[racer-x]

I just saw on cnn that Evel Knievel had passed on after being sick for a while..Evel was without a doubt my first hero!!!
Godspeed Evel!!!!

[Eric C]

Yeah this is very sad, He was definately a pioneer who probably had inspired some of the sports we now see in the X games and some of the olympic games.

I can close my eyes and see every detail in slow motion of his successful jump of the fountains at Caesars Palace that ended badly.

RIP. Evel

Eric C

[Charles Nungester]

The last American Folk hero.
RIP
Chuck

[Davis33]

A true story about Evel

I was 9 years old in 1973 and my parents took my brother and me to see Evel jump at St.Louis International drag strip. This is how it went.
We sat there watching drag races for a couple hrs. anticipating Evel to come out of his Kenworth toterhome, which back then was really something. We kept waiting and waiting but still no Evel. Then the announcer said for eveyone to look toward the southern skies and there he was flying in on his Lear jet with a large 14 karat gold embelm of EVEL on his motorcycle doing a wheelie riveted to each side of the tail of the jet. They landed the jet right on the drag strip and stop the plane at the christmas trees. A couple guys came out carried him off the plane and to the ground. He had broke his back just a day or two before this jump and that is why he had to be carried to the ground. You could see the back brace sticking thru his leathers to support his back. They helped him away from the plane while it few back off. He gave his speech to the crowd about riding with a helmet and not to do drugs. Then he said that he would need to pull out a couple cars and just jump 15 cars becuase of his broken back. His guys then carried him and put him on his Harley XR-750 and he rode wheelies up and down that drip strip like nothing was wrong. Once he finished his wheelies they carried him to another bike which he used to jump with. I can still see the vision in my mind today. When he jumped those cars with all the camera flashes flashing it was like slow motion. With all the red ,white and blue it was beautiful. When he land he pulled his parachute on the back fender and deployed the OLYMPIA beer chute while it puffed in the wind. He then rode back to the microphone and thanked everyone for coming while his jet flew back in and picked him up then flew back off into the southern skies. This is one of my most favorite things I've ever seen in my life to this day. He was a true class act. Thanks EVEL for the memories and Godspeed.

Jeff Davis

[ronmil]

Evel Knievel appeared at Tri-State Speedway (Haubstadt) on July 9, 1972. I don't recall how many vehicles he jumped and I didn't take any pictures. I imagine Tommy Helfrich might have some records of this event. That date is significant also because local favorite, Big Don Jackson, died in a sprint car at DuQuoin, IL that day.
When Evel Knievel attempted to jump over the Snake River Canyon on Sept. 8, 1974, I was attending the Hut Hundred at Terre Haute, so I did not see the live event.
Evel Knievel was an honest to goodness hero to a generation of Americans and he will be missed.

RIP, Evel :crying:

[D.O.]

LEGENDARY DAREDEVIL KNIEVEL HAD INDY 500 CONNECTION INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007

[SpfldMile]

Those were two great stories! Man, was that guy larger than life in the 70's. For me, a young boy, he was definitely a hero. Me and my cousin would play with those wind up toys that sent that motorcycle flying across the basement.
Rest in Peace, Evel.

[grumpy racer]

One of the last great show men, and boy did he pay his dues the hard way. RIP E.K. a true warrior.

[PIT CART]

I wish I still had my Evil Knievel toys!He was true hero,Evel was all about doing what everbody else is scared to do.I think his son is a jerk JMO.

[petey]

RIP Evel