Evel Knievel jumped at Tucson Dragway

While awaiting permission to make that leap, Knievel was in Tucson making daily appearances at Bill Breck Dodge. He was promoting his jump over 10 cars at Tucson Dragway. He successfully completed the jump.

At that time, Knievel was not the well-known figure that he would eventually become, but he drew a great crowd at the track. He never forgot that Tucson Dragway’s owner Bob Huff had helped him when his career was just starting.

Permission for his canyon jump was denied, but in 1972, he again tried to get approval for such a feat. That too was denied.

In January 1972, he returned to Tucson Dragway. This time he was going to take on 16 Dodge cars. Ten thousand people showed up to watch him make the jump.

The start of the show was delayed almost an hour and a half when it was learned that 16 cars wouldn’t fit in as much space as Knievel thought. The take off ramp was moved back 15 feet, making the total jump around 145 feet.

Although he missed the “X” spot on his landing ramp, the landing was safely completed, much to the delight of the crowd.

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_{1974 Star photo}

_{Evel Knievel, with a replica of his “skycycle,” was in Tucson, on July 1, 1974 to promote his upcoming Snake Canyon jump.}

Knievel did make a canyon try in 1974, when he unsuccessfully jumped the Snake River Canyon. He died in November 2007 after a long illness.