This is a neat video for several reasons. Firstly we have the fact that it involves a motorcycle jump. That in itself is pretty cool because we like seeing anything where someone’s testicular fortitude overrides commonsense and safety. Adding to the coolness is that the jumper is Doug Danger one of the last of the old school motorcycle jumpers. This is a guy who clearly loves and honors the memory of Evel Knievel as he’s able to use Knievel’s name as part of his show and as you will see, he basically assumes Knievel’s identity before, during, and after the jump. It is uncanny how much he plays the role. Lastly, the jump is made quite literally on one of Evel’s bikes. The machine Doug Danger riding is Knievel’s 1972 Harley Davidson XR-750. How epic is that?
While the jump itself is pretty awesome in the fact that Danger clears 22 cars and does so with room to spare, it is the lead up to the jump that will give you chills. To see him standing there with his gray hair, in the exact replica leathers that Knievel wore when he had the same hair color standing on the ramp and telling the inspirational story about beating cancer, he is playing Knievel better than even Knievel did back in his heyday. The speed runs, the ramp check, all of the stuff is exactly what the real McCoy did years ago.
What’s truly neat about the whole thing is that this could have come off as really contrived and bad but because Danger isn’t looking to upstage Knievel or somehow take from his legacy, he’s genuinely looking to honor the man and his legacy/memory. That’s what really seals this thing for us. What do you think? Cool or weird that they took it to the level they did on the Evel Knievel end?
Scott Scary broke the record later that day……….and got the chick
I was there it, was at the 75th anniversary Sturgis Rally at the Buffalo Chip Camp ground and he really made it look easy. There was a strong wind out of the north that day and is the reason he was out of shape. I was concerned he would not go or do what a lot of jumpers do… make the jump shorter. Another reason this is a cool deal.
The question is, what is the average width of the cars that Evil jumped, and the average width of the cars that Scott jumped? I have a feeling that they are not the same.