Jalopnik: tribute

Here With Fanfare, Your Final Tribute To Evel Knievel

bwojdyla — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

Though the kitchy and hilarious "Jump of Legends" didn't make your cut in the vote for Jalopnik's final Evel Knievel tribute, the handsome and impressively constructed "Creation of Evel" did, with a commanding 37.4% of the vote. This tasteful work was contributed by reader Thomas Reynolds, who hails from the beating heart of hoon central, Australia. We asked Thomas to say a few words about his inspiration, process, and what Evel meant to him. His take on Evel, and stories of years gone by after the leap...

The inspiration was simple: to a now 30-something male growing up 15,000 miles away- Evel was God in the 70s.
In the late 70's Santa brought me an Evel K toy - complete with rip cord start, two jumps and THE cape. Years later my Mum told me that my (now deceased) Dad and his drunken mate were taking turns shooting Evel down the hallway very late on Xmas eve. When she tried to tell them to stop, me Dad replied "But... it's EVEL!"

And so when I photoshopped Evel jumping over the hand of God, I thought it strangely appropriate. The Beatles were bigger than Jesus, but Evel was bigger than God. Reckon he would have made it over the pearly gates with just a few more MPH too.

Anyway, many thanks to the Jalopnik crew- when I am named host of the Australian version of Top Gear (dear EK/God - yes please!), I'll be sure to forget to name you all as my inspiration.

Keep this reply in mind for the next time we ask for an acceptance speech, cause this one's got it all: Fond childhood memories, heartstring tugging, hubris, and just a hint of Jalopnik ego stroking. Thomas, we think you're the tops too (especially since he sent us shots of his sick daily driver - jealous). We're tossing the gallery of all the entries out one more time, because after all, a sendoff to a legendary figure can't really be the best. In fact, we're pretty sure the entries make the most rounded and fitting tribute when viewed together.

Evel Tribute Submissions In, Help Us Decide The Final Jump

bwojdyla — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:15:00 EST

A few Friday's ago, the hoon world lost the renegade of the ramp, the sultan of speed, the king of compound fractures, Evel Knievel. We asked you to work up your personal tribute to this monster of pop culture and you responded in spades. In the last days, we put together the Jalopnik Counsel of Awesomeness and selected our ten favorite entries for you to vote on. The reasons range from impressive level of CIA style photo manipulation, to complete irreverence mirroring the life of the man in question. We've decided to leave the voting anonymous, so as to avoid the popularity contests that you kids get caught up in. The winner, and their commentary will be revealed on Wednesday afternoon. Voting, and as always, comments, after the jump.

An Evel Knievel Tribute: Photoshop the Hoonfather's Final Jump

bwojdyla — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:45:00 EST

If you're anything like us, you're completely heartbroken over the passing of ubermensch and all around hero to hoons everywhere, Evel Kneivel. Rarely in the annals of history has a man come along with no purpose other than to capture the popular imagination. There are an untold number of errant youths who invested the precious time of their childhood summers emulating this master of the impossible, the improbable, with well worn Huffy's and dirt ramps. We suspect that a great many of those wayward hoon-igans have found refuge here. Given the passing of such a momentous figure, we feel it necessary to pay tribute in some manner and to ask for your help. We would like you, the reader, to do your best to photoshop St. Knievel's final jump into the great beyond. Only "appropriate" submissions will be accepted which are sent into the tips address will be considered for the vote by you on the final tribute. Have at it — Evel'd want it this way.

Spy Photos: Next Mazda Tribute

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:04:33 EDT

What makes the next Mazda Tribute different from its Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner cousins? How about a funky, single-zoom grille. What else? Ok, nothing. It's basically a cheap way for Mazda to be present in every small-car segment. Of course, there must be something Mazda can do to give the Tribute more of the division's unique selling proposition — that's all that zoom-zoom business. A pillow to the face might work. – Mike Spinelli

Spied - Near-Final Mazda Tribute Prototypes! [Winding Road]

Badge Un-engineering: Mazda Tribute Production Suspended

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:56:15 EST

Word today is Mazda is suspending production of its version of the Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner SUVs, the Tribute. According to reports the company opted out of producing the Trib (at Ford's Claycomo truck plant) during the relatively short production span of the 2007 model year — May through December — because a new Escape-Mariner for 2008 will hit the line next January. The decision coincides with an 11% drop in Tribute sales between 2004 and 2005, and a near 100% drop in anyone really giving a shit.

Mazda to Suspend Tribute SUV production [via MPH]