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Old 2 December 2007, 12:55 PM   #1
Letsgodiving
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Evel Knievel, RIP

Evel Knievel died yesterday. Although he had his issues you have to admit he was a unique individual and some would say a legend. I know he was an inspiration to me as a kid growing up in the '70's. How many of us as kids pretended to be Evel and built our little ramps jumping over whatever we could get our hands on.

Whatever you say he had some serious balls and was an American icon.
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Old 2 December 2007, 01:06 PM   #2
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Indeed he was!

I had the great luck to meet him in a bar in Waikiki. He was really nice. True gentleman!
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Old 2 December 2007, 01:08 PM   #3
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Seen quite a few of his stunts on film. He was truly awesome. A great inspiration to those who followed.

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Old 2 December 2007, 01:20 PM   #4
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In a decade largely absent of heroes, Evel Knievel was a real-life superhero. An American icon, RIP, Evel Knievel.
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Old 2 December 2007, 01:24 PM   #5
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Many a bruise on this end immitating him in my youth.
RIP.



ps
Any bets he will try & Jump Hedes on some form of bike?
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Old 2 December 2007, 01:58 PM   #6
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Rest In Peace, Evel. I always thought you were something else, and I still do!
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Old 2 December 2007, 02:22 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KansaiVet View Post
Indeed he was!

I had the great luck to meet him in a bar in Waikiki. He was really nice. True gentleman!

You are a lucky guy. I never had the chance to meet him but from everything I have seen and read he always had time for his fans. I have read many things since his death of people describing how he made it a point to connect with his fans, especially kids.
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Old 2 December 2007, 02:41 PM   #8
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See ya on the other side, Evel...
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Old 2 December 2007, 10:21 PM   #9
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He was a hero all right. When I was a kid my next door neighbor had all the Evel Kneivel toys and even the Huffy bike. We made ramps and played with that stuff for hours and hours. I'd say that guy lit the imaginations of millions of kids.
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Old 2 December 2007, 10:39 PM   #10
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I still have my Evel Knievel lunch box sitting on my bookshelf in the office. RIP for sure
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Old 4 December 2007, 03:32 AM   #11
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Growing up as a kid, this was my favorite toy hands down!

http://cgi.ebay.com/EVEL-KNIEVEL-STU...QQcmdZViewItem
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Old 4 December 2007, 03:45 AM   #12
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I had one of those stunt bikes and played with it for hours. It looks like I should have kept it! That ebay price is sick.
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Old 4 December 2007, 05:31 AM   #13
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he was a definite icon! who else was wearing flag jumpsuits back then?
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Old 4 December 2007, 06:15 AM   #14
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I have to say he will always be in my heart as well. He was truly a 70's icon. I had the toy and also did my share of trash can jumping on very sub standard ramps.

I also loved the 1971 movie that George Hamilton played Evil. Anyone who could jump that far on a Harley is cool in my book.
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Old 4 December 2007, 06:50 AM   #15
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He was quite entertaining at times. I remember seeing the Snake River stunt on TV many years ago. God bless him!
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Old 4 December 2007, 03:46 PM   #16
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R.I.P Will there ever be a new evil? Chances are
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Old 4 December 2007, 03:59 PM   #17
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I remeber seeing the movie VIVA Kinievel and always admired his excellent choice in jewelry. I am sure he wore an 18K Rolex and large diamond encrusted rings.
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Old 6 December 2007, 05:11 AM   #18
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I remember sitting around the radio, listening to the broadcast of his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. I was at summer camp, and we were all crowded around in my cabin.

He didn't make it, but we were still in awe of his courage.

That guy had stones.
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Old 6 December 2007, 09:09 AM   #19
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One of my childhood heros. I had the wind-up motorcycle in the 70s and just plain wore it out. Using it on a concrete sidewalk it would just tear your knuckles off. I remember sitting on the couch with my dad watching ABCs Wide World of Sports and seeing him several times, not to mention the live prime time jumps. Oh the plywood ramps I made. Jumped a picnic table on my Schwinn Stingray one time and landed flat on my back. Not successful, but the girls were impressed. EK - Possibly why I have a passion of two wheelers today.

Car & Driver had a few page article several years back that was great about this man and it was a hoot in typical C&D style.
He was a modern John Wayne, a tell it like they see it type of person.
IMHO America needs more people like that.


Life is not always about success, but just trying the impossible...

RIP Evil, you made your mark, an icon forever woven in in the fabric of America.
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Old 7 December 2007, 01:42 AM   #20
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RIP Evel... :(

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Old 7 December 2007, 01:45 AM   #21
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R.I.P Will there ever be a new evil? Chances are
HIGHLY unlikely...most today are VERY calculated. Watch some documentaries from Evel's jumps and there were times where they KNEW he would fail.
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Old 7 December 2007, 02:01 AM   #22
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R.I.P, Evel!
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Old 7 December 2007, 02:06 AM   #23
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any of us that grew up in the 70's will always have a special place for evel knievel. he was an icon and a true american legend.

rip evel and thanks for the memories.
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Old 7 December 2007, 02:57 AM   #24
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May his soul rest in peace
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Old 7 December 2007, 12:19 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoopJr View Post
Growing up as a kid, this was my favorite toy hands down!

http://cgi.ebay.com/EVEL-KNIEVEL-STU...QQcmdZViewItem

How did I miss this thread

Those things are cool as hell

I read an recent interview with him about a month ago. In it he told the reporter that this would probably be his last one. In it, Travis Pastrana ststed how he looked up to him. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be any X-Games or other competitions for the new guys to participate in.
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Old 7 December 2007, 01:34 PM   #26
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How did I miss this thread

Those things are cool as hell

I read an recent interview with him about a month ago. In it he told the reporter that this would probably be his last one. In it, Travis Pastrana ststed how he looked up to him. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be any X-Games or other competitions for the new guys to participate in.
Damn skippy, EK was the true schooler ruler in regards to X-games! RIP.
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Old 7 December 2007, 10:53 PM   #27
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I played golf with him a few times in Pittsburgh at The Alcoma Golf Club. What a character.
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