All of us dodge bullets, some more than others but even driving to the grocery store can be met with uncertainties and the bottom line is we never know when our time will come.

I just received a phone call from one of my friends asking me, “Did you hear? Evel Knievel died.” As soon as the lump in my throat left I asked what happened. According to the news report he had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs and Evil had passed away.

Just like every other kid having grown up in the 60’s I idolized Evel Knievel and all his stunts and he was the epitome of in your face, rebellious and I can do what I want, daredevil. In the 70’s his cockiness got him his own movie which really told it the way it was.

Most will remember him as a robust daredevil with plenty of attitude and rightly so as do I. But I will also remember another Evel Knievel many never knew. Like the rest of the world most saw him on TV while some of the lucky few saw him perform in person during one of his jumps. But I met Evel in person when he came into my shop. He was walking with his cane and didn’t sound good at all and he was far from the Evel we all remembered but he was more interested in helping out his girlfriend than he was himself. He was really upset about how someone else had been taking advantage of her regarding her car and he had been sent to my shop hoping we would get things taken care of.

Evel and I talked about his Rocket Bike which had been partially built by one of my friend’s shop in Palo Alto. Evel was all business but after things were written up and he was about to leave I asked him if he would sign one of my California’s Best T-shirts for my son. He looked at the T-shirt and laughed, “You may be California’s Best but I’m the best there ever was.” I had to laugh the next time I saw Evel a week later when he came to pick up her car because the day he left my shop in true Evel Knievel fashion he had gotten in a fight and been arrested and thrown in the Sunnyvale jail. I asked him if he was as tough in jail as he was on his bike and he just laughed and said, “I’m a daredevil not a con.”

I still have the shirt even though my son has worn it a few times but it will never come close to the personality who signed it just a few years ago.

Thank God that he’s crippled and in pain no more. Evel has now made the biggest jump of his life. God speed Evel.