Evel Knievel has died

Yep, I had that motorcycle - I used to love playing with that thing! A true icon of the era, a daredevil Captain America...RIP.

Cheers....Todd

Snake Canyon: The most exciting failure I've ever seen.

Though many of his jumping records have been broken, few of them have been broken by someone riding a 600 lb., 750 cc Harley like he rode.

I also had the toy cycle!

What a great personality of the 70s.

Ah yes, the toy motorcycle. Now, allow me to add a little something to Knievel's "legacy" which relates to that toy cycle.

My Dad was Vice President of FW Woolworth, and met with hundreds of people about new products the chain may or may not carry. Well, the Evel Knievel Motorcycle was one such item, and, the daredevil himself came to the 10:00 AM meeting to have pics taken and do some PR. I was told he was a very charming man and fun to be around, but his cane was the topper. You see, inside his cane were shots of Jack Daniels, which he dutifully downed every few minutes until he had deadened all the pain in his body. Never slurred, stumbled or acted intoxicated, but it sure beat pills in his book.

I always enjoyed watching his performances, and to this day wondered if he had a few shots before or after his leaps.

Just a small addition I am able to make about a really cool person.

Hey Frank, great story!

the cane is hilarious. today, it would be frowned upon by those who know all, are all and love to tell the rest of us how to live.

i'm sure evel didn't have a whole cane full before a big jump, but something tells me a shot or two just before he came out of the trailer was:claphands part of the routine.

A True legend Indeed
Evel Knievel was the 70's!
Total Respect!

I still have all my Evel memorabilia from the day. My old man used to be a sports writer, so I have lots of rare pics and stuff. A personalized signed photo hangs on my living room wall, now I must hurry the guy thats fixing my Evel pinball machine, hope the guy hasn't sold it on me.

Happy Landings Evel!