Evel Knievel, born Robert Craig Knievel, was a legendary American daredevil, known for his death-defying motorcycle stunts. From his humble beginnings as a motorcycle mechanic to his failed attempt to jump across the Snake River Canyon, his life and legacy have left a lasting impact on popular culture.
Early Life and Career
Evel Knievel was born in Butte, Montana in 1938. As a young man, he worked as a motorcycle mechanic and began performing stunts at local fairs and events. He quickly made a name for himself as a daredevil, performing stunts such as jumping over cars and buses. His early stunts were dangerous and often resulted in injuries, but he was always able to bounce back and continue performing.
Rise to Fame
In the 1960s, Knievel began touring the country, performing stunts in front of large crowds. He gained national attention when he attempted to jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Although he crashed during the attempt, he suffered only minor injuries and the footage of the crash was broadcast on national television. This earned him a reputation as a fearless and daring daredevil, and he quickly became a household name.
The Snake River Canyon Jump
In the 1970s, Knievel set his sights on a new challenge: jumping over the Snake River Canyon in Idaho. He spent years planning and building the X-2 Skycycle, a rocket-powered motorcycle that he believed would allow him to make the jump. However, the development of the rocket was plagued with problems. The first test in May 1974 ended with the rocket veering off course and crashing into the desert. The second test in July 1974 resulted in the rocket plunging into the Snake River. Despite these setbacks, Knievel was determined to make the jump happen. He continued to tour the country, promoting the event and selling tickets for the closed-circuit television broadcast of the jump.
The event was expected to draw a crowd of 50,000 people, doubling the population of Twin Falls County. This led to concerns about security and traffic, and the county had to bring in extra police and security guards to manage the crowd. The location of the jump also presented challenges. The Snake River Canyon was a popular spot for skinny dippers and partying, and rumors of motorcycle gangs on the way to the Falls added to the concerns.
On September 8th, 1974, Evel Knievel stood at the top of the ramp at Shoshone Falls, ready to make history. The build-up to this event was intense, but as Knievel said, “Everything is go for Sept. 8!” The crowds at Shoshone Falls were massive, with one reporter describing it as “one horrendous traffic jam.” Police and private security were stationed at both ends of the Perrine Memorial Bridge to enforce the no-foot traffic ban and keep traffic moving on U.S. 93. Photographers, television cameramen and newsmen from around the world were on hand to document the event.
As Knievel sat in the rocket-powered Skycycle X-2, he spoke to a television camera saying he was thankful for being born an American and having the opportunity to jump “this beautiful canyon.” After a prayer by a minister, Knievel stood at attention while the Butte, Montana High School band played the “Star Spangled Banner.” However, as the skycycle cleared the ramp, the parachute opened prematurely due to the force of the engine blast. About 1000 feet above the jump site, the main chute opened and the wind caught the chute, drifting the craft back towards the south canyon rim, down into the canyon
Background:
- In January 1972, a sign appeared on U.S. Highway 93 near Berger, announcing Olvmnia Beer’s welcome to Twin Falls, where Evel Knievel planned to jump the Snake River Canyon on a motorcycle
- On November 3, 1973, Knievel launched a test flight of his jet-powered motorcycle, or “skycycle,” but it fluttered into the Snake River near its north bank
- Divers attempted to locate and retrieve the $25,000 machine, but it was not found until several months later when it was recovered by seven local residents who claimed the $5,000 reward
Press Conference:
- On June 24, 1974, Knievel announced at a press conference in New York City that he would jump the Snake River Canyon on September 8, 1974 on Skycycle X-2
- He expected 200,000 people to witness the event
- A six million dollar check was presented to him as a “guaranteed advance on sixty percent of the gross he would make from the jump.”
Arrangements:
- Officials were making arrangements for public control and safety before and after the event
- The Bureau of Land Management had requested a two-year lead time to grant a permit for the use of federal land on the north side of the Snake River
- Information was required on:
- Spectator control
- Fees charged
- Concessions
- Vehicle parking
- Arrangements for emergencies
- Improvements such as roads or trails
- Sanitation and waste disposal
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Concerns:
- Fire hazard created by the dry grass
- Danger of people being pushed over the canyon rim by crowds of spectators.
Permit Requirements:
- The licensee was ordered to drill a water well and install a pump with enough capacity to supply 1.5 gallons of water per person per day, with a waiver from the ordinance that dictated 11 gallons per day per person
- Water piping and 50 water outlets were required, along with a standby water truck
- 200 chemical toilets meeting health department standards and 43-yard capacity dumpsters were required, with daily dumping
- No events were allowed during hours of darkness, fencing was required on the jump site property and along the canyon rim, 15 pay phones were to be installed for public use, 2 fire engines with 4 trained men were to be at the jump site and adjacent property, 50 qualified security officers were to be furnished by the licensee to work on a 24-hour basis, an emergency entrance and exit for law enforcement officers were to be kept open at all times, 120 “no parking signs” were to be posted along the route, food concession stands and medical facilities with 2 doctors and supporting medical personnel were to be on-site at all times.
- An additional 255 acres belonging to C. Tim Qualls and family were included in the license terms
- The license also dealt with procedures regarding the media
Editorial:
- An editorial in the Times News, two days later, charged that in their rush to accommodate Knievel, the county commissioners overlooked many of the requirements of their own ordinance
- The permit provided standards for the immediate jump site but did nothing for the nearby 250 acres set aside for overnight camping and parking, that responsibility was “shunted” to the landowners
- The newspaper called it “a pretty cavalier attitude” by Knievel in the application to state “all arrangements for such parking and camping are being taken care of by the Qualls”
- The writer doubted that so many people would not require provisions for toilets and water, at a very minimum
Doubts about Jump:
- During a meeting in Jerome, some doubt was expressed that Knievel would actually attempt the jump
- Knievel’s response was “I’ve always said I’ll jump when I’m damn good and ready and I’ll “milk” it for everything I can get.”
Skycycle X-2 Test:
- Skycycle X-2 was test-fired the end of July
- Knievel had trouble bending his legs due to the tight suit or previous fractures, and the steep angle of the rocket on the ramp made the maneuver difficult
- The first two attempts fizzled when the steam engine gave off only a soft, wispy sigh, and was silent.
Traffic and Emergency Plans:
- Officials created alternate routes that travelers could use to bypass and avoid any traffic congestion caused by the crowds attending the jump
- Local hospitals coordinated plans to deal with emergency medical care, including outlying hospitals in Gooding, Burley, and Rupert
- Medical supplies were obtained and local doctors scheduled to be available
Television Rights Dispute:
- 10 days before the jump date, a dispute over television rights threatened to cancel the event
- The Idaho State Land Board had held an auction earlier for exclusive television rights to film the jump from state land on the north side of the canyon. CBS offered to pay $50,000 for the use of the state land for live television coverage, but withdrew its bid when the threat of canceling the jump was made by Top Rank
- The final agreement was that only 3 people would be granted access to the state land on the north rim: one person each from the United Press and Associated Press, and an independent
Preparations:
- Groups of motorcycles announced the arrival of people coming to watch the jump, and trailers and campers began appearing in designated lots near the jump site at the Falls
- Food and drink booths were built, and 200 brightly-colored outhouses, 50 drinking water fountains, 40 trash dumpsters, and chain link fencing were in place around the jump site and along the canyon rim
- Entertainment was planned for the week preceding the jump, including high-wire artist Karl Wallenda, a Great artist scheduled to perform an escape act, a Sensational artist to perform various feats atop a 90-foot pole, psychic Gil Eagles walking blindfolded through a course of fire, barbed wire and spears, motocross races, and rumored appearances by big names like John Davidson, Joe Frazier, and James Lovell
- Stories and rumors circulated about the arrival of the Hells Angels and various marauding motorcycle gangs, and merchants reported being robbed by people taking groceries or gas without paying
- The sheriff deputized additional officers including two border control cars with two men each, more than doubling the number of his deputies
- Evel Knievel, a famous motorcycle daredevil, had a bet with a fellow daredevil named Riggs in which Riggs had to ride 500 miles through the Nevada and Idaho desert on a motorcycle smaller than 200cc, and if he didn’t make it, Knievel won.
- The National Guard placed all Magic Valley units, about 600 men, on inactive duty from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon to help local law enforcement if needed, with full riot equipment made available for 250 guardsmen.
- Racing started with 150 amateurs and 210 professionals competing for a $100,000 purse provided by the promoters. Racers came from across the nation and as far away as Finland.
- A Massachusetts man was seriously injured when the Jeep he was riding turned at Shoshone Falls and there were several motorcycle accidents during the week.
- At mid-week at Shoshone Falls, the crowd was composed mainly of motorcycle enthusiasts who came to be part of the event Evel created.
- A lawsuit brought by Knievel against three Twin Falls businessmen for using his picture, name and symbols on a guide map without permission was settled during the week with the defendants agreeing to pay a fee for additional printings of the brochure.
- On Thursday, the Skycycle X-3 arrived from Sacramento and engineers started work on preparing the ramp. A double row of fencing, chain-link topped by barbed wire and a snow fence was installed along the canyon rim to prevent crowds from being pushed over the rim.
- By Friday, a steady stream of visitors, thousands according to the news media, were filling motels and campgrounds with no vacancies as far away as Burley. The crowds at Shoshone Falls increased with revelry, drinking and vandalism reported.
- During a static test that evening at the jump site, a mob pressed against the fence around the launch site screaming for access.
- On Friday evening, the landmark cross was burned by drunken spectators who had camped in the park for the event.
- Evel Knievel’s Skycycle X-3 was set to make a jump across the Shoshone Falls in Idaho
- The jump was set to take place on September 8th and was broadcasted by ABC television network
- Crowds of people were present to watch the event and there was a traffic jam near the area
- On the night before the jump, a special program was broadcasted dramatizing Knievel’s previous feats
- On the day of the jump, there were tight rope walkers, escape artists and photographers present
- Knievel spoke to a television camera before the jump and a prayer was said by a minister
- The Skycycle X-3 was launched but the parachute opened prematurely and the skycycle hit the canyon walls and came to rest about 20 feet from the water’s edge
- If the skycycle had gone into the water, Knievel would have drowned.
