Death-Defying Stuntman Keeps Spirit of Evel Knievel Alive
Danger is more than just a part of this Harley-riding badass’ traveling show. It’s the main event.
Without a doubt, Evel Knievel still stands as the greatest stuntman of all time. The fearless legend stunned crowds across the world, following up each death-defying stunt with another, more dangerous one. There were plenty of crashes and broken bones along the way, of course. Yet Knievel came back, time and time again. And now, one Harley stuntman is emulating Knievel’s fearless and relentless acts to help keep his memory alive.
That man is Cole Freeman, or as he’s otherwise known, the “American Daredevil.” And much like his idol, Freeman travels the world with his crew, IllConduct, wowing audience after audience. Unlike most every other modern stunt rider, however, he doesn’t do it the easy way.
For one, Freeman performs almost all of his stunts on a Harley. Secondly, he completes his risky ramp-to-ramp jumps sans speedometer – just like his idol used to. Heck, he does a variety of wheelies and other tricks, including steering with his feet, on a freaking Road Glide. But for a guy who grew up idolizing Evel Knievel, that dangerous nostalgia is simply part of the show.
“We’re working our way up just the way he did,” Freeman explained to the Daily Herald. “We want to bring back the name because if you ask kids these days who Evel Knievel is, they don’t know. We’re going to come in and try to be the next Evel Knievel and pay homage to him.”
At a recent show, that homage included a 50+ foot jump over two trucks on an XG750. It was just the latest in a constantly changing, always exciting series of traveling spectacles by the Harley stuntman. Shows where danger is not only part of the equation, it’s the main event. Just like a certain famous stuntman used to do it.
