The Daredevil Evel Knievel

Daredevils bring nail biting excitement to the masses. For millions of people, the thrill of watching a daredevil risk life and limb to please the audience is a phenomenal experience and one daredevil that made a name for himself and reached the pinnacle of fame and fortune is Evel Knievel. Evel Knievel was unlike any daredevil that came before him. He was able to truly move people and convey values such as courage and true grit to the masses. While many of his stunts ended in epic failure, with each jump on his motorcycle, he became more and more famous and beloved.

Daredevil Evel Knievel became a worldwide phenomenon after he attempted to jump the Caesars’ Palace fountains in 1968. While he cleared the fountains with his motorcycle, he inevitably crashed on the landing ramp and tumbled into a coma which lasted about a month. However, when he awoke he would be a legend as millions watched him defy death on TV.

Evel Knievel became an icon wearing his red, white and blue leather suit, riding a Harley and impressing audiences all over the world. While his jumps became more fantastic, he always remained accessible and well regarded. For those interested in the life of Evel Knievel, his motorcycle and the stunts he attempted, the Smithsonian Magazine offers a fascinating article on this true American daredevil. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Evel Knievel: A Rare Daredevil

One of the most well known pop icons of the last century was daredevil Evel Knievel. Evel Knievel was infamous and known for risking life and limb jumping over a wide variety of items on a motorcycle. For those that grew up during the late 60’s to early 80’s, the man wearing the stars and stripes was synonymous with courage and true grit. While he succeeded in many of his stunts, his critics suggest that he became a world wide phenomenon, not because of his successes, but his incredible failures.

Born in Butte Montana, daredevil Evel Knievel was always rambunctious, rough, wild and had an eye for attention. Throughout his life, he would find ways to promote himself and his causes. One day, as he was short for cash and had a family to feed, Evel decided to become a daredevil and do incredible stunts for profit. Throughout his early years, he would attract large, local crowds and jump cars, busses and almost anything that would get a rouse out of the crowd. He hit the big time when he decided to jump the fountains at Caesar’s Palace.

Daredevil Evel Knievel’s attempt to jump the fountains at Caesar’s Palace proved his ticket to fame. While he did clear the fountains, he missed the landing ramp and tumbled wildly to a stop. He not only was knocked out, but fell into a coma that lasted about a month. However, when he came out of his coma, he was a worldwide star. Throughout the late 60’s and early 70’s, Evel Knievel traveled the world and attempted incredible stunts on his motorcycle. He attempted to jump Snake Canyon in a rocket, jumped sharks in a pool, and a wide assortment of busses and cars. Each time he jumped, the crowd was amazed and supportive. He packed in arenas all over the world to watch his incredible stunts and many TV sports shows or networks picked up his stunts for large amounts of money. Daredevil Evel Knievel became a wealthy man, however his body paid terribly for his occupation.

Daredevil Evel Knievel holds the Guinness Book of World Records for most broken bones (433) however Evel denied that he broke that many bones in his lifetime. While he did dodge death many times, he died at the age of 69 from Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Read more about this daredevil at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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Daredevil: The Evel Knievel Story

For those that grew up during the late 60’s to early 80’s one man that was a genuine pop icon and instantly recognizable was daredevil Evel Knievel. Evel Knievel embodied the true grit and courage of an American daredevil. He took incredible risks putting his body and life on the line and many times, he succeeded, other times he failed. For those that are fascinated with the man, his motorcycle and the legend, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an intriguing article.

Success Through Failure
Many critics of daredevil Evel Knievel state that he became overwhelming popular not necessarily through his successful stunts, but his astonishing failures. Evel Knievel caught the attention of America and the world when he attempted to jump Caesars Palace’s fountains in 1968. While he did clear the fountain on his motorcycle, he missed the landing ramp and crash landed tumbling many times finally coming to rest passed out and in a coma. When Evel emerged from his coma about a month later he awoke to instant celebrity and admiration.

His Many Stunts
Daredevil, Evel Knievel went on to attempt a wide variety of stunts, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing, however the legend of Evel Knievel is not necessarily about his stunts, but the man itself. To read about this daredevil, visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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