The Shadow
Evel Knievel and his son, Robbie Knievel, both became world-famous daredevils who rode their motorcycles to gain fame by jumping over the fountains at Caesars Palace with different results.
Evel was successful in his New Year’s Eve 1967 ramp-to-ramp jump that cleared the fountains at Caesars Palace, but his unsuccessful landing resulted in a wreck that broke his pelvis and a reported 20 other bones, leading him to lapse into a coma.
Robbie’s jump was made in 1989 with a motorcycle with dirt tires to soften the landing, and after a 75 mph approach, he soared 150’ from ramp to ramp over the fountains where he made the perfect landing while his father observed.
Evel was born Robert Craig Knievel in Butte, Mont. on Oct. 17. 1938, and he rose to international fame by attempting to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho with a rocket-propelled motorcycle.
The jump failed when the parachute opened prematurely on take-off, causing Evel to narrowly miss landing in the river as he crashed down on the same side of the river bank at the bottom of the mile-wide canyon.
The dirt ramp from which he took off has been preserved near the monument that commemorates Evel’s failed attempt.
Visitors to the area may view his photo on the monument along with the engraved text recounting Evel’s heroic attempt.
The televised jump on his specially engineered skyrocket motorcycle was on Sept. 8, 1974, and despite the unsuccessful outcome, his daring was seen around the world, elevating him to superstar-daredevil status.
In Oct. of 1975, Evel rode his motorcycle up a ramp and soared over 14 buses at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, a leap that landed him in the “Guinness Book of World Records.”
When Robbie was 36, he made a motorcycle jump over 17 semi-trailer tractors at the Oneida Casino near Green Bay, a leap of 194’ to land him in the “Guinness Book of World Records.”
Robbie lost his battle against pancreatic cancer in 1998, and Evel died on Nov. 30, 2007, following his retirement as a daredevil in 1980.
Evel continues to hold a world record in the “Guinness World Records.” The 68th publication will be forthcoming in 2023, having had its title shortened in 1999.
Evel’s record is one that no daredevil will ever try to break because Evel’s record is for having had the most fractured bones in one’s lifetime, 433.
