December 31, 1967 – Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Insecure about echoes from Dealy Plaza, hippies & heightening Vietnam involvement, America was desperate for a hero.
Unable to strike a deal with ABC, Evel spent all of his money to have John Derek and wife, Linda Evans, film the jump.
He lost his last $100 at the blackjack table, did a shot of Wild Turkey, and attempted to jump his motorcycle across the fountains at Caesars Palace.
What follows is the most spectacular, horrifying motorcycle crash in daredevil history.
Knievel clears the fountains but lands short of the ramp. He is torn from his 650 cc Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle.
Man and machine, twist, turn, flip, tumble and intertwine for an eternity.
He crushes his pelvis, femur, hip, wrist, and both ankles.
When he wakes from his 29 day coma, Evel Knievel is an American hero.
“The finest compliment you can pay a man is that his word was as good as gold. That’s the only thing I ever want them to say about me.” – Evel Knievel
