Evel Knievel

[duggan]

Was at Santa Pod today for the Easter Thunderball & they had a display of Evel Knievel's bikes / clothes etc, a fascinating display of a real showman and someone I always remember from my childhood (vaguely…)



A couple of things that really rammed it home how dangerous the stunts he did were though, was:

Broken Bones – 433 in total (according to Wikipedia - couldn't get that to add-up on the Skeleton, but I guess there must be multiple breaks over his life) – the below picture shows where he broke them – red lines show the breaks & metal straps the pins etc



Sky Cycle – I could genuinely say I could have built it in my garage – the flimsiest thing I have seen (in “Motorsport”) for some time – gotta be very brave to even think about going in that over a canyon – parachute or not :





Also, Mrs. Duggan thought he'd only broken a few bones prior to seeing the display - showed her a few of his jumps....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lPCK8hptg8

Then Caesar's Palace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYGGCVE2lKY

And finally Snake River (in the Skycyle):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llzIVDbvSAc&NR=...

Going to have to read up more about the chap - totally nuts

[TRUENOSAM]

The richard hammond docmentary was good (just before he died)

[rsv gone!]

I saw a car (can't remember what!) yesterday on the A5 south of Towcester with a number plate something like KN11 VEL. Must be connected.

[hesnotthemessiah]

He was once crazy cat!

His British counterpart Eddie Kid is aiming to complete the London Marathon this year. They reckon it will take him four weeks. Tiene cojones muchas grandes!

[duggan]

TRUENOSAM said:

The richard hammond docmentary was good (just before he died)

Watched the Hammond documentary when it came out and was really sad to see him in the final months of his life & also seemed to come across as a bit of an odd-ball Not what I remember him as when I was a kid