Evel Knievel Dies at 69

RIP, thanks for the memories!!!

Rex McKinney


"oldfart" <alan.westcoast.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:6f2c6a36-3546-4819-a450-4cf743082f91@s36g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> Talk about an American Icon. When I was a kid we would line up to go
> into class and talk about how far or how many trucks Evil jumped last
> weekend. He was on the front page of the sports ssection more than
> once especially after the failed jump over the fountain at Ceaser's
> Palace. We didn't think he would live through that one either. Evil,
> you can now finally rest those tired bones. OF
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oldfart reports:

> Evil,
> you can now finally rest those tired bones.

I saw him jump 12-14 buses inside the old tank plant
(now I-X Center) in Cleveland. On a frickin sportster!
He wouldn't agree to a wheelie contest with Bozo.
Bozo woulda won.

Hope he makes it over the Snake River this time.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.
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On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:01:25 -0800 (PST), sturd
<mikesturdevant127.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:

>oldfart reports:
>
>> Evil,
>> you can now finally rest those tired bones.
>
>I saw him jump 12-14 buses inside the old tank plant
>(now I-X Center) in Cleveland. On a frickin sportster!
>He wouldn't agree to a wheelie contest with Bozo.
>Bozo woulda won.
>
>Hope he makes it over the Snake River this time.

We'll be driving across it tomorrow to go desert riding, I'll keep an
eye up for him...

>Mike S.

DJ
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On Nov 30, 4:37 pm, oldfart <alan.westco... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> Talk about an American Icon. When I was a kid we would line up to go
> into class and talk about how far or how many trucks Evil jumped last
> weekend. He was on the front page of the sports ssection more than
> once especially after the failed jump over the fountain at Ceaser's
> Palace. We didn't think he would live through that one either. Evil,
> you can now finally rest those tired bones. OF

Way back in my memory is a discussion between myself and my cousin (a
few years older than me) about who was cooler, Fonzi or Evel. My
cousin explained that Evel was the real thing as opposed to a TV
character. Once that sunk in, Evel ruled supreme. Even long after he
was gone from the spotlight he didn't have any peers.

I read that Bubba Blackwell has broken many of his records now. I met
Bubba in a Denny's in DE one night while he was still trying to be a
roadracer. Nice enough guy, but certainly no Evel.

Craig
 >> Stay informed about: Evel Knievel Dies at 69 

I posted this recently in another thread, but it seems appropriate to
post it again.

http://www.deathstar.org/~flash/centerof.html

Craig
 >> Stay informed about: Evel Knievel Dies at 69 

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:37:03 -0800 (PST), oldfart
<alan.westcoast.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:

>Talk about an American Icon. When I was a kid we would line up to go
>into class and talk about how far or how many trucks Evil jumped last
>weekend. He was on the front page of the sports ssection more than
>once especially after the failed jump over the fountain at Ceaser's
>Palace. We didn't think he would live through that one either. Evil,
>you can now finally rest those tired bones. OF

I saw that.
Damn.

Anyone remember seeing him and Richard Pryor together on the
Tonight Show a LONG time ago?


----
Go fast and aim for where the trees aren't.
----
 >> Stay informed about: Evel Knievel Dies at 69 

"oldfart" <alan.westcoast RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:6f2c6a36-3546-4819-a450-4cf743082f91@s36g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> Talk about an American Icon.


Considering how rough he was on his body, Hep C and lung disease that guy
had to be one tough SOB to live as long as he did.

I saw him jump around 13 cars in '71 or '72 at a local drag strip. He easily
wheelied that HD a 1/4 mile while running through the gears. His throttle
was set up backwards - roll forward to open. I remember a guy getting his
head split open from a blower explosion that same evening...
 >> Stay informed about: Evel Knievel Dies at 69 

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:25:04 -0800 (PST), Craig
<googlegroupmail.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:


>Way back in my memory is a discussion between myself and my cousin (a
>few years older than me) about who was cooler, Fonzi or Evel. My
>cousin explained that Evel was the real thing as opposed to a TV
>character.

You may or may not be aware of this, but Fonzi was originally
supposed to ride a Harley in the TV series. But Winkler was afraid of
motorcycles and thought the Harley particularly big and unmanageable.
So they compromised with the Triumph seen in the show. But from what
I've learned, Henry was never really comfortable with the riding
scenes.

>I read that Bubba Blackwell has broken many of his records now. I met
>Bubba in a Denny's in DE one night while he was still trying to be a
>roadracer. Nice enough guy, but certainly no Evel.

There's never anything like an original. That's why there's only
one DeCoster, one [Jay] Springsteen and one Malcolm Smith.

I never got to see Evel live, but several years ago my cousin and
I traveled over to Palestine (in east Texas) to watch Robbie jump a
moving locomotive. Now granted Robbie wasn't on a Harley Davidson, but
I thought it was pretty damn kewl nonetheless as he left the huge ramp
an instant before the old steam engine crashed through it!

The only unenjoyable part was the hardcore biker types in
attendance. They all seemed to be unfamiliar with mufflers, and acted
as if they owned the grounds where the jump took place. As cars were
backed up endlessly in effort to leave afterwards, these jackasses
rode past them along the shoulder, revving those irritatingly loud
Harleys for effect. It's like they were daring a pedestrian or
motorist to challenge them. Of course there were a lot of *good*
motorcyclists in attendance too, but those three dozen "club member"
bikers gave everyone a bad image as they weaved through the crowd and
rumbled away.


Fred Bradford - CrashTestDummy
fjbradfordREMOVE.TakeThisOut@tx.rr.com
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...that last jump's a bigg'in Evel, I trust you made it...
 >> Stay informed about: Evel Knievel Dies at 69 

On Nov 30, 4:37 pm, oldfart <alan.westco... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> Talk about an American Icon. When I was a kid we would line up to go
> into class and talk about how far or how many trucks Evil jumped last
> weekend. He was on the front page of the sports ssection more than
> once especially after the failed jump over the fountain at Ceaser's
> Palace. We didn't think he would live through that one either. Evil,
> you can now finally rest those tired bones. OF


I think he's the only guy tough enough to have taken Chuck Norris.

DDave
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On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:37:03 -0800 (PST), oldfart
<alan.westcoast.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

>Talk about an American Icon. When I was a kid we would line up to go
>into class and talk about how far or how many trucks Evil jumped last
>weekend. He was on the front page of the sports ssection more than
>once especially after the failed jump over the fountain at Ceaser's
>Palace. We didn't think he would live through that one either. Evil,
>you can now finally rest those tired bones. OF

I watched an indoor short track (on concrete) in 67 or 68 at Long
Beach CA. Before the Main Event, Evil set up to jump some cars or what
ever. He was a real showman, run up the ramp and stop, run by the ramp
and so on. When he finally jumped everyone was on the edge of their
seats. Didn't jump very far and didn't hit anything that could cause a
sudden stop. It was great. Don't remember who won the race.

Beto
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