Whilst watching a biography on Evel Knievel the other night I couldn't help but notice how futuristic his signage was for the sixties. They kept interviewing a dude called Tom Ferriter from Butte in Montana, and each time he was in a shed with rows of one shot on the shelves behind him. I wonder if he was the signwriter who did the work. Evel himself was no slouch when it came to doing some beautiful art, so he could well have did some of his own design work. Anyone know anything about this guy? Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Well I know he couldn't stripe, I did a bike for him in the 70's
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
He likes cheap wine. I was hanging in a bar/resturaunt on the Lakefront in N.O. (late 78-79), where a friend of mine tended bar. Evel came in to have supper while in town. He ordered some wine and my buddy poured it from the gallon jug. Evel had a couple of glasses and on leaving dropped off a tip for the bartender and commented on the wine being a great choice.
[ June 11, 2002, 08:21 AM: Message edited by: Santo ]
Posted by Robb Lowe (Member # 2121) on :
You guys do know, this crazy fool is going to actually jump again, right? At 64?!? I'm sure he's cheated more than one cat out of their share of lives...
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
On several of the bikes Larry Watson from Bellflower Calif. painted, he also did all the pinstriping. I believe Tom Kelly did most of the lettering on these bikes. A number of others are lettered in obvious "Kelly" style, whether or not he was involved in them is unknown to me.
If memory serves me, Dean Jeffries was also involved in at least a couple of machines, where he also did his own pinstriping......Not sure about the lettering on these.
The easiest way to find out the "real' story, would be to give Evel a call and ask him........!! Just be aware, he's been know to give his own versions of what the "true" story is........
hope this helps..............cj
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Hey CJ, where could I get one of those memories that serve me as well as it does you ?
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
I dunno Joey......I fergot where I got mine........
..........cccccjjjjjj
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
Wow - talk 'bout old stuff - anyone remember when Evel tried to jump the Snake River Canyon - I think he tried a jet bike - don't think he made it - anybody remember details?
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Yeah, Carl...
I remember watching that fiasco on the television. It was quite the joke. We sat around and laughed for hours while the announcers tried their very best to add some sense of drama and meaning to the event.
Have a great one!
Posted by Dorothy (Dee) Armstrong (Member # 2622) on :
The ramp is still there, you can see it from the Perine (spelling?) Bridge. He failed to pay his bills in Twin Falls...he came back a few years ago and found that he wasn't as welcomed back as he thought he would be.
Posted by Airbrush Bobby (Member # 5) on :
On the snake river jump, his chute deployed upon takeoff and he landed snugly by the water. Yup...seemed like a feeble attempt. The guy still had Ba@#$%s the size of volkwagons though. He has a home not far from me and I've run into him a couple times and tossed a few cold ones with him. Aside from a liver transplant, his body is now showing signs of the abuse from all those bone crunching jumps.
[ June 12, 2002, 11:56 PM: Message edited by: Airbrush Bobby ]
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Evel may need to brush up a bit! This is what he is up against! Flipped out Posted by Jeff Bailey (Member # 1975) on :
You know... This world just gets smaller and smaller! The link you posted with the photo of the motorcycle doing a backflip is actually my friend Caleb Wyatt jumping in Medford, Oregon. What's really funny is that I rode with Caleb when he was just getting into motocross racing, and was still an ameature. He's been a good kid, and a few years ago he and his good friend Shawn highland went to Southern CA to get in on the Freestyle Moto scene. He tried so hard that day to land that flip. We were actually considering sponsoring Caleb, and decided we wouldn't get any exposure through him... Now here he is on the Bull Board... who knew!! lol
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
Not quite sure what Evel's financial problems, or who likes him and who don't, has to do with paint and lettering on his bikes. Or for that matter, what most of the other responses have to do with it either.
Of course everybody knows that I have a problem following the bouncing ball and my attention span is somewhat limited around this place, trying to stay even a little focused on any subject is almost impossible for me.........
Back to the subject....... Bobby, if you run into him again, how about asking him some of those questions concerning paint, or his machines, I don't really give a rats-ass about the rest of his problems....
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