Evel Knievel vehicles set to make rare public appearance in far northwest suburbs

VOLO, Ill. — Ever wanted to see some of Evel Knievel’s stunt vehicles up close and personal? The chance to do so is coming up at the end of August in the northwest suburbs.

The Volo Museum in Volo, Illinois is partnering with Motor Mania to give visitors the opportunity to see many of Evel Knievel and Kaptain Robbie Knievel’s authentic stunt vehicles, suits, merchandise and more straight from the Knievel family’s private collection.

Among the items to be put on display will be the X2 Rocket that was used in the televised Snake River Canyon Jump in 1974, the Formula 1 Dragster he created with car builder Carl Casper, and the promotional Jet Bike that was used in parades that had real working rockets on each side of the bike.

“Evel Knievel’s legacy is filled with unbelievable stories, and he still has a passionate fan base in 2024,” said the Volo Museum’s marketing director Jim Wojdyla. “We are thrilled to have the honor of being the only stop in Illinois for this tour, and we will do everything we can to help make this event something special.”

The pieces will be on display at the Volo Museum from Aug. 23 through Aug. 25.

The Knievel exhibit set to come to the Volo Museum is a part of a larger, nationwide tour putting the Knievel pieces on display around the United States, with the tour’s stop at the Volo Museum being the only one set to take place in the State of Illinois.

“I have been a long-time fan of Volo Museum and could not think of a better place to pay tribute to Evel Knievel and his family,” said John Bagley, owner of Motor Mania.

Bagley was commissioned to operate and oversee the tour two years ago, after a conversation between him and Kelly Knievel — Evel Knievel’s son and owner of the Knievel Brand — Led to them hatching an idea on how to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Snake River Canyon Jump.

“As the 50 ^th anniversary came up, I brought the idea of putting together a tour to bring some Knievel vehicles out that no one has really ever seen before,” Bagley said. “Kelly loved the idea, and we immediately got to work on designing brand-new merchandise and displays. I went out to Vegas to pick everything up, and it has been a crazy ride ever since.”

Evel Knievel was an iconic American stunt performer and daredevil, renowned for his fearless motorcycle jumps and death-defying stunts.

Over his career, Knievel attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps, including his legendary leap over the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and his daring attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in a rocket-powered cycle.

Known for his signature red, white, and blue jumpsuits, Knievel became a cultural icon in the 1970s, symbolizing courage, determination, and the spirit of adventure. His legacy continues to inspire thrill-seekers and fans worldwide.

Tickets to this event will be free with the purchase of regular admission to Volo Museum, or their Platinum and Gold Passes. It will also be free for museum members.

The tour will continue through select cities until the grand opening of the new Evel Knievel Museum in downtown Las Vegas opens next summer.

The Volo Museum is located at 27582 Volo Village Rd in Volo, IL and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, those interested can visit www.volofun.com or call 815-385-3644.

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