Evel Knievel, a popular motorcycle stunt performer, was born on October 17th, 1938. He held the record for 35 years for jumping over the most stacked cars, which stood until October 2008. His customized Harley Davidson XR-750, made of aluminum, steel, and fiberglass, is on exhibition at the National Museum of American History.

During his career, Evel Knievel suffered about 433 bone fractures, earning him an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for surviving the most bones broken in a lifetime. However, this figure could have been exaggerated, as Knievel could only recall breaking 35.

The American stunt performer successfully jumped over a crate of rattlesnakes and two mountain lions on his first known jump, using a Honda 250cc motorcycle. And throughout his career, he had his share of successes and failures. Most of his failures resulted from using motorcycles with suspensions designed primarily for flat track racing or street riding. Among his notable achievements was drawing thousands of spectators to his live performances and induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.