One of my childhood heroes the great Evel Knievel has sadly died after a long illness! He escaped death on countless occasions during his life time of daredevil stunt riding but couldn’t dodge this one.
I think I still have my Evel Knievel motor bike set in the attic at home.
Evel in action:
Legend. Nuff said.
I was blessed/cursed to see himself doing stunts at a local college stadium in the mid-70s. Having not much disposable cash at the time, I was reduced to catching glimpses of the show from the backside of the stands through an opening where he’d come to & fro on the bike to turn around. We couldn’t see the actual jumps, mind you, just himself & the bike pre & post jump. Fortunately, he finished unharmed that day, unlike so many other times.
Mid-70′s I was still in nappies
He was popular here in the late 70′s/early 80′s, would loved to have seen him jump.
The only way I know this name through is a song by Genesis in the LP “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”
I’m not familiar with that Antonio, is one of the songs about him?
Maca, it isn’t a song specificallu about him, but there’s a line where his name appears.
The song, from the LP “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” (1974), is Riding The Scree and the lyrics is the following:
Struggling down the slope,
There’s not much hope.
I begin to try to ride the scree,
But the rocks are tumbling all around me.
If I want John alive,
I’ve got to ditch my fear-take a dive,
While I’ve still got my drive to survive.
Evel Knievel, you got nothing on me.
Here I go!
Hope it helps!
“OneForTheRoad” apologies for the delay approving your comment, I didn’t get any notification from wordpress that there was a comment awaiting approval!
Thanks Antonio! So that’s the only way you know him? You mean you didn’t have an Evel Knievel dare devil stunt set when you were young?
My wee brother (late ’60s vintage fellow) had a stunt set like that.