Travis Pastrana paid tribute to America’s most legendary stuntman by successfully landing three of Evel Knievel’s iconic motorcycle jumps in an event called “Evel Live” on the History channel. Knievel was among the most daring ever, becoming an American icon for his high-flying stunts. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 69.
The event began in an empty lot behind Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Paris Las Vegas, and Bally’s Las Vegas. Pastrana took on the jumps riding an Indian Scout FTR750 and wearing his own Knievel-like costume, comprised of a white jumpsuit with a blue V and white stars, a cape, and high heel dress boots. After clearing the first jump, Pastrana joked, “I think the hardest part was getting the whole costume on.”
The first stunt was a recreation of Knievel’s jump over 50 crushed cars at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1973. Pastrana jumped the motorcycle 143 feet to clear 52 crushed cars. The second jump was modeled after Knievel’s jump over 14 Greyhound buses in 1975 at Ohio’s Kings Island amusement park. Pastrana jumped 192 feet over 16 Greyhound buses.
Pastrana jumped the fountain in the opposite direction of Knievel, due to less space being available for the approach. He rocketed up to about 70 miles per hour before taking off over the fountains, jumping 149 feet to clear them. Unfortunately, the pyrotechnics failed to launch during the jump, with the technicians launching them later out of the center of the fountain.
Pastrana said he was honored to have Evel’s family witnessing the event, which was extra special to him. He said, “It’s just such an honor to live a day in Evel’s footsteps, and literally his boots. To be here in Las Vegas, so much of my history has been here. I proposed to my wife here, I had (the) first Nitro Circus show here. This was definitely the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”
