The recent passing of Evel Knievel invoked in me a memory of an event some three decades ago.
Atlantic Speedway on the Lucasville Road, and the site of today’s Atlantic Playland, was the top racing speedway in the region. And the owners were very aggressive promoters.
Knievel first caught the world by surprise by vaulting his motorcycle 45 metres over the fountains of Caesars Palace in Vegas. Unfortunately the 1968 event ended in a bone-shattering crash. Nevertheless, he had our attention. And for the next 12 years, until his 1980 retirement, he was a household name.
“Knievel’s showmanship, skill and disdain for death were so admired that he became a folk hero,” wrote Richard Severo. Those sixteen words captured this truly unique human being.
He was famous and wealthy. Audiences flocked to see him fly his motorcycle over 10, 15 or 20 cars parked side by side. For that reason, the folks at Atlantic Speedway decided to bring him to town.
The event was to be a match race, featuring Knievel, car dealer Bob McDonald, ATV sports director Leo MacIsaac and your scribbler. To add to the color, CJCH morning host, Jerry Lawrence was to call the race.
In the days leading up to the show, Leo took advantage of his on-air time by needling Bob and yours truly, and not only predicted a victory….he’d leave us in the dust.
Bob, one of the most generous individuals I have ever met (most have no idea of the number of individuals and families he rescued over the years) provided the cars. As I recall, he rolled out four Chevrolet Impalas. I do remember how Jer Bear introduced me to the more than 5,000 fans who jammed the stand of the raceway. “When Al was born, his mother wanted a girl and his father wanted a divorce.” The crowd loved it.
When the gun sounded we were to race a number of laps. Maybe 12 or 16. the memory of that is fuzzy. What is not, is the fact that I jumped out to the lead and was pulling away from Knievel and McDonald. I could see Leo in the rear view mirror. As the race progressed, I started to get nervous, Evel and Bob were bearing down and I made what I thought to be, a life-saving decision. I braked, slowed down and let them fly by. Even at that I still finished ahead of Leo.
It turned out that Bob had heard Leo’s boasts and decided to level (or tilt?) the playing field. Of those four Impalas, three were eight cylinders and one was a six. Guess who got the six - fourth place finisher Leo!
The winner, with a cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth, was Waverley’s favourite son, Bob McDonald. Not because he crossed the line ahead of Evel, but for his generosity in providing the cars, and for keeping friend Leo humble.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and a chicken on the speedway)
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