Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 9:34 a.m.
Still bruised and hobbling on crutches, Robbie Knievel talked Tuesday about his record-breaking jump across a portion of the Grand Canyon and donated his motorcycle to the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.
"You can't believe how bad I want to go home and relax," Knievel mumbled to a friend just before he autographed the motorcycle at the Tropicana hotel-casino.
Knievel, who suffered two broken ribs and sprained both ankles when he crashed after completing last Thursday's 223-foot jump, has been recuperating at the Tropicana.
Knievel refused to wear a parachute during the jump. Had he missed he would have fallen 1,500 feet. His father, Evel Knievel, used a parachute when he attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho, but the chute deployed prematurely and Knievel drifted down into the canyon. He was rescued by helicopter.
Still smarting from a few bruises and a minor concussion and wearing a cast on his left leg, Robbie donated the 500 cc motorcycle along with his white leather outfit, to the hall of fame.
"I still have a minor concussion, so whatever I say don't take it too serious," he joked.
Because of last Thursday's 20 mph winds Knievel said he wasn't sure he would beat his record. While airborne at 80 mph Knievel said all that ran through his mind was: "I made it over."
As soon as he took off at the planned speed, Knievel said he "didn't really care what happened on the other side."
"It's a big rush when you get up with sprained ankles and walk away," he said. "After the rush wears off a half-hour later, it hurts like hell.
"I really lucked out. Hockey players get bounced off the wall and are paralyzed for life."
Knievel said he plans to head back to his home in Washington state Friday where, until his next jump July 24 at Pikes Peak, he plans to "get real familiar with his website" and map out ideas for opening a museum and sports bar.
At 37 Knievel has been jumping for 29 years and plans to retire in five years. Before then he says he'd like to jump the Snake River Canyon "just for the hell of it."
"I guarantee I'll come up with something crazy for Las Vegas next year," he said.
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