claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.033
Evel Knievel (1977 Bally) history and restoration discussion with design credits and licensing notes.
Evel Knievel pinball was designed by Gary Gaten and art by Paul Ferris
high confidence · Dave (guest) states this directly when asked about the game's credits at the start of the episode.
14,000 units of Evel Knievel were manufactured by Bally
high confidence · George confirms this figure when discussing production numbers; Dave mentions owning three of them.
Evel Knievel jumped the Snake River Canyon on September 8th, 1974 in a steam-powered cycle
high confidence · Dave provides this specific date and details; notes parachutes opened too soon, preventing successful landing.
The Evel Knievel pinball machine was released in June 1977, coinciding with the movie 'Viva Knievel'
high confidence · Dave states this timing explicitly and describes the movie's cast and plot.
Evel Knievel assaulted a writer with a baseball bat in late 1977 while his arms were in casts
medium confidence · Dave describes this incident occurring three months after the game's release; notes Knievel was already injured from recent crashes.
Evel Knievel was bankrupt within three years of the 1977 peak
medium confidence · Dave states this as consequence of the movie tanking, toy line discontinuation, and his pariah status.
The Evel Knievel pinball machine had hard top versions made, but the hard top option may have been discontinued due to licensing rights issues
medium confidence · Dave notes hard tops existed (seen at Pintastic 2019), but are no longer listed on parts suppliers; speculates about rights expiration or IP holder demands.
Multiple IP holders may have claim to royalties on Evel Knievel pinball: the Evel Knievel estate, Harley-Davidson (trademark on playfield), and Planetary (current IP holder)
medium confidence · George and Dave discuss licensing complexity; note Harley-Davidson trademark on the machine and possibility of multiple stakeholders demanding payments.
“He made it to the other side of the canyon in his jump. Yeah. But because the parachutes opened too soon right away yes that's his problem he would have made it”
Dave and George @ ~08:30 — Clarifies the outcome of the famous 1974 Snake River Canyon jump — technical failure, not physical impossibility.
“Three months later, with arms in casts, him and his goons went with a baseball bat and assaulted a writer who wrote a book about him, and he didn't agree with what was written in the book.”
Dave @ ~15:20 — Marks the turning point in Evel Knievel's career and the narrative arc of his fall from fame.
“playing evil knievel is akin to a warm worn pair of high-end gloves they just fit nice they're toasty a little bit worn but they just feel just right... it's pure pinball it's pure pinball no bs involved”
Dave @ ~52:00 — Dave's strong endorsement of Evel Knievel as a refined, straightforward classic game, contrasted with frustrations with modern games like Rush.
“We're kind of like the cliff notes of pinball. Don't come to us for accuracy. We'll entertain you.”
George @ ~36:00 — Self-aware meta-commentary on the podcast's style and reliability; sets audience expectations for tone and accuracy.
“I asked, not once, but twice, will it fit a paragon? The answer both times were yes... I get the thing home and it three inches short”
George @ ~40:30 — Example of customer service failure in pinball aftermarket parts sales; raises trust and transparency issues.
restoration_signal: Dave's customer Evel Knievel restoration was promised for end of February but completed much later (approximately one year total), highlighting real-world challenges in pinball servicing.
high · George calls out Dave for missing his early February prediction; Dave acknowledges delays due to 'life' and other projects.
product_concern: George purchased incorrect glass parts from an aftermarket vendor (40-inch glass too short for Paragon by 3 inches); vendor failed to respond to refund request despite being asked twice beforehand.
high · George describes calling vendor twice to confirm compatibility, receiving affirmative answers, but receiving wrong-sized part; frustration with lack of response to email.
licensing_signal: Evel Knievel hard top parts may have been discontinued due to IP licensing issues; hosts speculate rights expiration or renewed IP holder enforcement.
medium · Dave notes hard tops existed at Pintastic 2019 but title is no longer listed on parts catalogs; George speculates licensing rights from Evel Knievel estate, Planetary, and/or Harley-Davidson may have caused removal.
industry_signal: Pinside forum drama over Extended Play Coil Coolers competing against incumbent Tibetan Breeze product; Pinball Monk engaged in heated dispute.
medium · George and Dave discuss 'Pinside drama' involving new coil cooler entrant and Pinball Monk's response; framed as healthy capitalist competition but with notable community friction.
gameplay_signal: Dave expressed frustration with Rush machine's playability and rule complexity; favors Evel Knievel's straightforward, accessible design.
groq_whisper · $0.268
Dave had a customer's Evel Knievel restoration in progress for approximately one year, with an initial promise to complete by end of February that was not met
high confidence · Dave admits he predicted early February completion but game was finished much later; George calls him out for the delay.
Evel Knievel never successfully jumped sharks; the shark jump was performed by Fonzie on water skis after Knievel hit a cameraman in practice
medium confidence · Dave corrects a misconception, noting the practice attempt resulted in injury to a cameraman, preventing the actual jump.
high · Dave describes playing Rush ball 1, scoring only 30 points, repeatedly unable to perform; contrasts with Evel Knievel's reliability and ease of play ('pure pinball, no BS').
restoration_signal: Switch bounce identified as common issue in drop-target banks on horizontal-mount switches; resolved through Pinside community research and adjustment.
high · Dave and George discuss Mata Hari machine troubleshooting; identify that loose/vibrating switch connections on drop targets cause errant bonus; fix involves proper gap alignment.
community_signal: Hosts explicitly declare their podcast as entertainment-focused rather than accuracy-focused ('like CliffsNotes'); self-aware about mixed factual reliability.
high · George compares podcast to CliffsNotes approach: 'Don't come to us for accuracy. We'll entertain you. We're kind of like a C when it comes to information.'
historical_signal: Detailed narrative of Evel Knievel's rise through Wide World of Sports fame, 1974 Snake River Canyon jump, 1977 movie/toy/pinball convergence, and rapid decline via assault conviction and bankruptcy.
high · Dave provides comprehensive career timeline with specific dates (Sept 8, 1974 canyon jump; June 1977 movie/game/toys; 1977 assault; bankruptcy within 3 years).
content_signal: George planning multi-episode 'Travels and Travails' series documenting arcade visits in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Allentown; planning to revisit cartoon pinball games (Popeye, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Bugs Bunny).
high · George teases special episodes from upcoming trip; plans to play and re-evaluate three classic licensed games he previously disliked.
product_strategy: Evel Knievel positioned as exemplar of accessible, approachable pinball design vs. modern complex rule sets; appeals to casual players and newcomers.
medium · Dave emphasizes Evel Knievel is 'easy to explain' even for people like George; contrasts with Rush's opaque rules and frustrating playability.
market_signal: Evel Knievel machines (14,000 produced) are moderately rare; Dave owns three and notes they 'don't come up for sale that often.'
medium · Dave states Evel Knievel is 'hard game to find' in the secondary market; owns one customer machine, one he's finishing, one personal.
event_signal: Pintastic 2019 referenced as key event where hosts encountered restored Evel Knievel machines with aftermarket parts; serves as community hub for game showcases.
medium · Dave mentions seeing a 'really nice evil knievel' with hard top at Pintastic 2019; used as reference point for parts availability and restoration standards.