daredevil. Instead of calculating thrust and windspeed and angles, this daredevil just… jumped. There was no math involved in his jumps. He would simple look at the distance to be jumped, make some estimates and… hope for the best. But the best didn’t always come to pass, and Evel Knievel crashed very, very often. Many even think that his incredible popularity was due to his failures more than his successes.

Evel Knievel became a household name in 1967, when he attempted to jump his motorcycle over the fountains of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. And while he cleared the fountains themselves, his motorcycle crashed, and the daredevil was very badly injured. Knievel was in a coma for a month, but when he came out, he was a very famous man. It was a fame that Evel Knievel didn’t want to let go to waste. After taking some time to heal, the daredevil made his first jump after the disaster at Caesars Palace in 1969, at Cycle Word in Los Angeles, CA. He played it safe, and made this first return jump just a 40-footer-- and 40,000 people cheered him on.

After that, the daredevil got his stride back. In 1970, he jumped 13 cars in Seattle Washington, 11 cars at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, and 12 cars on his Harley. That same year, in front of a crowd of 9,000 people, the daredevil attempted to jump fifteen cars-- and almost succeeded. He made it over the vehicles, but lost control when he landed and crashed. Evel Knievel “only” suffered a broken ankle, and --hopping around on one leg-- he talked to a cheering, screaming audience after the crash and received a standing ovation.

The world’s most famous daredevil kept breaking records, breaking bones, and thrilling crowds for several more years before taking on his most famous stunt in 1974. On September 8, Evel Knievel risked life and limb to thrill crowds by riding his “Skycycle” over Snake River Canyon-- even though two previous unmanned test flights of the Skycycle had failed. The daredevil made it over the quarter-mile canyon on his Skycycle, but was blown into the bottom of the canyon when strong winds caught his parachute. Daredevil stuntman Evel Knievel passed away in 2007, but his stunts will live on for years to come. To learn more about this daredevil and his life, visit the Smithsonian Magazine website at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com

Black Holes, Diane Arbus, Daredevil, Cleopatra

American Daredevil: Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel is known throughout the world as the ultimate daredevil.  He has amazed millions by risking his life and limb to bring real, live spectacle to the masses.  Evel Knievel is an American original and it can be said that the likes of his courage and charisma will not be seen for a long time.

Evel Knievel from the late 60’s to the early 80’s would pretty much try to jump anything that would guarantee a large audience, from busses, to sharks to a canyon and while many of those watched this daredevil to see his fantastic successes, his failures were not only dramatic, but jaw dropping.

Evel Knievel would do incredible harm to his body, but his mythical daredevil persona grew as he consistently defied death.  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Evel Knievel holds the record for most bones broken at a staggering 433.  However, while documented, Evel continued to deny this amount to his death in November of 2007.  While Evel did cheat death as a daredevil, he eventually succumbed to pulmonary disease at the age of 69.

For more on the life, the stunts and the motorcycles this daredevil rode, visit the Smithsonian Magazine at the following link:  http://www.smithsonianmag.com

Cleopatra, Parthenon, Daredevil, Black Holes

Evel Knievel: Elvis on Wheels

For those that lived through the 60’s and 70’s, Daredevil Evel Knievel was the world’s best known cowboy on wheels, jumping (or attempting to jump) Mac trucks, sharks, buses and even a canyon. His stunts, charisma and attitude exemplified what the term daredevil represents in America.

Daredevil Evel Knievel is known for his successful motorcycle stunt jumps just as much as his unbelievable failures. The motivation it took one man to disregard life and limb to chance many of these jumps was seen as ultimate bravery by some and foolishness by others. While all his jumps weren’t a success, no matter the outcome he did thrill us all. In fact, many of his jumps were some of the most widely viewed sporting events ever to grace the TV screen.

Daredevil Evel Knievel cheated death numerous times and outlived all his stunts to die recently of pulmonary disease. While he holds the Guinness Book of World Records for most broken bones- 433, he is looked upon as one of the most charismatic entertainers the world has ever seen, with many calling him Elvis on Wheels. For more interesting facts about the man and his wheels, please visit Smithsonian Magazine at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Daredevil, Evel Knievel, Cheetah Facts, Diane Arbus