Anyone growing up in the late 60’s to early 80’s knew firsthand the legend that was Evel Knievel. While today, stuntmen are more like engineers making numerous calculations in order to safely complete a stunt, Evel Knievel was a true daredevil that threw caution to the wind. Evel Knievel was the master at jumping objects on a motorcycle, no matter what it was (buses, cars, sharks, a canyon, etc). Evel Knievel felt the need to not only jump it on his motorcycle, but make it a world class spectacle. While daredevil Evel Knievel was famous for his many successful jumps, many believe he became a legend from his notorious failures.
Evel Knievel’s Famous 1967 Caesars Palace Jump
One of these infamous failures can be said to be his biggest success (notary wise). In 1967, daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump his motorcycle over the fountains of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It should be noted that he was very successful flying over the fountains, unfortunately his landing went terribly wrong. As he fell from his motorcycle on impact, Evel Knievel was badly injured and went into a coma that he would not come out of for a month. While most would call it quits, Evel Knievel can be said to just be starting his most productive era of his career as a daredevil.
Evel Makes a Comeback
After daredevil Evel Knievel took some time to heal, he made a comeback, first by jumping a small 40 foot stunt in front of 40,000 people and then jumping 13 cars in Seattle Washington, 11 cars in San Francisco and an attempt at 15 cars- which while he did crash, he only suffered a broken ankle. What made this daredevil a legend was his courage and bravery. After breaking his ankle, instead of seeking medical attention, he hopped around on one leg and thanked his audience of 9,000 people.
A World Record of Broken Bones
One of the records this daredevil is known for is that of broken bones. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Evel Knievel has broken a staggering 433 bones- the most documented by any individual. While Evel disputed this total, it can be said that he did break practically every bone at least once. For more on the life of this incredible daredevil, the Smithsonian Magazine has an article on the man, his motorcycles and the stunts he performed. Please visit the Smithsonian Magazine at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com
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