Robbie Knievel makes successful jump at Six Flags

By Alyssa Walker
Amp writer

The new Evel Knievel Roller Coaster opened at Six Flags St. Louis on June 20. It is a fantastic roller coaster based on the late daredevil’s career.
Evel Knievel’s son, Robbie Knievel, made an appearance July 3 at Six Flags to jump over 25 Dodge Vehicles in the parking lot, breaking his record of 23. His father had previously set a record of 19 Dodge Vehicles.

For those who don’t know who Evel Knievel was, I’ll fill you in. Evel Knievel was the biggest daredevil in the world. According to www.nytimes.com, Evel’s airborne stunts in the 60s and 70s brought him worldwide fame as the “quintessential daredevil performer.”

Evel Knievel made a jump in 1967 over the fountains at Ceaser’s Palace in Las Vegas. He crash landed, however, breaking many bones.

As Evel continued his daredevil life, he eventually broke every bone in his body. Rumor has it that the only bone that remained unbroken was in his ear. According to www.nytimes.com, he underwent as many as 15 major operations to relieve severe trauma and repair broken bones - skull, pelvis, ribs, collarbone, shoulders and hips.

You may be asking yourself, “What kind of name is Evel Knievel?”

Evel Knievel was not his real name. He was born Robert Craig Knievel. He took on the name Evel at a young age. He committed many crimes that eventually landed him in jail, where he sat across from a man named William Knofel. The police liked to call him “Awful Knofel.” When Robert arrived, he was nicknamed “Evil Knievel.” The name stayed with him. Eventually, he decided to change the “i” in Evil to and “e.”

Evel acquired his very first motorcycle, a Harley Davidson, after stealing it at age 13.

He was made the co-owner of a motorcycle company at age 27 in Moses Lake, Wash., and claimed he was going to make an outrageous jump just to attract customers to the business. His plan was to jump over 40 feet of parked cars, a box of rattlesnakes, and then pass a mountain lion “tethered” at the end of the jump. More than 1,000 people showed up to watch the stunt. Evel performed the promised jump but failed to complete it successfully, landing in the box of rattlesnakes. Afterward, Evel was quoted saying, “I knew I could draw a big crowd by jumping over weird stuff.”

Evel Knievel died last November at age 69.

Robbie Knievel made his first jump at age 4 on his bicycle. By the time he was 8, he performed his very first show with his dad at Madison Square Garden. Evel began letting Robbie tour with him at age 12. After only a few years of accompanying his father, Robbie chose to lengthen his jumps, incurring Evel’s disapproval. Robbie dreamed of making a name for himself like his father.

In 1979, he launched his own career. Robbie Knievel bills himself as “the world’s foremost motorcycle daredevil.”

Robbie has successfully completed more 250 professional jumps, according to information at www.knieveltour.com. These jumps include 20 world records, highlighted by the 1989 recreation of his fathers famous Ceaser’s Palace Fountain jump, his building to building jump in 1999 and his famous Grand Canyon jump in 2000.

According to his Web site, Robbie has successfully recreated every jump his father had attempted, with the exception of two; the bus-jumping record set by his father at Kings Island, Ohio in 1974, and the 1972 rocket launch across Snake River Canyon.

“Before I quit, I plan on making two jumps,” Robbie told his audience at Six Flags. “I plan on jumping 23 buses and jumping across Snake River Canyon.” The crowd screamed and cheered.

After his unsuccessful Snake River Canyon jump, Evel Knievel was quoted as saying, “I’ve always said that when the canyon jump comes, if I miss it, I’ll get somewhere quicker where you’re all going someday. Dying is a part of living and none of us is going to get out of here alive.”

At Six Flags, Robbie spoke after his daughter, Krysten, sang the National Anthem. He talked about his father, making one thing clear to the audience.

“I am not the bravest daredevil in the world,” he said. “I am the son of the bravest daredevil in the world.”

He then proceeded to put on his helmet and mount his bike. Just as his father would, Robbie did many wheelies back and forth to get the crowd pumped up. Before the main jump, he did numerous practice runs coming off the speed ramp.

The crowd chanted “Robbie, Robbie, Robbie.”

He repeatedly came down the ramp and steered off to ride past the jumping ramp. Finally, he drove back up the speed ramp, turned around, and positioned himself at the top, his front wheel already an inch forward. He looked over the top of the cars from above and went slowly down the ramp. He then proceeded to ride up onto the jumping ramp, pausing, taking his last look before the death-defying jump. He was ready. It would be either another record or his last jump ever. The crowd knew this was it.

Robbie took a last breath, bowed his head in prayer and looked up. He turned to his left and punched knuckles with a crew member. He revved the engine loudly, silencing the noisy crowd. He pushed his bike forward, lifted his heels, and sped down the ramp faster than lightning, launching himself straight over 25 vehicles and landing successfully.

Flames shot into the air, followed by loud fireworks. He rode back up the landing ramp, took the microphone and made his final comment.

“Six Flags St. Louis, you’ve got it!” he said. “The Evel Knievel Roller Coaster. Daddy would be proud.”