Daredevil Stuntman

One of the greatest daredevils ever to walk the earth or ride a motorcycle was Evel Knievel. Evel Knievel definitely had a flare for capturing the attention of America and people around the world as he tried to successfully complete a wide variety of stunts that risked his life and limb. While Evel Knievel definitely was successful on many of his jumps, a lot of his critics probably will tell you that it wasn’t his successes that made him a legend, but his incredible failures.

Daredevil Evel Knievel became an instant legend when in 1968, he attempted to jump the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. While he easily cleared the fountains, landing proved the difficult part of this stunt. He crashed landed and tumbled violently. When all was said and done, he survived, but was in a coma for about a month. However, when he came out of his coma, he was an instant celebrity, known throughout the world.

Over the years, daredevil Evel Knievel tried a wide variety of stunts displaying great courage and resolve. He attempted a jump over a canyon in a rocket, a pool of sharks, plenty of busses, cars and anything else you can think of. Along with his motorcycle, Daredevil Evel Knievel became an American Icon.

For those interested in daredevil Evel Knievel’s stunts and his motorcycles, the Smithsonian Magazine has an interesting article on the subject. You can read it at our main website at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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The Legendary Daredevil Evel Knievel

If you were around during the 60’s, 70’ and early 80’s one pop culture icon that made it’s way to the American psych and throughout the world was daredevil Evel Knievel. Evel Knievel was one of the most gifted daredevils to walk the earth and his stunts were legendary. For those that are impressed with daredevils that risk their life and limb to entertain a crowd, Evel Knievel raised the bar to a new level. He not only proved his courage dozens of times, but had true charisma that made him interesting to millions.

The Legend Begins at Caesar’s Palace
Evel Knievel drew some large crowds, but his popularity when into hyperdrive after his infamous daredevil stunt to jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace. On two wheels of fury during 1968, Evel Knievel barreled down a short track and lifted off a steep ramp flying high above the fountains of Caesar’s Palace. In fact, clearing the fountains were not the problem- he accomplished this handily, the problem was landing. Unfortunately missing the landing ramp by about a tire, his bike careened into the ramp and started to roll, throwing Evel off the bike and careening towards the ground. His failure completely spectacular- caught be TV cameras would be shown around the world. Evel Knievel though surviving the fall, would be in a coma with plenty of broken bones for the month to come. However, when daredevil Evel Knievel would finally come out of his coma, he would be world famous and his jump legendary.

The Many Jumps of Daredevil Evel Knievel
Being a master showman, daredevil Evel Knievel became more popular due to his many failures than his actual successes, but even with plenty of broken bones (in which he holds the Guinness Book of World Record for- 433), he didn’t stop taking chances and his stunts didn’t get easier, but grander. Some of the stunts and failures that Evel was known for was his attempt to jump Snake Canyon, jumping over a pool of sharks, jumping over dozens of busses and much more. Just him and his Harley Davidson motorcycle were the only thing separating Evel from applause and death.

Read More About Daredevil Evel Knievel at Smithsonian Magazine
Interested in reading more about the life and stunts of daredevil Evel Knievel, the Smithsonian Magazine has an excellent article on the subject. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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The Ultimate Daredevil Evel Knievel

We all love to view people with lots of courage taking incredible risks and these professionals are usually called daredevils, however it takes much more than a simple daredevil to capture the American consciousness and become a worldwide sensation. One individual that has done so is Evel Knievel.

Evel Knievel is perhaps the most well known and imitated daredevil ever to ride a motorcycle. While he is known for his bravery, courage and miraculous feats of flight, many would say that it is not his achievements that made him famous, but his incredible failures. Evel Knievel practically broke every bone in his body (According to the Guinness Book of World Records he holds the record at 433), but beyond just mere broken bones, daredevil Evel Knievel survived the most fantastic crashes ever caught on tape.

A Master at Showmanship
Evel Knievel was a master at showmanship. He jumped objects that were awe inspiring. While he did enjoy jumping cars, buses and trucks, this daredevil also made a name for himself by jumping the fountains at Caesars Palace, a pool fool of sharks and he even attempted a canyon. For more on daredevil Evel Knievel, the Smithsonian Magazine has an intriguing article about the man, the legend and his motorcycles. You can read it at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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