Travis Pastrana Just Broke Three Insane Evel Knievel Jump Records

Multi-talented racer and stunt performer Travis Pastrana has just completed a trio of amazing daredevil jumps to beat records set by the legendary Evel Knievel – and he completed all three within just three hours.

With the star man dressed in star-spangled white leathers made to look like Knievel’s and riding a matching Indian Scout FTR750 flat-track racer, Pastrana’s shameless homage to the infamous boundary-pusher was the real deal.

The three jumps spanned 143 feet over 52 crushed cars, 192 feet over 16 buses and 149 feet over the iconic Caesar’s Palace fountain outside the front of the Las Vegas hotel, beating the records by 23, 59 and eight feet respectively. Pastrana had already landed them in test runs, of course, but just a week previously he’d become the first person to land an Aussie Roll on a motorbike. Talk about a lifestyle.

The Nitro Circus star battled 44-degree heat in the desert city and the air-cooled V-twin between his legs to wow the assembled crowds – and everyone watching from their hotel windows. His outfit, with visible Red Bull logos because no one seems to be able to do anything extreme without Red Bull sponsorship these days, even included the Knievel-correct cape.

It didn’t go flawlessly, because the final jump – over the fountain – didn’t meet with the monumental fireworks display that was scheduled. Apparently the pyrotechnics team just got it wrong and didn’t hit the big red button in time. They set it all off later, for giggles.

Evel Knievel was a professional stunt rider who attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp jumps on motorbikes; usually Triumphs and Harley-Davidsons. His popularity was due in part to his frequent, serious crashes that would leave him hospitalised and create morbidly compulsive viewing. Different claims put the total number of fractures Knievel suffered between 35 and over 400…

Two weeks ago, Pastrana won his race class at Pikes Peak in a Porsche Cayman, proving he has the stuff on four wheels as well as two. Seven years ago he – literally – threw himself out of a plane without a parachute. Maybe his parents never told him stuff like that wasn’t necessarily a good idea, but long may he keep doing it – so we don’t have to!