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 August 16-18. The 3-day event will take place at Moreland Park and the Owensboro Sportscenter, and organizers are hoping to bring in 1,000 cars, 30 food trucks, and 50 vendors.
Despite failed jumps, crashes, and multiple broken bones, Knievel — whose real name is Robert Craig Knievel — always rose to perform again.
According to the Evel Knievel website, his nationally televised motorcycle jumps represent four of the 20 most-watched ABC’s Wide World of Sports events in history. His achievements and failures, including 35 broken bones, earned him several entries in the Guinness Book of World Records.
On September 8, 1974, Knievel attempted to jump across the Snake River Canyon in Idaho using a rocket-powered cycle called the Skycycle X-2. The jump failed due to a parachute malfunction, but Knievel survived with minor injuries.
That rocket-powered cycle will be one of a handful of his vehicles on display in Owensboro. The Knievel exhibit is part of a national traveling tour. The display will take up about half of the Sportscenter floor area.
“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,” said event organizer Jimmy Allyn. “The greatest stuntman that ever lived, we’re bringing him to Owensboro.”
Allyn said after a successful first run last year with the Bluegrass Legends Experience, he’s hoping to nearly double the number of vehicles that will be on display.
Throughout his career, Knievel attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Knievel was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
“Last year my goal was to have 500 cars and we ended up with 553 judged and 630 total on display,” he said. “My goal this year is to exceed 1,000 vehicles.”
The vehicles will be packed into every open space of Moreland Park, with some also stationed on Hickman Avenue and in the Sportscenter parking lot.
Food trucks and vendors will be in the Sportcenter parking lot near Hickman Avenue. There will also be live entertainment on all three days.
The event is free for the public to attend. A portion of the entry and sponsorship fees goes toward raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In two Owensboro events last year, Allyn raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude.
The Bluegrass Legends Experience is presented by the Moore Automotive Team along with several other supporting sponsors.
Visit legendscarshowobky.com for more vendor and sponsorship information.
