Graham Speedway, Washington 54
Grand Canyon 59–60, 62, 116–17, 174, 201
Great Falls Speedway, Montana 51
Green Valley Raceway 120
Green, Thomas 183
Guinness Book of Records 37
H
Hamilton, George 34, 90, 91, 95, 96, 138, 176, 238, 242, 258, 271
Hammond, Richard 272–3
Happy Days 168
Harley-Davidson 36, 55, 93, 95, 104, 111, 115, 117, 144, 156, 161–2, 164, 173, 181, 194, 195, 199, 200, 235, 237, 250, 255
100th Anniversary Edition Road King Classic 95
XR-750 36, 55, 94, 237, 254
Harley, William S. 93
Hayden, Nicky 273
Hell’s Angels 85–6, 87, 88–9, 93, 104, 132, 134, 149
Hill, Graham 160
Hill, Napoleon 31
Hoffman, Dan 248
Hoffman, Matt 234–5
Honda 38, 39, 41, 42, 81
Hood, John 149–50, 164
Horwitch, Jason 259
Houghton, Leslie Van 193
Houston Astrodome 95
Hudman, Linda 103–4
Hughes, Howard 156
Hutton, Lauren 176
I
Icon 244
Icon Productions 258–9
Idaho Land Board 138
Ideal Toy Company 121, 124, 194, 195, 206
Imported Motors 37
Indian Motorcycles 235
IRS (Internal Revenue Service) 5, 204–7, 219, 242, 248
Italian Job, The 74
J
Jackass 260–1
Joey Chitwood Auto Daredevil Show 38–9
Johnson Motors 81
K
Katkov, Norman 177
Kelly, Gene 176
Kennedy, John F. 29
Kennedy, Krystal 218–19, 224, 225–6, 238, 239, 241, 243, 245–6, 247, 254, 267–8, 277
Kerkorian, Kirk 256
Kidd, Eddie 237
King’s Island Family Entertainment Center 168
King’s Island, Ohio 54, 168, 169–75, 170, 171, 172, 174–5, 179, 180, 181, 237
Kingdome, Seattle 183
Knievel, Alicia (daughter) 198, 205–6, 209–10, 211, 217, 233
Knievel, Ann (mother) 11, 12
Knievel, Christy (step-sister) 32
Knievel, Evel see Knievel, Robert Craig
Knievel, Emma (grandmother) 12, 13, 15, 18, 23, 233
Knievel, Ignatious (grandfather) 12, 13
Knievel, Kelly Michael (son) 28, 36, 69, 113, 114, 127, 139, 140, 143, 241, 256, 272
Knievel, Krysten (granddaughter) 271, 274
Knievel, Loretta (step-sister) 83
Knievel, Nick (brother) 12, 13, 15, 16
Knievel, Renee (step-sister) 32
Knievel, Robert Craig (Evel):
cane 74–5
career statistics 263–84
childhood 12–18
comebacks 6–7, 219–23, 229, 237, 241, 248–62
conversion to Christianity 262–5
crashes see injuries and crashes
criminal, life as a 24–30
drinking 5, 58–9, 64, 75, 156, 166, 175, 186, 188, 196, 206, 208, 209–11, 214, 215–16, 227, 228, 243, 258
fame 1, 2, 4–6, 53–4, 59–60, 69–76, 98–9, 138–9, 147–8, 153–4, 163, 167–8, 171–2, 181–2, 187–8, 193–4, 198, 214, 219–23, 229, 237–8, 241, 244, 257–62
family 22–3, 28, 37, 103, 110, 112–14, 127, 139–40, 143, 148, 151, 165, 166, 179, 199–203, 205, 206–7, 209–11, 214–15, 217–18, 233, 241–2, 245–7
fear, attitude towards 80–1, 175
finances 1, 2, 5, 77, 78–9, 97–103, 120, 121–5, 128–9, 131, 139, 154, 155–8, 178–9, 194–5, 198, 204–7, 216–17, 219, 242–3, 247–9, 251–2, 253–4, 256
first appearances as motorcycle jumper 41–3, 47–9, 52–3
gambling 155–9, 195–6, 208, 219, 243
golf 5, 196–7, 212, 215, 219, 230, 243, 251, 256
Hell’s Angels, clashes with 85–9, 104, 149
illnesses 7, 78, 222–3, 226, 227–8, 231–2, 236, 238–40, 243, 245, 255
injuries and crashes 3, 36–7, 50–2, 53, 57, 68–71, 77, 78–81, 104–6, 107–8, 116, 163–6, 169, 172–3, 182–3, 199, 230–1
insurance salesman 30–1
jailtime 5, 189–93
jealousy 136–7
jumping technique 55–6
jumps see under individual venue name
jumpsuit 49–50, 82–3
last jumps 199–200
mafia connections 208–9
merchandise and endorsements 7, 121–5, 194, 226, 233–6, 241
miner 19–20
motorcycles 32–8, 39, 41, 42, 48, 55, 56, 64, 65, 66, 67, 80–1, 82, 86, 94, 95, 199, 200, 237, 250, 254
motorcycle dealerships 37–9
movies 90–2, 95–7, 176–8, 184, 242, 257–60
Knievel, Robert Craig (Evel) – cont.
name, origin of 44, 45–7
painting 213–14
poetry 106–7
Presley, comparisons with 83–4
religion 209–10
retirement 166–7, 179–80, 203–4
roots 8, 10–11
self-promotion 2–3, 30, 39–40, 57–8, 61–4, 81, 127–8, 131–6, 158–9
sex life 5, 109–13, 215
sponsorship deals see also
merchandise and endorsements 93–5
US Army 20–2
violent behaviour 185–95, 224–6, 237–8, 245–7, 248–9
yarn teller/liar 61–4, 81, 136
Knievel, Robert Edward (father) 11–12, 14, 32
Knievel, Robert Edward (son) 37, 69, 103, 113, 127, 143, 151, 172, 179, 199–203, 233, 250, 268–9, 275
Knievel, Robin (step-sister) 32
Knievel, Tracey Lynn (daughter) 38, 69, 143, 151, 233, 274
Knoffel, William 46
L
Laderer, Kurt 237–8
Lakewood Speedway 107
Las Vegas City Amateur
Championship (golf) 1998 256
Las Vegas Gaming Commission 190
Laverda 750S 82
Legend’s Corporation 214
Liberace 75, 101
Lie Detector 152
Life 61
LifeLink Transplantation Institute 239
Lions Drag Strip, Los Angeles 95
Little Caesar’s 221–2
Lombardo, Joey 208–9
Los Angeles Coliseum 114
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 84
Louis, Joe 14, 197
Lovell, Jim 118, 145
Lyons, Sue 96
M
Madison Square Garden 103
Mahoney, John Culliton 146
Major, Cliff 15
Malewicki, Doug 117, 118, 119
Man with the Golden Gun, The 74
Mandich, Steve 37, 88, 120, 213
Maney, Leo 18
Manson, Charles 5, 193
Mantle, Mickey 231
Margolwitz, Robbie 208
Maxim Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas 243
McCollum, Watcha 100
McConaughey, Matthew 242, 258, 273, 274–5
McCormick, Jack 81
McGee, James H. 170
McGrath, Nig 46
Memorial Coliseum 121
Meridian Speedway 77
Met Tavern, The 25–6, 35, 133
MGM 96
Mitchell, Cameron 176
Montana Fish and Game Commission 29
Montana Marys 58–9
Moore, Roger 74
Moses Lake Raceway 40
Motor Cycle News 236
Mulchahy, Mo (Morris) 24–5, 34, 46
Mulder, Eddie 44
Murphy, John M. 142
N
Naranche Memorial Drag Strip 52–3
&
nbsp; NASA 118
National Date Festival, Indio 47
Naval Research Laboratory 118
NBC 138, 139
Net Net Inc 256
Newton, Wayne 156
Nichol, Joseph McGinty (McG) 257, 258
Nicklaus, Jack 197
Nielsen, Leslie 176, 197
Northern Rocky Mountain Ski Association 17
Norton 44, 55
Commandos 48
O
O’Boyle, Paddy 194
O’Brien, Dick 95
Olsen, G, Darrell 75
One Man…One Canyon 138
Ontario Motor Speedway 95, 96
P
Pack, Rod 44
Palmer, Arnold 197
Parade 101
Parker, Colonel Tom 63, 84
Pasetta, Marty 84
Paulsen, Clarence 216
Pavolich, Bob 25–6, 35
Penthouse 46
PGA 196
Piccadily Museum of Transportation Memorabilia and Advertising Art, Butte 253–4
Playing Mantis 233–4
Presley, Elvis 5, 63, 49, 82–4, 134, 172, 201, 220, 223, 229, 261, 269
Prudential Federal Savings 26
Pulp Fiction 6, 220
Pure Evel 256, 259
R
Rafeedie, Judge Edward 188–9, 191, 192
Ralph Andrews Productions 190
Ramos, Dr Hector (MD) 239
Reynolds, Burt 134, 220, 221
Ribavirin 240
Ridpath Hotel 216
Riggs, Bobby 156
River Thames 158–9, 160
Road and Trail Adventure Set 123
Roberts, Kevin 258
Rockefeller Center, New York 128
Rogers, Roy 14
Rooney, Mickey 196
Ross, Christopher 53
Royal Signals Display Team, The 48
Rundle, Bill 272, 277
Russell, C.M. 212
S
Saltman, Sheldon ‘Shelley’ 128, 185–8, 194, 205, 206, 217, 237, 248, 273
Santilla, Antonio 177
Sarno, Jay 61–4
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell 168
Savage, Stephanie 258
Savage, Swede 44
Savalas, Telly 178
Schuller, Robert H. 263–5, 274, 276
Scramble Van 123
Screen Actors’ Guild 77
Seattle International Raceway 91, 93
Seattle Totems 21
Sheehy, Mike 253
Shelton, Chuck 58
Sheraton Universal Hotel 178, 189
Simpsons, The 237
Sinatra, Frank 5, 64, 175, 223, 274
Six Flags St Louis roller coaster 270
Sky Cycle 1–2, 119, 124, 158
X-1 118, 119, 120, 130, 142
X-2 119–20, 129, 130–1, 135, 139, 140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 162, 254
Smith, Alex 30
Smithsonian Museum 237
Snake River Canyon 1–2, 4, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 126–40, 141–54, 156, 157, 158, 168, 169, 171, 172, 176, 179, 185, 199, 201, 235, 249, 251, 253, 255, 256, 258
Southern Nevada Golf Association Championship 256
Spangler, Spanky 254
State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Detroit 104
Stewart, Jackie 158
Stimulator, The 226
Stone, W. Clement 30–1
Strato Cycle 122, 178
Stunt Cycle 121–2
Stunt Game 123–4
Stunt Stadium 122
Sturgis Rally 254
Success System that Never Fails, The 31 (Stone) 31
Sullivan, Father Gerry 146
Sullivan, Gene 88
Super Jet 122
Superscape Group 258
Sur-Kill 28, 29–30
Swaggart, Jimmy 265
Swank, Jack 192
T
Tahoe-Carson Speedway 77
Talisman Companies 256
Tarantino, Quentin 6, 220
Think and Grow Rich (Hill) 31
Thomas, Betty 242
TNT 258, 259
Tobacco Root Mountain 10
Top Rank Inc 128, 136
Touch of Evel 47, 237
Transit Charter Company 204
Traux, Robert C. ‘Bob’ 118–19, 120, 130, 131, 144, 150, 151–2, 162–3
Travel Channel 249
Trevino, Lee 197
Triber, Darrell 38
Triumph 48, 199, 200
T120 Bonneville 55, 56, 64, 65, 66, 67, 80–1, 82, 86, 250
Tucson Dragway 103
Twin Falls 116, 126, 129, 131, 133, 134, 137
Twin Tower Enterprises (The Last of the Gladiators: Evel Knievel) 210–11
U
United Nations 102
Universal Studios 242, 257
US Army 20–1, 190
V
VanLuwenn, Skip 44
Vietnam 4, 71–2
Viva Knievel! 77, 84, 105, 123, 176–8, 184, 237
W
Walker, Andrew 257
Wallenda, Karl 143
Ward, Bob ‘Wicked’ 137
Warner Bros 176, 177
Watt, Jim 138–9
Wells, Gary 201
Wembley Stadium 2, 48, 159, 161, 162, 164, 165, 167, 169, 171, 235, 236, 249
West, Kanye 270–1
White Helmets, The 48
Wide World of Sports 53–4, 62, 120–1
Wild Turkey 64, 75, 156, 166, 175, 188, 196, 206, 243, 258
Wilhelm, Butch 44
Williams, Cheri 215
Williams, Flip 216
Williams, Judge Amy 246
Willis, Bruce 73
Winter Olympics (1960) 22
Wisconsin International 116
Wonderland Sound and Vision 258
World’s Greatest Thrill Spectacular 197–8
Wright, Michael 259
www.tripod.com 247
Y
Yakima Speedway 92
Yellowstone Park 29
Youngblood, Ed 87
Z
Zoo District theatre company 257
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the following (in alphabetical order) for their assistance and/or support in compiling this book: Roger Atyeo, Jim Barker, Josie Barker, Karen Boyle, Steve ‘Biggsy’ Bygraves, Ally Cubbon, Mary Cubbon, Stewart Cubbon, Paul Downey, Clark Gibson, Paul ‘Green Dog’ Greenhead, Shannon Chloe Greenwood, Angela Hewitson, Emily Hewitson, Neil Hewitson, Paul ‘Jonah’ Jones, Jim Loughran, Donnie McCleod, Leigh McQueen, Nick Mullen, Ben Purvis, Bertie Simmonds, Heather Temple, Pete ‘Scouse’ Whittington, Tracy Wisbee and to all at The Briars for keeping me sane.
A special thanks to Michael Doggart, Tom Whiting, Tarda Davison-Aitkins, Rachel Nicholson, Juliet Davis, Sara Walsh and all at HarperCollinsPublishers for making this book possible. And many thanks to Stuart Mather for going beyond the call of duty in fixing wayward computers.
Copyright
First published in Great Britain in 2004 by CollinsWillow an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers London
This revised and updated edition 2008 HarperSport
Copyright © Stuart Barker 2004, 2008
FIRST EDITION
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © DECEMBER 2009 ISBN: 978-0-007-36102-1
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
The HarperCollins website address is: www.harpercollins.co.uk
PICTURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Aquarius Picture Library: 12; Associated Press: 6(t), 8(t), 14(b); Corbis: 2(t), 3(t), 4(b), 7, 14(t); Empics: 2(b); Getty Images: 1, 15; Hulton Archive: 3(b), 4(t), 10(b), 11(b), 16; Photoplay Magazine: 13; Rex Features: 5, 6(b), 8(b), 9(b), 10(t), 11(t), 13(b); Topham: 9(t)
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