Evel Knievel

[Interpol Shrimper]

Motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69.

According to his website the daredevil had been ill for some time.

In his heyday, the tempestuous showman dressed like a superhero for his jumps, wearing a red, white and blue leather jumpsuit with a cape and cane, his hair sculpted back in a tall pompadour.

Knievel's greatest stunt turned out to be a failure when on September 8, 1974, he tried to ride a rocket-powered motorcycle across the Snake River Canyon in Idaho.

With a nationwide pay-per-view television audience watching, the parachute deployed when Knievel's Skycycle X-2 was only about two-thirds across, sending the cycle into the canyon wall.

It landed partly in the river but Knievel walked away with minor injuries.

RIP, no cheeky comments about him being buried alive as one final stunt :p

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

That is genuinely very sad indeed.

He was a bit of a hero when we were at school and we all used to try and do stunts on our BMX bikes and "Chopper Bikes" as kids ala Evel Knieval.

RIP....

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

RIP Evel.

The Evel Knievel toy I had when I was a lad was wicked (the one in my avatar thingy).

 

[Kent Shrimper]

Legend and that Toy UtS was absolutely wicked as you say

 

[MK Shrimper]

RIP Evel. You lived life to the max..........

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Apologies to Mr Knievel for spelling his first name wrong last night, I'd just had a bit of bad news and wasn't thinking straight!

If any kind mod cares to change the spelling of Evil to Evel, thanks! :p

 

[Uncle Leo]

Apologies to Mr Knievel for spelling his first name wrong last night, I'd just had a bit of bad news and wasn't thinking straight!

If any kind mod cares to change the spelling of Evil to Evel, thanks! :p

Changed. Aren't I good to you eh?

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Changed. Aren't I good to you eh?

Ta muchley! :D

 

[canada shrimper]

I went to see him at wembley stadium the man is a true legend

 

[canada shrimper]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7122336.stm

 

[Phippsy]

Death of someone you can honestly say, "was a legend".
RIP evel!
Have fun up there.

 

[SUFC Forever]

What a great life the guy had. Remember watching his jump over the buses at Wembley in the 1970's and being fascinated by this as a kid. He reckons he slept with over 5,000 women too so he had a pretty good time while he was here you could say.

Rest well Evel and thanks for the memories.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Sad news indeed. A stunt legend has passed on.

 

[Ricey]

RIP a true legend!

 

[McNasty]

The man was a true legend who lives on through his son Fur Knievel.