Some of the actual vehicles used by Evel Knievel during his iconic, death-defying stunts will be on display in Owensboro during the Bluegrass Legends Experience car show this weekend. The three-day event will take place from Friday through Sunday at Moreland Park and the Owensboro Sportscenter, featuring upwards of 1,000 cars and dozens of food trucks and vendors.
The Knievel exhibit, part of a national traveling tour, will include the Skycycle X-2, the rocket-powered cycle Knievel used in his attempted jump across Idaho’s Snake River Canyon in 1974. Despite a parachute malfunction that caused the jump to fail, Knievel survived with minor injuries. His career was marked by both achievements and failures, including 35 broken bones that earned him several entries in the Guinness Book of World Records.
“For the first time, the family of Evel Knievel has released some of his jump bikes, actual motorcycles, and rockets that Evel Knievel used for his incredible stunts,” event organizer Jimmy Rhoades said previously. “The greatest stuntman that ever lived, we’re bringing him to Owensboro.”
The Knievel display will occupy about half of the Sportscenter floor area. Rhoades, who had a successful first run with the Bluegrass Legends Experience last year, hopes to nearly double the number of vehicles on display this year.
“Last year, my goal was to have 500 cars, and we ended up with 553 judged and 630 total on display,” Rhoades said. “My goal this year is to exceed 1,000 vehicles.”
The event will also feature live entertainment, food trucks, and vendors in the Sportscenter parking lot near Hickman Avenue. All open spaces in Moreland Park and surrounding areas will be packed with vehicles.
The Bluegrass Legends Experience is presented by the Moore Automotive Team and other supporting sponsors. It is free to attend, and a portion of entry and sponsorship fees goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year, the event raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude.
Rhoades and his wife are key figures behind the event. They have a long history of supporting charitable causes through motorsports events. Their involvement in charity began 25 years ago and has grown significantly, with St. Jude being their primary focus for the past 7 years.
For more information, visit legendscarshowobky.com.
