Art O’Connor

If I had a flag at my house it would be at half mast for like a year. Evel Knievel made his final jump into the great unknown today.

When I was a kid we would watch Evel on “Wide World of Sports” more often than not he would end up in the meat wagon. It didn’t matter he was the freaking MAN! We would run out all hopped up on Captain Crunch and build our own jumps. After building the ramp we would get my brother Dennis to try it out. Since he wanted to hang with the big kids he was a willing victim. This usually ended badly but, if he landed it then it was game on and we would all do our best Evel impression. This would continue until someone would crash and end up bleeding and crying at which point we all bailed ‘cuz we didn’t want to get in trouble. (with friends like that…)

I suppose it was really Evel Knievel who started my life long love of bikes. I would have sold my kidney for a mini bike as a kid and in hindsight my parents were probably smart for not buying me one. So I had to make due with my bike. I suppose nothing much has changed either I still go out and rip around riding stuff I shoudn’t and crash, a lot. The only difference now is I ruin lycra instead of Toughskins when I go down and I don’t cry (as much).

When I get home tonight I am going to break out my Evel Knievel Super Stunt Cycle and relive the death defying jumps, heart pounding wheelies and unmatched showmanship of a true legend.

Viva Knievel!!!