John L. Smith On Recreating Evel Knievel's Jumps

By Rachel Christiansen

Published July 9, 2018 at 5:17 PM PDT

Travis Pastrana jumps the fountain at Caesars Palace on a motorcycle Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Las Vegas. Pastrana recreated three of Evel Knievel's iconic motorcycle jumps on Sunday, including the leap over the fountains of Caesars Palace that left Knievel with multiple fractures and a severe concussion.

Las Vegas once again became the playground of a stuntman Sunday, in front of throngs of tourists and a TV audience.

In a three-hour live tribute to Evel Knievel, motocross champion Travis Pastrana completed the jump his predecessor attempted 51 years ago.

The jump nearly killed Knievel, but Pastrana lived out the dream when he successfully vaulted over 52 cars, and then 16 buses, and finally the fountains at Caesars Palace.

But Pastrana wasn’t the first to attempt that jump after Evel.

John L. Smith , contributor