Fifty-two crushed cars, sixteen buses, and the fountain at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas? Travis Pastrana jumped them all in a tribute to Evel Knievel.
Sunday night, in front of an estimated crowd of 25,000 fans plus those tuning in on television and online, Travis Pastrana celebrated Evel Knievel during the History Channel’s live event, “Evel Live.”
Produced in partnership with Nitro Circus, “Evel Live” saw Pastrana pay homage to Knievel’s legacy as he set out to recreate three of the American legend’s most famous jumps. Pushing himself to the limit, he broke Knievel’s car and bus jump records before completing the epic Caesars Palace fountain jump, a stunt that left Knievel clinging to life 50 years ago.
“I’m thrilled to have had this opportunity to honor Evel Knievel, whose guts and showmanship created the foundation for action sports,” said Pastrana. “To be able do that in Las Vegas and at Caesars Palace, where Evel’s legend was born, is so awesome.”
In just three hours and under the pressure of a live TV broadcast, Pastrana first topped Knievel’s 1973 jump over 50 crushed cars by soaring more than 143 feet in the air over 52 vehicles. Then he surpassed Knievel’s 1975 jump over 14 buses, flying nearly four stories high and covering a jaw-dropping 192 feet to clear 16 modern-day Greyhound buses.
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Pastrana then faced a Caesars Palace fountain jump, a recreation of one that very nearly took Knievel’s life fifty years ago. Adding to the challenge, Caesars Palace has expanded exponentially since Knievel’s ill-fated attempt, leaving Pastrana with only a 200-foot run-in to reach the 70-mph speed required to clear the fountain. Pastrana also had to contend with stifling heat in excess of 100 degrees.
Hitting his marks perfectly would leave him with just a few feet to spare. Hit them perfectly he did, arcing over the fountains and touching down safely on the landing ramp to the roaring crowd and a flash of pyrotechnics.
The event paid homage to Knievel in other ways, as well. Pastrana rode an Indian Scout FTR750, a modern day evolution of the flat track motorcycles of the past. It is a very different machine compared to the modern-day dirt bikes Pastrana usually rides. A white leather suit and helmet decked out in American stars and stripes, just like Knievel’s classic livery, capped everything off perfectly.
Check out the videos below, courtesy of Nitro Circus and the History Channel.