Kent Wilson Jumps the Shunga on Motorcycle

During the height of the era of Evel Knievel, In Topeka Kansas, in the fall of 1971, Kent Wilson jumped the Shunganunga creek on his motorcycle, breaking both wrists, seriously denting his gas tank and who knows what other damage to his bike. The first footage shot on a 8mm garage sale camera purchased the night before by Phil Thompson, this film has not been seen since it was last shown in the basement of the Thompson home on College Ave. in Topeka that fall.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Topeka
• Motorcycle Jump
• Kent Wilson
• Shunga

[clydeseel]

Great videos!!! Please post all you have of the good old days. Is that Bill Long that lives in KC now?

[mepthann]

Thanks. There are some more from that era that Bill has converted to DVD and could go up. I'll have to talk to him about that. and yeah, he lives in KC now. How do you know him?

[brogreggblues]

@boneypart Loved the song "Numbers and Colors"! 

[wilsons66604]

Stumble onto this video tonight!

Is Kent still around?

Kent & I were in the same class at Jardine. I recall a Jardine football game where he drove the cycle down the middle of the field during the middle of the game.

I have the same last name so was often mistaken.

[boneypart]

please say hi to Kent and tell him i have vids on my channel of my band Smart Pills playing one of his songs in Hollywood back in '79.

[realself1]

I used to play in a band with that guy, the Noise. and subbed in the Iguanas on drums. Any footage of his musical endeavors (actually quite like his bike rides!)?

[krayzie0909]

please let me know if you get the dvd of the topeka

70s era videos.....thanks b lentz

[clydeseel]

@mepthann

I know him through Steve Haynes, Budget Tapes and Records back in the mid 80's.

[msundgren]

Nancy Lentz i am still in shock seeing my boyfriend jump the creek. Which i never veiwed life in action. But i did however baby sit him back to recovery. Oh the fun times we had on the motocycle.

[ksbrowntrout]

Manhattan Tube company rules

[othmerc]

Wow, who could forget that. I remember Kent still playing basketball in his driveway with 2 broken arms.