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Robert Craig Knievel
was born October 17, 1938 in Butte, Montana.
He became the world's most famous motorcycle daredevil and has inspired
countless of other motorcycle jumpers to follow his path.
In 1965
he began his daredevil career in a motorcycle daredevil
show called, "Evel
Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils".
In 1966, he left the group
to pursue a solo career. One of his first big jumps was in Gardena,
California over 16 cars at Ascot Speedway.
This jump was the first off many to be covered by ABC's Wide World of
Sports.
It wasn't until December 31, 1967 that
Evel became a household name. He attempted to jump his Triumph over
the fountains at Caesars
Palace in Las Vegas. He cleared
the fountains but had one of the worst motorcycle crashes ever caught
on tape. He was in a coma for a month. After that horrible incident,
his career literally skyrocketed.
In 1971,
he set a new world record in by jumping
19 cars and had a movie made about his life. Whenever Evel spoke,
people listened. He was the master of showmanship and promotion. His
toys became one of the most successful selling in the 1970's.
In the summer of 1974, Evel jump
13 semi-trucks in Canada
to set another record. This was his last big jump before his most famous
stunt that following in September.
On September 8, 1974, Evel attempted
to jump the Snake River
Canyon in what he called
his skycycle. He unfortunately didn't make it across the 1/4 mile
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King
of the Daredevils

Evel Knievel giving a speech to his fans in 1979 during a tour in Australia.
Evel jumping over the fountains at Caesars Palace.
December 31, 1967.
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canyon, but he survived one
of his most dangerous stunts yet. This was one of the so called "happenings"
of the 1970's.
May of 1975, Evel
traveled to England to jump 13 buses at
Wembley Stadium in the UK In front of a
sold out crowd, Evel attempted his farthest jump yet. Unfortunately
he didn't have enough speed and landed on the last bus which sent him
crashing onto the grounds of Wembley. At this jump, Evel vowed he would
never jump again. Of course he couldn't quit.
In October of that same year, he triumphantly came back to attempt to
jump 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island
Ohio. He landed on the 14th bus, but held on. This was one of his last
big jumps. He went on to jump some more and also starred in an action
movie called, "Viva Knievel"
in 1977.
In 1979, he toured Australia as an emcee
for a touring daredevil show featuring stunt performers from around
the world. Eventually he retired in the early 80's from jumping, but
he helped Robbie for awhile promoting his jumps.
Today Evel is back in the spotlight again. Making personal appearances
and starring in television commercials. He received a new
liver in early 1999 after contracting
hepatitis C.
Evel was diagnosed with the incurable disease pulmonary fibrosis. Evel's
time here was short. He said he's prepared to accept that and would
say that he has lived a full life and enjoyed it all. He accepted Christ
as his Savior on April 1, 2007. Evel passed away November
30, 2007 at his home in Florida. After all these years, Evel
still is the "King of the Daredevils".
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