One Last Jump - RIP Evel Knievel

Nov
30

Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel: 1938-2007

Another icon from my childhood has shuffled off the mortal coil. Like many boys in the 1970’s I was inspired by Evel’s exploits to build makeshift ramps and jump over things on my bicycle. It was a purple Schwinn Stingray-clone, a Sears ‘Spyder’. 1 gear, coaster brake, a rack for carrying school books, and a sparkly purple seat. Man! I loved that bike. What great adventures we had, most of which didn’t culminate with the sickening sound of melon-meets-pavement and/or a trip to the emergency room.

Anyway… as per usual, I digress.
Thank you Mr. Knievel, for inspiring an entire generation of boys to jump, crash, wipe off the blood, dust ourselves off and try again.

You were a real-life, flesh and blood superhero, something the world could use a few more of.
Godspeed, Evel, Godspeed.

Oh, my first bike had hot rod curved handlebars and a banana seat - it was gold, and my daddy bought it for me. awwwwww, memories :D

Fishy, on 12-12-2007 @ 6:49 pm |

Amazing how powerful the memory of that first bike is, isn’t it? Of all the “firsts” we experience as we go through life I think most of us would place it at (or at least very near) the top of their list.

Greg Evans, on 12-14-2007 @ 4:31 am |


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