Evel Knievel, the Snake River Canyon and the Alternate Reality Campsite on the Other Side
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2023
- Welcome to Wonderhussy Adventure #740
Date of adventure: 7/20/23
Exploring the site where Evel Knievel tried to jump the Snake River Canyon back in 1974 -- and then going over to the other side, where he was supposed to have landed. How different would life be if he had made it??
Support me: / wonderhussy
Help fuel my next trip:
www.paypal.me/wonderhussy
or
www.cash.app/$Wonderhussy
Buy me dinner:
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
Bitcoin link:
3H4kzyPxMEwNGNgntSpCQGDEj6xMADUUYC
Merch:
www.zazzle.com/store/wonderhussy
and
wonderhussy-merchandise.myspr...
Recommended Gear:
www.amazon.com/shop/wonderhus...
Calendars:
www.createphotocalendars.com/...
Credits:
Theme song by Michael Saint-Leon
www.switchyardstudios.com
Doh De Oh by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Covert Affair - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Marty Gots a Plan by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Gypsy Shoegazer by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
wonder hussy, wonderhussie, wonder hussie, wonder hussey, wonderhussey
![ATEEZ(에이티즈) - [GOLDEN HOUR : Part.1] Preview](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oYCT_kZ79Ig/mqdefault.jpg)
On that day in 1974, I was glued to the TV watching Evel. I was 12yrs old and a huge Evel fan. I'd spent the day delivering papers, because I was saving up for a Honda XR75.. it wasn't a Harley, but it was an XR... same letters as Evel's jump bikes. The next year, I got that bike, and I learned to wheelie just like Evel. Eventually jumped 3 cars with it! I was 13. .. this led to a career as a pro motocross racer, then rodeo rider and even spent 2 years as a jockey (quickly outgrew that). So, yes, Evel was a huge influence on my life. Saw Evel live twice. Met him once. Evel would've loved you Sarah Jane. 😁 Evel wasn't perfect, but he was a hero. We could use a few heroes today.
Hell yeah!! I had a 1974 XR75. Raced it in Brazoria county,TX. I recall filing the points for that perfect idle and hacking off the exhaust and installing a performance straight that was mounted at peg level, parallel with the ground. I did that after giving myself a third degree burn once after crashing.
I was 4
The XR75 in those days was silver , wasn't it? I dont think we got them in New Zealand until the '79 red version. I was 10 years old in 1974 and didn't get my first bike until I was fifteen ( SL125) but in the early seventies my dream was to own one of those XL100'S that were painted in candy colors . I've heard that Evel cancelled some motocross riders prize money checks for the motocross races at Snake River , the only ones that got paid were the ones that cashed them in fast. Who did you end up racing against as a pro? 'any big names?
I saw his son,Robbie jump 3 barges in Florida. Don’t know if he still jumps…
@@robinmiller5256 Not unless he's doing jumps in heaven.
My husband, brother and I traveled from NY to watch Evel try to jump this canyon! Spent the night before sleeping on the ground with all the other crazy people there! They burned many outhouses that night and raided tractor trailers of beer and soda and passed them out to the crowds. We were very close to the ramp when the jump went off. What a blast from the past to see that area again! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
So, you think destruction and robbery is lot's of fun and an acceptable form of entertainment?
@@William_Hada I never said that it was entertaining. I had nothing to do with that, I was just an unwilling observer. There were authorities there, but they were unwilling to enter the area. We moved our vehicle as far away from the crazies and spent an uneasy night watching for an escalation of the insanity. I actually saw a person dancing on top of one of the burning outhouses. We couldn’t move away from that fast enough.
@@William_Hada Take it easy Mr moral authority. It would have been entertaining to me for sure.
@@jacknimble1 Finding people breaking the law as entertaining says a lot about your moral character. You have a very warped system of values to try and shame me for being too moral and not enjoy lawlessness and mayhem. You are a very sick individual, do yourself a favor and get some professional help.
Well Hada . Here is the problem . " Blast from the past " as @wendy6890 used it in her comment . Does NOT mean fun ! It just means that it made one relive something from their past . @@William_Hada
I went there along with three other guys - one of whom owned a Beechcraft Bonanza. It was a crazy mind blowing trip. We stayed at a friend’s house in town and took a taxi out to the jump site every day leading up to the “jump” or launch as it turned out. There were several thousand folk, of EVERY ilk - Hells Angles, naked ladies, stoned hippies you name it. On the way home we dropped into Jackpot NV (landing on the windy dirt strip there was a challenge) where I played poker (a midget was in the game) and a visit to the brothel you once covered topped things off - so to speak. It took a few weeks to recover from that little holiday! BTW, when the day came that Evil flew he went in and out of his cockpit, gave a mighty wave, jumped in an “blasted off” in his steam rocket. He vanished over the ridge immediately and we all stood in silent awe - until someone retrieved him from bushes along the river. Would love to relive that nutty trip!
Hmmmm. That was crazy. I grew up a 1/4 mile from his ramp. From the age of 5 to 10 years old that was my hangout. A million and 1 stories about that place. Across the canyon from his ramp you were about 2 minutes away from some hidden lakes. We would go there, ard cliff dive. Also right above the falls and Derkeys Lake. I will never forget the 1,000's of Shlitz cans, old abandoned cars left to decay. I was always the only one out on his ramp it seems. Shooting, rolling boulders into the canyon and catching snakes. That was a trip to watch that video.
I was at the jump. I was on the cliff face, directly under the ramp, when he jumped. Getting to that spot is a tale in itself. Locked eyes with him as he was popping the canopy, WISH I had our camera that day. We were camped in the field, about 100 yards back, to the left of the ramp. Wide open then, the house was not there. Biggest party I've ever been to. Tale too long in the telling here. BTW, we drove up from Ridgecrest, spent a week.... Oh, hot springs out of Bruneau, have not been there in decades, no idea what kind of shape it's in now. Hot spring all over Idaho.
Now every time something goes wrong I'm going to think "What if Evel Knievel made it"
You are one of the best, u- tubers, story tellers !!! I thoroughly love to watch !!!
On that day I was 7 years old and all the kids on my block were gathered around watching the jump on tv. We were disappointed that the parachute deployed so early but regardless we all had Evel Kneivel toys and wind up motorcycles we’d play with. We also used to build ramps and jump off of them on our bicycles. Since we lived on a hilly street we’d also build homemade go karts and race them down the street. Those were the days. 😂
I remember watching Evil Knievel on TV back in the day. God I’m old. ❤
Hi, Scott here. I lived and grew up about 3 miles north of the Evil K Jump site. I was there at a family friend’s house about a 1/4 of a mile from the Jump site when he jumped. When we drove over to the party at the house t9 watch we left 4 hours earlier. We had to go through three check points. It was crazy. I saw people having sex, go to the bathroom outside nudity everywhere. Bikers you name it. What a spectacle. They clamed there was 500,000 plus visitors? It was such a shock that Twin Falls passed an ordinance banning any future gatherings of more than 25,000. I grew up riding my motorcycle in the desert across from the jump. On a funny note. The night before he attempted the jump. Someone repelled down the opposite side, “the North side” of the Canyon and painted a red and white Bullseye on the canyon wall. Later when Robby kenivel tried to recreate the jump and attempt a 2nd jump. Twin Falls turned him down. Out of fear it would attract the biker wild rift raft again. I was 9 years old. Great memories. I had family friends in boats under the ramp. They said when he launched. He did briefly disappear over the North side. As usual and probably why. He failed was the wind that day was blowing hard. It blew him back into the canyon and he smashed into the Southside and into the river. Well, the wind always blows in Southern Idaho because Utah sucks!
He pulled the chute right after takeoff
Nice. my favorite one Sarah! Evel was from another time and place. Elvis was still performing back then at the International. McQueen was tops, Burt Reynolds was tops, Clint Eastwood, etc. Everybody was a bunch of John Waynes even my Dad who I idolized. I was 14, but remember this jump vividly. He was cocky and arrogant, but that was before that became viciously uncool. I must mention his son Robbie who was inspired by his dad even though Evel told him he didn't want his sons doing this stuff! Robbie surpassed his dad in jumps. He had a much lighter bike with better technology and did the Cesar's jump, the Cochella simi truck jump, Grand Canyon and was a chip off the old block.
Thanks so much for bringing me back, you are so cool to do that.
My dad was given a lithograph from Mr Kneivel after he wouldn’t accept payment for repairs to his trailer vent which was leaking water. It was a very rainy day in Reseda Ca. Kneivel had lithograph equipment and supplies in it. My dad was always nice like that.
I watched this live on TV. I was 13. As for the parachute, there was a hand lever at his side that Evel had to constantly pull back on in case of him blacking out from G Force . If he passed out the lever would spring forward and release the chute. That is exactly what happened. He blacked out just after take off from excessive acceleration. I think that's what saved his life on this stunt.
I had a mathematics teacher in high school in 1975, who grew up in Butte Montana during the same time as Evel Knievel. As students of the class, we would ask our teacher questions about his experiences with Evel Knievel?. It turned out Evel was not a very likable person even in those days, as our teacher never had a single good thing to say about Evel. In fact quite the opposite. That being said, as a kid in the 70s, Evel Knievel was a hero to myself, and every kid I knew. As a 9 year old in 1971, we'd go to our local movie theater and watch the 'Evel Knievel' movie, starring George Hamilton, virtually every Saturday for a year. Say what you will about Evel Knievel, but he was truly an All American one of a kind.
Years go by so fast. I was there when Evel "jumped". Most folks suspected that he never expected to really cross the canyon but relied on the parachute landing. Certainly he was a daring Show Man ! My buddy and I rode desert bikes and my buddy had a young son who was quite influenced by Evel Knievel at the time. Broke an arm jumping his bicycle off the roof of their house !
Evel had me jumping 4 people on the ground with my Stingray bike....I remember playing outside and my pops telling me he went in to the canyon on this jump....
Looking back on it, I think it was a planned failure. About the only chance he had of survival was to use the parachute down to the bottom. If memory serves me, if he made it across, the sled was supposed to land on a strong spring/shock on the nose. (Even as a kid, that seemed like a pretty sketchy plan to me!)
I was 9 when he made this jump, we all loved Evel. I even had the "rocket" toy with the action figure.
I had it too ! Also had the big rig and motor cycle .
Was cool 😎👍🏻
I was 16 in 1974 and Evel was one hell of a showman!!! I watched probably every big jump he ever made!!😊👍👏🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Same age as I was!
I was 9 or 10 and I remember the jump. So bummed when he didn’t make it but glad he lived through it because I knew he would be jumping again soon - even if he said he was finished jumping !
Fro what I remember, Evel had no plan to actually land the cycle like he normally did. The landing plan was to clear the river, then deploy the chute to crash land on the other side.
There was no cycle anything. It was an unguided, homemade, garage built rocket. He was to crash land as there were no wheels to land or opposite ramp to land and roll off on.
I was in our family car in the driveway of our home glued to the AM radio broadcasting the event live. I was 15 years old. Evel was our hero. He said he wasn’t evil, he was a “conservative wild man”. Great video!
I heard the SkyCycle had a 'dead man switch' parachute release that he had to hold back and if released the parachute would pop open. This was so if he blacked out from acceleration he would not crash with out the aid of the parachute.
This was a great trip down memory lane. Thanks for taking me back to 1974
I was 11 when we watched it on TV. Never missed a Wide World of Sports when he was to appear. At least I got to meet him in his later years.
Great Video!
Evel Knievel was a very nice man. He would come through our town on the central coast of California and eat at our local restaurant. Everybody loved him. He also was a painter .
I recall watching the spectacle on TV at the time. He was idolized by every boy in my era. Much to the consternation of worried mothers watching their sons trying to imitate him on their bicycles and ending up in the hospital.
Hi, Sarah. What a great video, and what a great story. I watched the "jump" on TV like so many other of your fans did that day long ago. I was very excited, but ultimately felt very disappointed. He barely cleared the ramp before he let go of the dead man switch. Oh yes, there was a dead man switch. It was for safety. If Evei lost consciousness the rocket engines would shut down and the chute would deploy, which is precisely what happened. Although there is speculation that the old man did it on purpose for obvious reasons. His rocket cleared the cliff and landed on the near bank of the river, where upon Evel was air-lifted probably to a hospital to be checked out. Frankly if I had been him I probably wouldn't want to face my fans after chickening out either, because there were lots of them, and they felt disappointed just like me. But unlike me they had traveled long and put up with stinky outhouses, crap beer, and overly priced tickets.... and he didn't even get wet! I don't want to judge him, but if he had managed to pull it off just imagine how the public would have reacted. He would have been hailed as a real hero. I don't think he ever really lived it down.
Schlitz was still a well known beer in the early 70's. Coors was still hard to find here in the Midwest.
Olympia beer was the new kid on the block in the Midwest and sold their beer in short 7oz clear bottles. Loved those chugging friendly tiny bottles.
He was every kids idol. I stripped my bike down and built ramps in the front yard i can't tell you how many times i wiped out but like Evel id get right up "sans broken bones" and do it again. He was the icon of never quit no matter how much it hurts. Fast forward to today and most kids wouldn't be allowed to ride their bikes without being trussed up like they were about to attempt that jump. I guess we were a different breed back in the day. We stood on the back seat of the car to see out the windshield drank from the garden hose and were even allowed to take our 22's to the woods to go plinking without supervision. Do any of the above now and the karen alarms would be waking Evel from his eternal rest. And boy howdy would he be shocked to see our bubble wrapped society!
I was 10 in 1974. I was also a huge Evel fan and had the action figures with the wind-up motorcycle and RV. I was totally glued to the news of whether he would make it or die trying
The Evel Knievel Gyro cycle was the toy to own back in the day. They are making a repro of it again and it jumps like the old one.
Congrats to WH who brought laughter and Wonder to this old body.
Waffle House..?
Great story Sarah Jane, its cool that theres still people going up there to see the site, after all, he was a legend! He did have one thing in common with you and thats keeping everyone entertained & interested!
I was a senior in high school when he made the jump. There was so much hype around it at the time. It's all anyone talked about. I really appreciate you making this video, Sarah. Thank you.
HI, Long time fan. Lived in Twin Falls, and watched it live, just a 1/2 mile away from a 20:24 friend's property. As to the Bikers, they were, for the most part, friendly and respectful with the locals, which surprised a lot of us. They asked for permission to camp and cleaned up before they left. Oh, it's called the snake river, because of its many curves as it flows towards the Columbia. Never in 20 years of climbing around the canyon came across a snake, lizards, yes! Tiny ones, and baby scorpions.
Love your podcasts, be safe.
In 1974 we had no internet. Knievel promoted his jumps through broadcast TV appearances, merchandise, and word of mouth.. He was a household name, and in the context of its time, the Snake River Canyon jump was an incredibly huge event. In September 2016 a stuntman named Eddie Braun successfully completed this jump in a replica of the Skycycle 2 built by the son of the Robert Truax who designed and built the original.
I was 15 in 1974 and was a huge fan of Evel and watched every jump. I had a mini bike that I made into a chopper because I was reading my older brother's Easyrider Magazines that he was buying. My brother had a awesome custom Harley Davidson Sportster that he meticulously hand built including the engine and paint job. I remember the frame was Pearl White with metal flake and the gas tank was a super awesome metal flake Purple with awesome Bright Orange flames going down the sides of the tank - it was a one of a kind and to this day I have never seen such creativity in a paint job on a motorcycle tank from almost ( 50 ) years ago. I think Easyriders Magazine started in 1972 And my brother started with the first one and had a subscription to the Magazine for many years.
As I remember the bikers at the Snake River Canyon had stolen a Coors beer truck before the jump and then when Evel didn't make a successful jump over the canyon, the bikers set the Coors beer truck on fire. Wonderhussy you are the best !! Much love to you.
In 1974. I was in casper at 263 so Jackson watching this jump. He back then was my hero. Got his to toys that year for Christmas. Fun to think about. Blessings
"The Wide World of Sports" treated the Jump as a Super Bowl with an hour or two preview show, then the event. RIP Evel
"THE THRILL OF VICTORY....AND THE AGONY OF DEFEAT "
I think Evel Knievel inspired me and countless other kids to try to break their bones jumping on home-made ramps with their bicycles in the 70's.
You were pretty young Huss when Evel was popular. I was a young teen when he was cool. I am still in awe of the man and had my pic taken with his wax sculpture at Madame Tussauds in Vegas last April.😊 He did pretty good with those AMF bikes. RIP Evel! One of a kind coolest guy EVER!!!❤
Yep. The good ol days! As a child I had the wind up "Stunt Cycle". I used to jump it off of our deck. Ha Ha. Later as a teenager I was all about building bicycle jump ramps with friends like so many other kids of the seventies.
Yeah, he was! When I think of him I remember his crashes o m g
..Evel ( the last four letters in his last name just noticing 😁😘...
@@SWHBOYCE yep..just changed..
Evel was the Liberace of stunts! Thanks for this fun blast from the past! 🏍️🏍️🏍️
An iconic event for us kids of the 1970s ✌️
Had all the Evel Knievel toys
I remember watching Evel trying to jump the Snake River Canyon when I was a kid. It was especially memorable for me because it was my father's birthday. Like just about every other kid in the country we were putting playing cards in the spokes of our bicycles, making ramps and pretending we were him. Now I want to go kayaking there.
‘Just a reminder you do have a super talent at what you do ‘🥊🥊🎭👀🌴🦩🎈🛸🧚♂️
As as six year old in 1974, Christmas morning was filled with every Evel Knievel toy available at the time, and there were lots of them.
I was an 8 year old boy, glued to the TV. Loved him.❤
I watched the event live on TV. I had a friend who moved to Butte Mt. and went to school with Evels kids. His son Robbie followed in his dads footsteps and jumped motorcycles for a few years.
The good ol days when we watched live for free on TV 😊
@@karennadeau8251 It wasn't shown live on free TV. I was shown on closed circuit TV.
How much fun was this video. You sure brought back a lot of memories for a lot of people. I couldn't help but think of Super Dave too, while watching this.
Hi Sarah, I was 20 years old back then me and all my buddies grew up on dirt bikes and we watched evil attempt that jump. I remember when he jumped at Caesars Palace that was an awesome jump flying through the air and then he comes down on the ramp on the other side and he loses control and he’s wobbling around and then he starts tumbling and everybody was freaking out. Yeah, I remember those days. excellent job on your videos. You’re my hero. 👍🌷❤️🤠
It was a few days after my 10th birthday, and we were in Spokane visiting friends. The dads got to talking about running over to watch, and us kids got so excited at the possibility. Of course, we did not end up going, so thank you, WH, for taking me with you today.
No Haters allowed! This is my home town .. I remember watching this in Wendell 1974. So all you haters don't be mean to Wonderhussy! She may have pronounced shoshone wrong but her ❤ is in the right place! You go girl!
I agree! I'm living in twin falls. 😉
You, wearing that red white and blue everything, are the perfect guide to this iconic site!
I was a month shy of 14 when Evel attemped the canyon jump, or more accurately, rocket launch. I was a huge fan as were most youngsters of the day, trying to emmulate him. And oddly enough, I visited Twin Falls last year for the first time, and checked out the falls (mostly dry at that time) and the site of his launch ramp. You really don;t get a sense of how damn big that canyon is until you actually see it in person.
The TV cameras made it look like it was so close together like 200 yards. When it was 533 yards. This is longer than a drag race but in the air.
Wonderhussy, thank you so much for posting this. Content of Evel Knievel is certainly content I would of never imagined stumbling across on your page and it blew my mind. You really do surprise us with your postings. This one gave me a nice smile. I did have the chance to randomly meet Evel back in the late 80's when I was just starting out in the "real" world and decided that I was going to buy a motorcycle and fulfill the need for speed that comes across some of us. It was at a private golf club on the east coast of all places heading down a hillside ramp to a parking lot when our paths crossed. I had narrowed my bike choice down to a couple of selections and asked Evel which one did he think I should go with. He looked at me square in the dang eye and replied "Neither. Getting a motorcycle son, is probably the worst decision you can make. While I did have some fun, I wish I never got on one years ago when I was young and dumb cuz I am paying for it today." I was surprised at this response. Being young and dumb myself I went with a NightHawk 650, a nice beast with plenty of power. Rode that beast for a bit, mostly out on the country roads where I lived near at the time so they were deserted and desolate for the most part. A Lady was driving on the otherside of the road as I approached and for whatever reason her big Buick drifted in my lane. I had little choice but to put the bike down to escape this behemoth Buick or else I was going to be roadkill. She kept on going and I got up a bit bruised, bloodied and battered to head back to the confines of home where I poured myself a stiff one to quell my still shattered nerves. slept on it overnight and the next day put the Nighthawk up for sale to close that chapter of my life as the words of Evel came back to me so vividly that night.
This is great to have the Hussy take us to 'yet' another great scenic historic destination !! Knievel was the ultimate stunt man, the predecessor to wing suit cliff jumpers and to all the kids on YT doing their daring dangerous stunts. He was very fortunate to have walked away from the snake river crash, maybe he should have NOT used a 'steam' powered rocket ? Yet, its kind of ironic that he would one day die from diabetes at age 69 and not from a stunt....take care and travel on Hussy !!
Schlitz beer from Milwaukee Wisconsin was the number one beer sold in the USA for many decades. When they moved the plants making it they changed the taste and it failed from there on. Schlitz, Pabst, Blatz trademarks are owned by a company that uses Miller, Coors and other breweries to produce the beers labeled under the brands.
I remember Evel Knievel very well and all his stunts.
I watched Evel's "launch" live on TV. I was 12 going on 13 years old. I remember that quite a bit of betting ensued in the run-up to the event, both among my young chums and men my dad's age. My dad was an engineer in the program building the rocket motors for the submarine-launched Polaris and Trident ICBMs. He knew the stunt was impossible with the vehicle Evel had built. It was basically an updated version of the old circus steam cannon stunt. The parachute came out right away just as designed. Dad took the fellows at Cotton's Tavern to the cleaners, as did I the boys at Braddock Junior High.
I was 8 when he made the failed attempt in the rocket bike live on TV. Got to view it while at Gowan Field with the National Guard. When I lived in Vegas him and Robbie were in the little phone book and got him and Robbie to sign the book next to their names. Still have it and the Evel K STP pull cord bike with him and it works. Had that since the 70s😂
I remember that toy!😊
I was 14. And did watch. I remember feeling extremely disappointed that he didn’t make it. That damn parachute! I like your butterfly effect alternative future reality possibilities 😊
I was 15 when I watched him make this jump. I met him here in Spokane Washington, for an HD store opening about 20 years ago of this writing. He had a skeleton marked with every bone that he broke. Motorcycles that were used in jumps and wheelies. The Rocket cycle was there too. It was so narrow, he had to turn sideways to get into it. They were never able to find out why the parachute deployed prematurely. My best guess, the G forces at launch caused it. A wire came loose and touch the other side of the switch and when he hit the canyon walls it moved it back into position. Again best guess. Retired USAF Mechanic. Also, Napoleon Dynamite was filmed in and around Twin Falls.
"What if Evel Knievel made it?" is now my go to for so many things.
Back then Evel Knievel was one of my heroes when I was a kid. I even had a Evel Knievel lunch box.
Great video Wonderhussy! I remember this event well, it occurred the day after getting my driver's license, 2 weeks after turning 16. There was a long build up of hype for sure. And now this upcoming birthday of mine I get to celebrate by being required to sign up for Medicare! Keep up the great work ❤
I wasn’t around in 1974 but I did grow up watching Evel Knievel jr.
I turned 22 in September of that year. I had a hunch Knievel was a little bit nuts, but that didn't stop me form making a few $2 bets here and there. Beyond that, I was too busy chasing girls
to pay much attention to what some guy was doing🙃. So...now I'd like to thanks this young lady (Sarah Jane) for showing us the spot where Knievel hoped to jump the canyon. I doubt I
will ever have the chance to get out there to see it in person. Thanks, Darlin'...and much love to you and yours.
I was 23 or 24 and drove to Snake River with a friend from Missouri. Was fairly close to the take off. The bike was somehow suppose to be "rocket propelled." It shot craps about a third of the way across the canyon and parachuted down. Wasn't close enough to see the landing as it fell out of sight. Long drive, few facilities and not exactly the thrill of a lifetime. But every once in a while, like now, I get to say I was there. Guess that's worth something.
Working in a sandpaper factory??!!!! Haa haa haaa
OMG !!!
I remember that attempt like it was yesterday 👍
Hey, Sarah! Doing the math you weren’t even born yet when he attempted the jump. The world would have to wait a while longer before we were blessed with your arrival. I was only fourteen when he attempted the jump so it’s hard to remember everything that happened. I know the chute deployed prematurely and I think when he talked about it he mentioned a strap caught on the button or lever and made it deploy early. I don’t think it even reached the apex before it went off.
If I remember anatomy class there’s about 206 bones in our bodies so he’d have broken some bones at least twice.
With Niagara Falls they were having so many people die they got tired of fishing the dead bodies out so they made a law making it illegal to attempt going over the falls. I think there’s only two people who survived the plunge. One in a barrel and one who slipped on the walkway and fell in.
I remember when I got my first bike I was getting ready to try to jump a ramp. I was going to use plywood but since it’s thinner than 2x6’s I just ran up onto it and all I could hear was a craaaack!! If I asked my parents for heavier wood I knew their first question would be what for? If I told them it would be NNOOOO! I loved my bike and I wasn’t going to ruin it, so… sorry Evel, it’s going to have to wait!😉 That bike was hard won!!
Can’t help wondering what your pre teen years were like where curiosity and adventure was developing? Stay safe and have fun Sarah! ❤️🙏🫶🏻😎
Sarah, you are such a storyteller! I am from Idaho and I was a 10 year old and watched this. So disappointed that he failed. sigh. Thanks for the fun video!!!
I've read that Evel (in his early years) got fired from the strip mine he worked at because his supervisor caught him riding a wheelie with a fully loaded front end loader. Strip mine equipment is HUGE so I can't imagine how he got a giant loader up on it's back tires but he apparently managed to do it.
Probably balancing on the front wheels. With a load in the bucket, and raised up some, they will reverse wheelie.
@@robertheinkel6225 Wasn't thinking of doing one that way but it makes sense. I've seen loaders tackle an overload and get light in the ass and loose steering, never thought of doing it on purpose. I'm mainly a backhoe with some occasional excavator time guy. Been around them lots but never operated a loader.
WH thanks for taking us on this fabulous journey and taking me back to fun and carefree times in my youth with not a Health and Safety person in sight.
He was one of a kind like Elvis a great showman that gave his fans 110% every time he showed up
I was in college at the time, and I remember me and my buddies were side betting that he would hit the far side of the canyon, just like a scene out of the Roadrunner cartoon. Just imagine seeing Wile E. Coyote at the helm....😄😄 Great video Sarah!!!!😍😍
I was 12 years old. Was watching it live on TV. You exactly right. He was a mean and rowdy SOB back in his day 😊
Great storytelling as usual. I love when the camera moves toward the edge of the jump. And I love your alternate reality rant.
the hype he created back in the day was insane because I remember watching both the Caeser's and Snake jump attempts, he certainly was the PT Barnam of the day.
Since I'm a generation senior than most, Over 70 years, I remember the situation that led up to the kind of stunts Evel pulled or tried to pull off. It seemed the door was open for stunt people because the bikes of the day transformed their suspensions from solid or ridge frames to a floating shock type suspension. This meant the everyday motor cycle could be used for jumping. As a kid, I had a banana seat to practice ramp jumping. However, my own personal opinion was is it would led to a lot of reckless behavior for bike enthusiasts as they got older if they moved onto motorcycles. I never did. Sure enough one of my crazy drunk buddies tried his luck at taking a downhill corner at over a hundred miles an hour. He killed himself because he thought the suspension would handle it. I'm sure Evel had the same indiums for wanting to keep on jumping.
met Evel at Dr lonnie hammagrens neurologist who glued him back together . kids got autographs . very interesting video!
I was 13 when he jumped The Grand Canyon he was my hero. We all jumped our bikes over anything we could, even jumped over each other. No helmets no adults telling us what to do. times were much better back then. no cell phone to stick your nose in for hours just pure unadulterated playtime. We truly lived life, unlike today. today kids live in some fantasy in their head through their cell phone. It’s so sad. Years from now when they are adults, they’ll find that they have no cherished memories, but kids in our day. We have tons of memories.
Evel kneivel was my hero when I was a kid. I was glued to the TV that day. I used to pretend I was him, and jump stuff with my bike.
Love your channel, you make me feel like you are an old friend. The Evel adventure was GREAT just keep doing what you do.
You really are my favorite Wonderhussy! I was 6 years old and vividly remember watching Evel Knievel attempt this jump on live TV!
I remember, Robert Knievel, famously, known as Evel Knievel, and even his son, Bobby. Bobby died in January this year. I met Evel Knievel in the late 70s when he was at the Pontiac Silverdome doing stunts. He was actually a lot more pleasant of a fellow than you would expect. it may have even been like 1980 or so. One of his most famous jumps was at Caesars palace. Nonetheless, I think you were quite a bit overly disparaging about the people who were there. I remember that day, and it was nothing like you described. I don’t think you were born then.
Captain Robbie Knievel!
She is a Google scholar.
The other daredevils Evel competed for attention around that time with in daredevil acts were the Flying Wallendas, primarily doing high wire acts.
I was glued to the TV set, like everybody that day watching the jump. I was in high school in ‘74 and used the spring break opportunity to drive from S. California to Twin Falls, and at that time they were preparing for the jump, with the building of the ramp.
Evel was a worst nightmare for parents that had wild children already. Many kids tried to learn his stunts. LOL
I think everyone has that event in their memory if they were over about 6 years old. I haven't researched it, but I think they did build that earthen ramp for the jump. My whole family watched it live on tv.
I was 10 and glued to the TV, watching that jump.
Your priceless! Your imagination is amazing! 🤔 what would the world have been like if Evel had made that jump?? 🤔 we’ll never know…..yep I watched this one on TV, like millions of people, and in person for the Cesar’s jump…..life was crazy!
I was 19, thanks for honoring his spirit
I was there for the jump driving my 1965 Ford Camper Van before Van life was a thing. The Beer that was stolen and passed around the night before was Rainier Beer. Free beer is always the best. Evel did stunts on his Harley before the big event and he appeared stressed
just an hour before the jump. They had a small temporary chain link fence about 30 ft from the edge of the cliff to keep people from running over the side. The security was a group of Bikers one with a shotgun that walked up to my friend and said if anyone pushes over the fence I have just one shot and its going in you if this fence comes down. As soon as Evel headed down into the canyon
the guy with the shotgun fired one shot in the air, everyone paused for a second then trampled the fence down to see where Evel was.
All we could see was the rescue helicopter down in the canyon for about 20 min and then Evil was pulled out and waved to the crowd looking over the side. It was an awesome party.
I remember seeing Evel Knievel attempt that stunt back in 74. I liked the rabbits foot around Evel’s neck. Another great video Sarah Jane.
Those falls are amazing! You find all the interesting places I'd love to visit!
Evel was definitely one of my heroes growing up. I remember this on tv and being very worried about him
I am old enough to remember and your version of him is sooooo much better then real life! And don't durn those buns, way to cute🤩😍🥰!!!!!!
I was close to my 14th birthday. There was a circus coming to my town and they were hiring local kids to help set the tents up on that day. I was one of those kids getting paid $2/hr and tickets to the show later in the week. I remember at some point while we were working somebody told us about how the jump went.
I so look forward to WH Wednesdays! I was 5 in '74 and I remember all of the Evel stunts of the time. All the neighborhood kids would try to jump things with their bikes and big wheels.
I was a huge Evil Knievel fan, I was 14 years old. I remember waiting for ever for him to launch that thing. When he finally did launch whatever that thing was it off it was supremely disappointing. A pointed capsule looking thing just floated down to the bottom of the canyon… That was the last hawraw for EK. I’m pretty sure.
Thanks Sarah, for the memories. Hahaha my Grandpa drank Schlitz.
Man, my Dad painted everything he owned red, white and blue. We watched all those. I was 8 in 74 and my brother had the toy! I even have a picture of my Dad dressed up in a red, white and blue get up! 😂