I watched this man jump 13 cars at Kaukauna Raceway over thirty years ago.Man, could this guy do wheelies . . .
Posted on 07/21/2005 11:06:03 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper
TWIN FALLS, Idaho - Evel Knievel may have finally met his match. And he's not going to clear this hurdle.
Renowned for his death-defying stunts, Knievel has now landed in major medical trouble. He says his doctors give him three to five years to live.
Knievel suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that scars the lungs, replacing the air sacs with scar tissue. As the scars form, the tissue becomes thicker, reducing the lung's ability to absorb oxygen. There is no cure.
"I feel pretty good, but there just isn't enough air on this Earth for me compared to you normal people," Knievel said.
The daredevil joins about 200,000 other Americans with the disease. There is no known cause, but researchers believe it may be caused by a genetic predisposition, previous injury to the lungs, viruses and pollutants. Knievel says he has never smoked, though he did work in a copper mine in Montana before making it big as a stunt entertainer.
While rumors about the daredevil's failing health have been buzzing for a few years, his friend Alma Barry in Twin Falls didn't believe them until Knievel called and asked for a gravestone he left in her care to be shipped to him in Butte.
The white marble marker was created to generate publicity about his Snake River Canyon jump more than 30 years ago. Alma Barry and her family got to know Knievel in the seven years he took to build the ramp and plan the jump. The Barrys owned Volco Builders' Supply and helped him build the ramp and press box. The family became such close friends with Knievel that he asked them to store the giant stone marker.
The Barry family sold its business to Franklin Building Supply a few decades ago and asked that the new managers watch over the marker.
It sat in a stockroom for more than 30 years.
"He said he wasn't doing too well and wanted to be buried in Butte and asked if we could send him the gravestone," Barry said. "It is a very beautiful piece. It had the date he was born and the date of the jump and his image on it and a space for in case he didn't make it over the canyon."
Knievel, 66, sent a truck to pick up the stone, and it is now in Butte.
His biggest payday came when he jumped the Snake River Canyon in September 1974 for $6 million. He says his son, Robbie, may also be planning to do a similar jump in Twin Falls. But he doubts it.
"I worked for seven years on that jump, going to Twin Falls for a month each year and working with engineers," he said. "I don't think Robbie has been there once, so he may say he is going to do it, but he isn't putting in the work."
He wants to be buried next to the grandparents who raised him. Knievel was influenced to become a motorcycle daredevil when they took him to Joey Chitwood's Auto Daredevil show when Knievel was 8. But his grandparents were very much against his career choice.
"They encouraged me not to," he said. But Knievel has no regrets, and he encourages young people to follow their passions, too.
"Follow your dreams, no matter what they are or you'll never amount to anything," he said. "It's better to take a chance in life than to never take a chance. I'm not saying to go and jump a canyon, but you have to take chances. Next time, I'll take more."
thanks! :D
Seems to me that at his age 3-5 years is probably about right for a healthy person. Now, if the doc said 3-5 months, it would be different.
We (me, brother, sister) bought tickets and watched him attempt to jump Snake River Canyon via satellite.
Lot's of folks have followed in his footsteps and found out what it's like. I saw one of those types bust his ass twice in one night at the old Rittiman Road strip in San Antonio. Not pleasant when it doesn't go well.
Robert Knevel had plenty of guts. He'd crash, and then get right back and try another big jump.
One crazy sumbitch, that's for sure.
I watched this man jump 13 cars at Kaukauna Raceway over thirty years ago.Bobby Knievel, has led a thrill, fun, filled life. He has done it his way, and if he dies tomorrow,he will be remembered as one great show man. Best regards, Bobbie, and go get a few hub caps, before you leave.
Well, we all get old and and we all die. Not nessacerily in that order.
I saw Chitwood also as a kid.
To quote Indiana Jones "it's not the years, it's the mileage "
CC
can i have his custom harley?
He needs a lung transplant,,someone get that info to him.
I met him when he came to Cleveland 30 years or so ago. He brought along his rocket he had used to attempt the Canyon jump. The nose of it was crinkled from the crash. A friend of mine took a picture of me sitting in it. One of my favorite pictures. I wish him well.
The worst thing about doing a "jump" over a cat was that 5-10% of the time the silly animal would move into the "landing-zone" and get its fur stuck in the bike's wheels. Kitty never liked that.
Otherwise, I played with that bike until it was in pieces.
The worst thing about doing a "jump" over a cat was that 5-10% of the time the silly animal would move into the "landing-zone" and get its fur stuck in the bike's wheels. Kitty never liked that.
Yeah, pets were bad about that weren't they? ;o)
I remember the year I got that toy for Christmas. I heard this strange noise early that morning (or maybe it was very late at night). After I opened the gift and started playing with it, I realized that the sound I heard was dad giving the little Evel a few test runs.
I'm sure he has consulted many doctors. It might not be an option for him (and his age may also be a factor, no doubt).
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