Nothing Evel About It

[Judge]

Anyone catch last night's televised event where daredevil Travis Pastrana successfully made three record motorcycle jumps at Caesar's Palace?

Leaving the legendary Evel Knievel's jumps as little more than a footnote.

Quite impressive.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/mot...ievels-record/ar-AAzMb1N?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=iehp

 

[clg114]

I saw that, it was quite impressive. However, MSN got one key point wrong. That Indian that he was riding was not air cooled, it was liquid cooled. I think that was one of big reasons for choosing that particular motorcycle. It probably was the best choice while still riding a v-twin like Knievel rode. It really is much harder to on that bike than a modern MX bike. Kudos to Travis Pastrana.

 

[Judge]

I saw that, it was quite impressive. However, MSN got one key point wrong. That Indian that he was riding was not air cooled, it was liquid cooled. I think that was one of big reasons for choosing that particular motorcycle. It probably was the best choice while still riding a v-twin like Knievel rode. It really is much harder to on that bike than a modern MX bike. Kudos to Travis Pastrana.

One can't help but wonder what the difference in performance might have been with an air-cooled machine operating in 106 degrees Fahrenheit weather.

 

[oregano]

I know that when Evel tried that jump it was 1968 and most motorcycles were air cooled. I don't know if the specific bike Evel used in the 1968 jump was air cooled though. If it was it may have been a factor in Evel's wipeout. There's a law in California that allows motorcycles to "split lanes", ie ride between cars stopped at a red light then drive out in front when the light turns green. The law was passed in the 60s and the rationale was precisely what Judge mentioned-preventing the engines from overheating in Southern California's notorious extreme heat waves. I believe that aircooled engines are illegal in the USA now, because their exhaust is so dirty. The only way to get an aircooled motorcycle now is to buy a vintage bike and rehab it.

 

[tducey]

I think these events are pretty neat to watch. Amazing that people would do stunts like this and do them quite well too.

 

[Tom]

I missed this but remember watching Evel in the 70's. There was also Debbie Lawler, 'The Flying Angel'.

In 1974 she beat Evel's record for jumping pickup trucks (16).

Evel got it back about a month later (17 Pickups). But then she had a bad crash and ended her jumping career. Here's her and Evel together on the Mike Douglas show.