October 13, 2024 • 40 mins
Renowned car restorer and TV personality Danny Koker discusses his admiration for Evel Knievel, the legacy and future of the Evel Knievel Museum in Las Vegas, Danny's journey from music to car restoration, and his various ventures, including Count's Kustoms and Count's Vamp'd.
Grab merch at www.EvelKnievelMuseum.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Danny Koker (00:00):
Talk about an influence, a hero, as a kid
growing up.
Long before there were BMXbikes, we were taking our
Stingrays jumping cinder blockson the street.
Jumping over our friends on thestreet.
No helmets, no anything likethat.
Just doing it.
We're all still here.
Joe P (00:16):
That one unlucky bastard with the shift lever right
there.
Danny Koker (00:20):
With the shift lever, absolutely.
Forget that.
I know.
That's going to hurt, bro.
That's the truth, man.
But it was Evel Knievel forPete's sake.
Heather (00:30):
Evel Knievel inspired millions of us with his courage
and perseverance.
We're building a museum so youcan relive those memories and be
reinvigorated with that spiritof bravery.
Evel Knievel (00:43):
My name is Evel Knievel.
I'm a professional daredevil.
Heather (00:47):
Along the way, we meet people involved in the life, the
times, and the legacy of theKing of daredevils.
Here with their stories is yourhost, Joe Friday.
Joe P (00:58):
Hey howdy, it's Joe Friday and I'm here with Danny
Koker, our new neighbor.
Danny Koker (01:02):
that's right.
How you doing, Joe?
Joe P (01:04):
Good! We're moving the Evel Knievel Museum to Las
Vegas.
Danny Koker (01:08):
That's awesome.
Joe P (01:08):
Trying to figure out why it was never here before.
Danny Koker (01:11):
It should be here.
Vegas is a destination city.
Everybody from the world comeshere so everybody from the world
needs to be here and see what'sgoing on.
Joe P (01:19):
Yep, 45 million visitors per year.
Danny Koker (01:22):
huh.
Joe P (01:23):
So that's about a million per week.
Danny Koker (01:27):
Yeah, and the world knows Evel Knievel.
So Vegas attracts the entireworld, so they need to be coming
here and seeing what you gotgoing.
Joe P (01:37):
That's true.
And you know Vegas.
Danny Koker (01:40):
Yeah.
Joe P (01:40):
and you know Evel Knievel.
Danny Koker (01:42):
I did.
I did.
I was very blessed to meet him.
I can't say that I was friendsor knew him, but I was very
blessed to meet him and talk tohim and be around him, things
like that, for a little while.
He was larger than life.
Joe P (01:59):
Was he in Vegas?
Danny Koker (02:00):
Yeah.
I met him when New York New Yorkopened and he was part of the
big grand opening of the NewYork New York.
And you know how they have thatBrooklyn Bridge replica there in
front of the place.
We were invited down when myselfand a bunch of guys that I ride
with.
They wanted motorcycles outthere.
(02:20):
And I'm guessing there must havebeen 20 or 25 of us that we used
to get together and ride all thetime.
We all bombed it down there onour bikes, on our Harleys, and
lined up on the bridge.
And that's where I met EvelKnievel.
He came out and hung out with usfor a while.
what a cool cat.
Joe P (02:40):
Huh.
Danny Koker (02:41):
yeah.
Joe P (02:42):
Fun fact.
I designed and made the doorpulls for the New York Casino.
Danny Koker (02:46):
Really?
Joe P (02:47):
They look like little Statue of Liberty's torches.
Danny Koker (02:49):
Yeah.
Joe P (02:49):
Yeah.
Danny Koker (02:50):
Nice.
Very cool.
Very cool.
Joe P (02:53):
That's my contribution.
Danny Koker (02:54):
Were you there when they did the grand opening?
Joe P (02:55):
So far in Las Vegas.
No.
Danny Koker (02:56):
Oh, it's too bad.
Joe P (02:57):
No.
Danny Koker (02:58):
Too bad.
Joe P (02:58):
I wasn't a huge Vegas fan at the time.
Yeah.
because of gambling, ugh.
Danny Koker (03:02):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Joe P (03:03):
But Vegas has changed a lot.
I'm not saying there's lessgambling.
But dude, there is so much moreto do in Las Vegas.
Danny Koker (03:09):
Yeah, I've lived here a couple of times in Vegas.
First time I moved here was in'78.
Yeah.
And I was here from'78 to'82.
And, I absolutely loved that eraof Vegas.
It was openly run by the mob.
There was zero crime in thistown.
(03:31):
Nobody screwed around, or elseyou got 86'd, And that was 80
miles out and 6 feet down iswhere that came from.
So that's why nobody screwedaround.
There was no crime.
There was no crime.
And then, as the city grew andwe decided to clean up Las
Vegas.
They chased the mob out, so tospeak, all the crime came in.
(03:51):
back in those days, it was Ireally loved that era, that end
of the'70s, early'80s era.
And then I left for a while andI've been back here since'89.
And I've really seen this citygrow immensely.
And like you were saying,gambling was the only industry
at one time, but now, the waythe city has grown so much,
(04:15):
there's a lot of industry goingon here, so it's not just
gambling.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And we're in the museum businesswhere I come from, that's the
Evel Knievel Museum, which isawesome.
Yeah.
Joe P (04:25):
And then these other attractions that look to me to
be successful.
I haven't done a lot of marketresearch, but Zak Bagans'
Haunted Museum is shocking.
Made me pee my pants.
Danny Koker (04:36):
What is it?
Joe P (04:36):
Zak Bagans Haunted Museum.
Danny Koker (04:38):
Oh, I've heard of it.
Joe P (04:39):
You've seen ads for it.
Danny Koker (04:39):
I've heard of it.
Yep, haven't been there.
Joe P (04:41):
And then the Mob Museum.
Danny Koker (04:42):
Yep.
Joe P (04:42):
It's gotta be the number one attraction in Las Vegas.
And then ours is going to beawesome.
Danny Koker (04:48):
Yeah.
But you've got one, and I waswondering, what made you open up
your collection, and show thatto the public?
It's like this.
I'm a huge car collector.
So as well as buildingmotorcycles and building cars
and all the other crazy thingsI'm involved in, I collect as
well.
And so that particular sectionof my shop, I just turned it
(05:12):
into a museum.
I turned it into a giantshowroom.
And I've got, man, I'm guessing30 some odd interesting vehicles
inside there.
And, it's just my way of givingback.
I've been on television foryears, building cars and doing
things like that.
People have really enjoyed whatwe do.
(05:33):
And so being in a destinationcity, everybody comes to Vegas
and they want to see what yougot going on.
So I just open my doors and letpeople come in and wander
around.
and just come check it out.
My business is running behindthe scenes.
So if people, come in and theywant to just wander around and
check out the place, I'm happyabout that.
(05:54):
Buy a t shirt on the way out.
That's how I feel about it.
Joe P (05:56):
Okay.
That's how you're making themoney.
Danny Koker (05:59):
Absolutely.
Buy a t shirt on the way out.
Come in for free and buysomething when you leave.
Joe P (06:03):
I just loved it.
The Superfly Cadillac was myfavorite.
Danny Koker (06:08):
That's a personal favorite.
I love that.
Okay, a little backstory on theSuperfly Cadillac.
I was born just south ofCleveland, Akron, Ohio.
And I've got relatives all overOhio, but most of my family is
out of Detroit.
So I spent most, a large part ofmy youth growing up between
(06:29):
Akron and Detroit.
And Detroit, huge influence onmy life, style wise, music wise,
everything wise.
I just, I love that city likecrazy.
And so the first time I ever sawa Superfly Cadillac was in the
'70s on Woodward Avenue backwhen they were new.
And it was like, look at that.
(06:51):
That is insane.
And it made a huge impression.
What's Woodward Avenue?
Woodward Avenue was, is still tothis day one of the most
important roads for automotiveenthusiasts on the planet.
It's several miles, rightthrough Detroit and four lanes
each side, both ways.
And that's, back in the day,everybody used to cruise
(07:13):
Woodward Avenue.
And now they do the WoodwardDream Cruise in Detroit every
year, which is now, it's beenturned into a car show, a big
automotive event.
But it comes by it honestly,where Woodward Avenue was the
place to be cruising back in theday.
And even the big automotivemanufacturers, Ford and GM
(07:33):
Chrysler, whatever, they wouldsometimes sneak prototype
vehicles on Woodward Avenue backin the day and get people's
feedback and stuff.
So you see what they thoughtabout it.
So that's the first time I eversaw a Superfly Cadillac and it
just always left an impressionon me.
And then, my love for that cityand the vibe and the style.
it's gotta be, it's gotta be 10years ago or so now.
(07:58):
I found this superfly Cadillacand it was in, I believe it was
in Pennsylvania.
A broker had it and it wasrepresented as absolutely
beautiful, blah, blah, blah.
And, never buy anything sightunseen.
I tell people this all the time,but I'm also.
a nut job when I get passionateabout things.
(08:18):
And so I got all kinds ofpictures of the car and I bought
it sight unseen.
And I had it shipped to me herein Vegas.
And while it was 100 percentcorrect and complete and there,
it needed full restoration.
I was like, huh.
So I took the car apart.
Yep.
Took the whole car apart.
Completely restored it proper,the way it should be.
(08:41):
And that's the car you see.
Les Dunham, who is in Jersey, heis the owner and founder of
Dunham Coachworks.
He is the cat that built theSuperfly Cadillacs back in the
day.
And Les is still around.
I got his complete approval onthe car.
He loves it and he rememberedthat car because it had some
really special stuff on it.
And so it's been
Joe P (09:02):
He remembered that car?
Danny Koker (09:03):
Yeah, he remembered that car because it was, it's a
convertible.
It's a'71 Eldo convertible, butnot only did a custom fiberglass
tunnel when the top is down,that covers the back.
But he did a, like a Roadstersetup where it covered the
complete backseat like theBatmobile type of humps.
So you can make it like a twoseater if you want to.
And it's all there.
It's all there and completelyrestored.
He totally remembered a car andhe gave me his stamp of approval
(09:26):
on the restoration of this.
That's a really important car tome.
Joe P (09:29):
I'll bet
Danny Koker (09:30):
I love that car.
Yeah, it speaks to my soul.
Joe P (09:32):
Knievel loved the Cadillacs, too.
Danny Koker (09:34):
Big time.
I got another car that Knievelhad.
He had one.
Say what?
Stutz Blackhawk.
Remember when Knievel
Joe P (09:40):
You've got his?
Danny Koker (09:40):
No, I don't have his, but I have one.
I have a Stutz Blackhawk.
Elvis had six of them.
Sammy Davis had one.
Robert Goulet had one.
Dean Martin had one.
Lucille Ball had one.
Evel Knievel had one.
Joe P (09:55):
The Stutz.
Danny Koker (09:56):
And I scored a'74 Stutz Blackhawk and I absolutely
love that car.
Joe P (10:01):
Is that in your showroom?
Danny Koker (10:02):
It is actually, it's actually in my private
building.
Joe P (10:06):
Oh.
Danny Koker (10:06):
because I drive her.
I get her out and I drive heronce in a while.
if I see a Stutz on the road inLas Vegas, I'll know who it is.
They're rare.
It's the only one probablyrunning around town right now,
Joe P (10:18):
You've got a flower car, Cadillac at your place.
Danny Koker (10:21):
I do.
Joe P (10:21):
That's a lot like Evel Knievel's red Cadillac pickup
truck that he would load twomotorcycles in.
Danny Koker (10:27):
Yeah.
I did the same thing with mine.
I made it to put a motorcyclerack on the back so I can put
one of my choppers on the backof it.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I got a screw loose, it's morefun that way.
Joe P (10:41):
What's your favorite restoration?
Do you have one?
Danny Koker (10:45):
It's tough because we've done so many.
I can tell you one that speaksto my heart.
I can tell you a couple if yougot time.
One that really speaks to myheart was Barry White's widow,
Glodean White, who is abeautiful soul.
I just absolutely love her.
We met over the years.
(11:05):
Barry's no longer with us, buthe had, speaking of Stutz,
there's another guy, he had aStutz IV-Porte, which is similar
to the Blackhawk, but it was afour door version.
Came out later.
He had one that was his dailydriver, and they had a place in
Vegas, and that was a car thathe kept in Vegas.
when Barry passed, he had willedthat car to a gentleman that
(11:31):
kind of looked over his estateand looked over his stuff.
So that car went to thatgentleman.
And that gentleman ran into someproblems in his life, stepped
off the curb or whatever.
And over the years, sold the carsomewhere.
And Glodean and the family hadlost track of where he went, or
(11:54):
where the car went.
It was just MIA.
One day Glodean is, she's at myshop with me, because she rides.
She's a motorcycle gal.
She rides Harleys.
She's totally cool.
I've worked on her stuff at theshop.
She's awesome.
We were just chit chatting, andI knew the car from back in the
day, and asked her whateverhappened
Joe P (12:16):
yeah.
Danny Koker (12:16):
to Barry's Stutz?
So she told me this story, andshe's like As far as I know,
it's somewhere in Las Vegas, Iwould do anything to find that
car." Let me tell you, God is inhis heaven and he watches over
his kids.
That's the truth.
One day, I am literally drivingaround neighborhoods in Vegas.
(12:38):
Just shopping.
I do that.
I like to look for interestingthings.
Joe P (12:41):
I've seen you stalking.
Danny Koker (12:43):
Exactly.
Some people think of it thatway.
And I cruise through this oneneighborhood and I miss a turn.
And I'm like, ah! So I go downthe road a little bit further to
make a U turn.
As I go down the road a littlebit further, in a driveway at
this little house is a Stutz IVPorte the paint faded to pieces.
(13:07):
Four flat tires.
Thing is spider webbed to theground.
Doesn't look like it's moved ina hundred years.
And I look at that car and I'mlike,"That's Barry's Stutz,"
because I knew the car from backin the day.
That's gotta be his.
I go to the door.
I'm knocking on the door.
There's nobody home.
I leave a note.
(13:27):
If you're interested in sellingthis car, please call me.
This lady, so kind, it took hera day.
My phone is ringing, and it'sher.
And she says,"Did you leave anote on my house?" Absolutely.
She says, Yeah, I want to getrid of this car." Oh my gosh,
she hated it.
Her husband bought it from thisgentleman who had the car.
(13:49):
Her husband passed.
This thing was an eyesore toher.
It was her and her daughter andshe's I just want to get rid of
it.
I just get this thing out of mydriveway.
I'm like,"Look, I'm going to behonest with you, okay?" because
I'm, that's who I am.
I'm honest that way.
Again, God is in his heaven andhe's watching over his kids, so
(14:10):
I'm not going to, I'm not goingto treat somebody wrong.
I told her straight up, I said,"You gotta know whose car that
was."
Joe P (14:15):
huh.
Danny Koker (14:16):
"And I wanna buy it and get it back to the family,
so I don't want you to say thatI bought this thing from you and
didn't tell you the truth aboutit." So she appreciated me being
honest with her that it wasBarry's car back in the day.
And, but she was like,"Come getit." We decided on a number, I
(14:37):
bought the car, I calledGlodean, because Glodean was
living in California.
And I'm like,"Guess what?" Shesaid,"What?" I said,"I got your
husband's car." She said,"What?
"No way.""Absolutely." So wecheck all the VIN.
We check all the paperwork.
It's confirmed Barry's car.
I restored it for Glodean.
Restored it for the family.
What a challenging car torestore.
(14:58):
Nobody makes parts for a StutzIV Porte or a Stutz Blackhawk or
anything like that.
So it was a big challenge.
Joe P (15:05):
Do you make parts?
Danny Koker (15:06):
We'll make things.
if it doesn't exist, we'll makeit.
Got a full fab shop.
No problem.
So restored that car for thefamily.
I got it back to Glodean.
Got it back to her family.
She is absolutely thrilled.
Her daughter got married.
They used the car in theirdaughter's wedding.
It was such a part of Barry'slife that now it's back in the
(15:29):
family and it's part of theirlife.
And that is a long answer to ashort question of an important
restoration for me.
Was getting Barry White's Stutzback to the family and restoring
that.
Joe P (15:43):
yeah, yeah.
Danny Koker (15:44):
That was a cool one.
And another one that Iabsolutely loved was I did a'67
Corvette restomod for Four StarGeneral Peter Pace.
Joint Chief of Staff.
Chairman, Four Star General, thewhole bit.
Joe P (15:57):
Yes.
Danny Koker (15:57):
Met this cat at a really exclusively cool event.
And it was like his dream car.
That was a really important onefor me too as well.
Joe P (16:05):
One that features prominently in your showroom is
the Mustang that you worked onwith Dad.
Danny Koker (16:09):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Joe P (16:10):
That's gotta mean a lot.
Danny Koker (16:12):
I make tasteless jokes with the boys.
If there's ever a fire in thebuilding, get that out first.
And then go back in and getwhatever else you can.
That car, Dad brought that carhome when I was nine years old.
That car.
he, Dad was a musician.
Didn't have two nickels to rubtogether.
Did everything he could to getthat car.
And he purchased that car andbrought it home when I was nine
(16:34):
years old.
And that thing used to sit inthe garage.
He'd drive it once in a while.
And I remember being a kid.
Going out in the garage at nightand just sitting in it or
looking under the hood, orcrawling under it, or whatever.
That car was such a hugeinfluence on my life and I feel
so blessed that he got to hangon to that vehicle, and now it's
still with me.
(16:55):
That's probably the mostimportant thing that I own
because it was Dad's.
Joe P (17:00):
It's gorgeous.
Thank you.
I didn't realize that you didn'thave to buy that back.
Danny Koker (17:04):
Yeah.
Joe P (17:04):
It's nice.
Danny Koker (17:05):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That car stayed in the familythe whole time.
The whole time.
It's literally been with me for50 years.
Joe P (17:13):
And that was in Detroit?
Danny Koker (17:15):
That was actually in Ohio.
Joe P (17:16):
Oh, yeah.
Danny Koker (17:17):
Dad was born and raised in Detroit.
That's great.
His part of the family was inDetroit, but the house where
that car was in Ohio.
Joe P (17:24):
What brought you to Las Vegas?
Danny Koker (17:26):
Business.
My father and I.
Dad was the biggest influence onmy life.
He was a musician, brought me upin music, and then he got
involved in television andproduction and things like that.
And then he landed the licenseto put on Channel 33 here in Las
Vegas back in 1989.
I was living in South Florida atthe time and I had a production
(17:50):
company down there.
It was a small productioncompany.
Edit bay, back in the day.
So I had three Ikegami camerasand in a nice edit bay.
And I was doing my thing.
And he was like,"I'm going toput this TV station on in Vegas.
You want in?" And I said, Yeah.
folded up shop
Joe P (18:07):
yes.
Danny Koker (18:08):
in Florida.
I came out here.
And I thought I was just goingto be out here long enough to
help put on a TV station, butthat was since 1989.
Joe P (18:18):
Where did the car restoration come in?
Danny Koker (18:20):
My whole life.
My hobby.
It's been a hobby my whole life.
Most of my family worked forFord Motor Company out of
Detroit growing up.
No kidding, they worked rightthere in the factory on the
assembly line, working it, doingit.
I've got aunts that worked whenthe factory converted during
World War II, when the factoryconverted to making airplane
(18:41):
wings and the materials andthings like that.
My aunts were on the line doingthat.
My father for a period of timewas on the assembly line,
checking engine blocks, theinspection, the old chalk mark
inspections on the engineblocks, when checking for leaks,
things like that.
Dad worked there.
My uncle Peter was an executiveat Ford Motor Company back in
(19:02):
the day as well.
I grew up in cars.
My uncle Milford was a biker socars and bikes, I literally grew
up with them.
It's been a part of my life asfar as I can remember.
Whatever I may have been doingfor a job, or an occupation, or
an income at the time, therewere always cars and bikes.
(19:25):
Always cars and bikes in mylife.
When I lived in Florida, I had asmall, I had an edit bay,
because I was camera, director,audio, all that kind of stuff.
That was how I paid the bills.
But the back half of thatbuilding, I probably had eight
or nine cars.
And was tinkering around withstuff.
(19:45):
Always in my life.
fast forward moving to Vegas.
came out here, put on the TVstation, shipped my cars, my
makeshift shop.
I had a hobby shop, basically ina small warehouse.
Had a hobby shop, and I wasbuilding cars and motorcycles
behind the scenes.
Then there was a small group ofus, a handful of us guys, that
would get together.
(20:06):
We would wrench on bikes andwrench on cars or whatever.
We could go out and play on theweekends or night time or
whatever like that.
And it got to the point wherepeople were asking,"Hey, where'd
you get that?" I would be ridinga chopper down the road.
"Where'd you get that?""I wantone of those.""That's really
cool." It just got to the pointof maybe this hobby shop, maybe
(20:28):
we should get a license andinsurance and open a business.
So that's what happened.
And a handful of us startedCount's Kustoms.
The reason it was Count'sKustoms was, I don't know if you
know anything about this, butwhen we put on the TV station,
Channel 33, I used to host alate night horror show.
(20:48):
I was a vampire here in LasVegas for ten years.
That's the truth.
It's crazy.
I hosted a late night horrorshow every Saturday night here
in Las Vegas called SaturdayFright at the Movies.
With your host, Count CoolRider, which was long for C.C.
Rider.
The whole object of the game wasthis vampire was the world's
biggest unliving Elvis fan inLas Vegas.
(21:13):
the character that I played wasa vampire that loved Elvis.
Yeah.
Living in Vegas.
Hosting horror films, having oncrazy guests.
This show ran for 10 years herein Las Vegas.
Joe P (21:23):
How big of an Elvis fan?
wearing a jumpsuit, or?
Danny Koker (21:27):
No.
It was very much a vampire getup, but with the sideburns and
all that kind of stuff.
A lot of Elvis vibe in thecastle set and everything like
that.
And that's honest.
I love Elvis.
I love the king.
All this time that this show wason in Vegas: Saturday, Friday at
(21:51):
the movies with Count CoolRider, behind the scenes, I was
doing this cars and bikes.
So when we decided to open thatplace as a real business,
everybody in town knew theCount.
So what do we call it?
Let's call it Count's Kustomsbecause everybody knows the
Count.
I didn't know that eventuallyCount's Kustoms was going to be
(22:14):
on a television show around theworld.
So now, everybody around theworld is like, Why is it called
Count's Kustoms?
It's because of this crazyvampire hosting horror films in
Vegas for 10 years.
That's where that came from.
I know man, it's kooky.
That is so great.
I've lived 14 lives already.
It's nuts.
I don't know.
(22:35):
I need an intervention in mylife.
Joe P (22:38):
And your bar is Vamp's.
Danny Koker (22:39):
Yeah, Count's Vamped.
Yeah, V-A-M-P-E-D, Count'sVamped on West Sahara.
Old school rock and roll club.
That's what it is, man.
It's a rock bar, rock club, livemusic, restaurant, bar.
Insane.
We support the local rock sceneand then we host national bands
(23:02):
that come through because it'sset up for it.
It's a real stage, real front ofhouse, real lights, real
everything.
We can have big rock shows inthere.
Joe P (23:12):
We can commiserate then.
But I'm just starting myconstruction project.
Danny Koker (23:16):
Yeah.
Joe P (23:17):
Dealing with the city, so
Danny Koker (23:19):
Good luck.
Joe P (23:19):
be patient with me.
Danny Koker (23:20):
It's a challenge, it really is, especially when
you're opening something uniqueand different.
This is not the norm.
So when it's not the norm, likewhen I was doing the rock club
up there, or even my shop,Counts Kustoms, open to the
public to walk around, cityinspectors and rules and
regulations and things thatdon't fall under the norm, it's
(23:47):
challenging to get everybody tounderstand what you're trying to
do.
Yeah, We've got like virtualreality rides.
yeah.
Joe P (23:55):
Sit on this motorcycle and you can experience what it's
like to jump over 17 policecars.
Danny Koker (24:03):
Those are challenges like that.
Yeah.
sure.
Joe P (24:05):
So rewarding.
Danny Koker (24:07):
It is.
It is.
When you get it done, it's sounique.
It's so one of a kind.
It's so different.
That's what makes it special.
Joe P (24:15):
Yeah.
So we're starting our process.
We're going to bring that to theArts District in between The
Strip and Fremont.
Danny Koker (24:22):
Wonderful.
Joe P (24:23):
Yeah, it'll be great.
Danny Koker (24:24):
Wonderful.
I do absolutely love our city.
I love our Mayor, CarolynGoodman.
God bless her.
She is absolutely amazing.
She has been so wonderful andhelpful to myself and my
businesses in overcoming some ofthese challenges and things like
that, opening up a rock and rollclub there in West Sahara.
She completely helped me outwith all that stuff.
(24:45):
She's just an amazing humanbeing.
And she's old school.
Her husband, Oscar, old school.
She's old school.
They're awesome people.
I can't say enough nice thingsabout them.
I hope the next one's just asgood.
Yeah, I know.
because yeah, she's not allowedto run anymore.
That's it.
She's done her term.
Joe P (25:05):
I do have to give a shout out right now to The Space who
loaned us their podcast booth.
We are building one into themuseum.
That's going to be kick ass.
It's going to be in one of EvelKnievel's old trailers, but the
Space has opened up theirpodcast facilities for us to use
in the meantime.
It's beautiful.
We really appreciate it.
Not only are you customizingcars and starring on television
as a vampire and running a bar.
Danny Koker (25:29):
Yeah.
I don't do the vampire thinganymore.
Yeah Yeah But tell me aboutMusic Mob.
Okay, I grew up in music.
Dad was a musician, brought meup in music.
I'm an old school gospel singer.
I grew up singing gospel back inthe day, and amen to that, but
I'm also a hardcore rock androller.
And I front my own band.
(25:49):
It's a band called Count 77.
We're a hard rock band.
We're signed with ShrapnelRecords.
We got two original records out.
We're working on a third recordright now.
As a matter of fact, I'm in thestudio doing a single right now.
One of my dear friends is JeffBlando.
Jeff Blando, who actually wasinstrumental in helping me put
(26:10):
together Vamped.
He was the key person in thesound and the lights up there.
He's an amazing musician, buthe's also a behind the scenes
production guy when it comes tostage, sound, and lights.
He's phenomenal.
Blando and I are like brothers.
He's the lead guitar player forSlaughter.
He's the lead guitar player forVince Neil.
(26:33):
and he does a lot of otherthings.
And he's a wonderful humanbeing.
Joe P (26:37):
Slaughter's a name from the past.
Danny Koker (26:38):
I know.
Joe P (26:38):
Are they still around?
Danny Koker (26:39):
Oh, yeah.
Oh, big time.
Slaughter's touring right now.
They're packing out shows.
It's great.
Mark's voice is on fire.
They're doing wonderful.
On the side, Blando has this gigcalled Music Mob.
It's a trio (26:53):
Guitar, bass, drums.
And then he brings in specialguests.
So I sit in with Music Mob ondifferent shows.
He brings different guests allthe time to do all these great
rock shows.
We were just talking about thisplace the other day.
Joe P (27:14):
And who's Sebastian?
Danny Koker (27:15):
Sebastian Bach?
Joe P (27:16):
Yes.
Danny Koker (27:17):
Do you know Sebastian?
Joe P (27:17):
I don't know.
Danny Koker (27:18):
Okay, Sebastian Bach.
He is a good friend.
He is the, he's Skid Row.
Remember the band Skid Row?
Joe P (27:27):
Yeah, I sure do.
Danny Koker (27:27):
Okay, alright.
Sebastian Bach, lead singer SkidRow.
Now they have gone theirseparate ways.
and Sebastian does a ton of solostuff now.
And he's moved to Vegas.
Sebastian's been in Vegas, it'sgotta be a couple of years now.
And lives a raging 37 secondsfrom my club, from Vamped.
(27:50):
And we hang out all the time.
And he is an amazing, amazingsinger, amazing frontman.
and a really fun guy.
A really fun, crazy guy.
If you hang out with Sebastianfor any period of time, your
face is going to hurt fromlaughing.
So he's a cool cat.
Yeah, there's a lot of greatrockers here in Vegas.
(28:14):
Phil Soussan is another oneright up there by the club.
He's an amazing bass player,played with Ozzy.
He wrote"Shot in the Dark." Wasin Ozzy's band.
Was with Billy Idol.
All kinds of stuff.
He lives right up the street,too.
There's a whole community there.
It's pretty cool.
Paul Shortino, man, another one.
(28:36):
Duke Fame from what in the worldwas that comedy rock movie from
back in the day?
Joe P (28:47):
Spinal Tap.
Danny Koker (28:47):
Thank you.
Duke Fame in Spinal Tap.
Their idol, when the bandidolized this rocker, Duke Fame,
Joe P (28:54):
yes.
Danny Koker (28:54):
that's Paul Shortino.
Paul lives right up the streetas well.
He's a wonderful guy.
There's a lot of great rockershere in town.
Joe P (29:03):
I'm in good company then.
Danny Koker (29:04):
Amen, brother.
Joe P (29:04):
Old punk rocker.
Danny Koker (29:05):
Yeah.
Alright.
It's
Joe P (29:07):
not the focus of our museum, but someday, in the very
distant future, we're going tohave a grand opening.
Danny Koker (29:14):
Not too distant future.
You got this.
This is going to be awesome.
This is going to be awesome.
Joe P (29:20):
It'd be fun to get with those guys.
I hate to call them right now.
because I'm like, Hey, what areyou doing in 2028?
Danny Koker (29:29):
I love it.
Like I said, Blando and I, wewere talking about it.
And he's like You just let themknow when it's grand opening
time, we'll put together a show.
Put together a big kickoff show.
It'll be a ball.
because we all love Evel Knievelbig time.
Joe P (29:46):
Dude
Danny Koker (29:47):
yeah
Joe P (29:47):
Me too.
Danny Koker (29:47):
Yeah.
Joe P (29:48):
I wasn't expecting to.
I was just volunteering at thismuseum that opened up.
Lathan is a huge, wonderfulcollector and he had some
artifacts that he had collected.
He decided he was going to makeit his mission to collect Evel
Knievel's stuff.
Kind of lost to the winds in1977.
So Lathan started collectinghelmets, capes, leathers, canes.
(30:12):
and put together a littletraveling museum that would go
maybe to Butte or to the carshows.
Danny Koker (30:19):
Yeah.
Joe P (30:20):
Things like that.
Came across this big red truck,big red Mack truck, Circus
Wagon.
If this Evel Knievel CircusWagon pulls into your town,
you're in for a really goodtime.
But it was dilapidated.
My friend had restored a HarleyDavidson for the killer in
Memphis.
Danny Koker (30:37):
Yeah.
Joe P (30:39):
Jerry Lee Lewis.
Danny Koker (30:39):
Yeah.
Joe P (30:40):
And they had a mutual friend and referred Lathan to
Mike and Mike restored this Macktruck.
He's a Harley dealer.
Danny Koker (30:48):
Yeah
Joe P (30:48):
He'll work on any Harley no matter what year it is.
Danny Koker (30:50):
Yeah,
Joe P (30:51):
1910 or
Danny Koker (30:52):
yep
Joe P (30:53):
1980, he works on it.
Most dealers won't do that.
But to take on a Mack Truck was,you know, that's a challenge.
And then once it's done what doyou're traveling museum is over
with, right?
You're not going to take thatthing on the road, right?
So Mike and Lathan, together,they founded the museum there in
Topeka, Kansas.
So it was all a little bit byaccident or luck.
Danny Koker (31:15):
Yeah.
Joe P (31:16):
But to be intentional it would be in Las Vegas.
Danny Koker (31:18):
Yeah, man.
This is a great spot for it.
Joe P (31:21):
Yeah.
Danny Koker (31:22):
Absolutely.
Joe P (31:23):
But yeah, in 1977 it was lost and he lost everything or
most things and including hisfame.
Just went away.
It wasn't in the Enquirer everymonth or year.
Danny Koker (31:38):
Sure.
Joe P (31:38):
He just disappeared.
Danny Koker (31:39):
Yeah.
Joe P (31:40):
I forgot about him and volunteered at the museum and
then just fell in love with hisstory of courage and inspiration
and the things that he brings tous.
Guys our age coming to themuseum and the wife thinks
they're doing the world's bestpresent.
"This is his birthday."
Danny Koker (31:59):
Yeah.
Joe P (31:59):
I brought, look what I brought
Yeah.
And it truly is a gift becausethey walk in and it's not like
they mist up or get emotionalright away, but Oh my God, he's
10 years old again.
Danny Koker (32:11):
Yeah.
Joe P (32:12):
Look at him.
He's shrinking.
His freckles are coming back.
Danny Koker (32:14):
It's the truth.
Joe P (32:15):
It's so great.
Danny Koker (32:16):
It is.
We grew up with this.
Talk about an influence, a hero,as a kid growing up.
It's huge.
It's huge.
Long before there were BMXbikes, we were taking our
Stingrays and jumping cinderblocks on the street.
Jumping over our friends on thestreet.
No helmets, no anything likethat.
(32:37):
Just doing it.
We're all still here.
Joe P (32:39):
That one unlucky bastard with the shift lever right
there.
Danny Koker (32:43):
With the shift lever, absolutely.
Forget that.
I know.
That's going to hurt, bro.
That's the truth.
That's the truth, man.
But it was Evel Knievel forPete's sake.
One of the just amazing thingsthat I always think about with
Evel Knievel was when he said hewas going to do it, he put on
(33:05):
the show for the crowd.
Even if he knew in the back ofhis mind, this was not going to
work.
He never backed down.
He never backed down.
The guy had no fear.
That's wild.
You look at some of this stuff.
Joe P (33:23):
He's what am I going to do, give them their money back?
Danny Koker (33:27):
I know, and you also look at the technology that
he did not have for that era.
Joe P (33:35):
Yeah, that is a street motorcycle.
Danny Koker (33:37):
You look at today and you see the incredible
things that these daredevils areable to accomplish today.
They have technology beyondbelief.
And I'm not taking anything awayfrom them, it's amazing.
But look at what Evel Knieveldid on a street bike with four
inches of travel.
What?
Yeah.
Joe P (33:58):
Send it!
Danny Koker (33:58):
Insane.
Insane.
Some years ago, I was part ofwhen Travis Pastrana came out
here and he did three things.
Did you see that?
Joe P (34:08):
Evel Live.
Danny Koker (34:10):
I was on that with him and he did a lot of the
things.
And he's a wonderful young man,by the way, Travis Pastrana.
What a cool cat.
Again, an amazing daredevil.
Hung out with his mom while hewas doing these things.
Joe P (34:25):
Oh man, poor mom.
Danny Koker (34:26):
God bless her.
Oh man, exactly.
She's just like losing her mind,and what he accomplished was
amazing.
But technology, and he eventried to dial back the
technology as much as he couldto pay respect to Evel.
But still, the technology he hadwas a bit more.
It was a bit more than what Evelhad.
(34:48):
And you look at these things andit's like, you've got to be
kidding me.
Watching this, watching thiswith this guy.
Again, Evel Knievel had no fear.
Even if he knew in the back ofhis mind this was not going to
work.
Joe P (35:02):
So true.
Danny Koker (35:03):
Yeah.
Joe P (35:03):
So heroic.
Danny Koker (35:04):
Yeah.
That's what whiskey's for.
Joe P (35:07):
Wild Turkey.
Danny Koker (35:10):
That's right.
Joe P (35:13):
If somebody came to you and said, just asking your
creative mind.
Danny Koker (35:19):
Okay.
Joe P (35:21):
What would be the ultimate tribute vehicle for
Evel Knievel?
If you were going to build thatin your shop.
Danny Koker (35:29):
That's tough, because like you said, he was a
Cadillac guy.
And I love the fact that heloved the Stutz and things like
that.
But man, when I think of EvelKnievel, I just think of that
old school Harley Davidson.
You can't help it.
The pictures, when I look atthat logo behind you here.
Joe P (35:47):
Yes.
Danny Koker (35:48):
You know what I'm saying?
Joe P (35:49):
XR.
Danny Koker (35:49):
It's just it would For me it would be something
like that, because that's whatwe saw all the time.
That was it.
Joe P (36:00):
Yep.
Agreed.
I love that Patriot bike thatyou did on your show.
Had the Constitution on theback.
That's not Evel Knievel, but itis Stars and Stripes.
Danny Koker (36:09):
I appreciate that.
I'm a flag waving, patriotic,God loving American.
If we can't stand behind theStars and Stripes, go away.
That's how I feel about it.
I'm proud to wave that flagwherever I can.
Amen to that.
Our constitution, our, yeah,absolutely.
(36:30):
Don't get me started.
I'll get, I'll go crazy on that.
Joe P (36:34):
But anyways, that's what we would do for Evel Knievel.
Danny Koker (36:36):
Yeah.
Joe P (36:36):
Take an XR750 Harley Davidson.
Danny Koker (36:39):
Yep.
Joe P (36:39):
And put Stars and Stripes on it.
Danny Koker (36:41):
And I love the fact that Evel was huge on the Stars
and Stripes.
His outfits were extremelypatriotic.
He was America.
He was a slice of Americanaright there.
Joe P (36:51):
Yeah.
When it wasn't popular.
1968, he had his first red,white, and blue.
And he had that made for thatwas the year that he did
Caesar's Palace here in LasVegas.
And motorcycling was differentthen.
Danny Koker (37:06):
There was a taboo to it.
Joe P (37:07):
And he was counter to the counterculture.
Soldiers are coming back fromVietnam, getting spat on, baby
killers.
And he's can you make me a red,white, and blue?
Danny Koker (37:19):
Amen.
Love that about him.
Joe P (37:21):
Yeah, me too.
Danny Koker (37:22):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yep.
Yep.
Joe P (37:26):
Worked out great.
That is a great look.
Danny Koker (37:28):
Without a doubt.
Joe P (37:29):
Lasted 50 years.
Danny Koker (37:30):
Yeah, and again, as an Elvis fan, too, there was a
certain Elvis flair to some ofthem jumpsuits, too, you know
what I'm saying?
It had that vibe to it.
It was really cool.
Yeah.
It was really cool.
Joe P (37:41):
Yeah.
Now that I'm on Evel's side andnot Elvis's, I'm a huge Elvis
Presley fan, too,
Danny Koker (37:47):
Absolutely.
Joe P (37:48):
They can compare belt buckles, right?
They can compare collars.
But only one of them gets tocall it a jumpsuit.
Danny Koker (37:55):
That's a good point.
That's a good point.
Only one of them was jumping.
That's true.
That's great.
That's great.
Joe P (38:03):
Any advice for a young, bootstrapping museum?
Moving to Las Vegas?
Danny Koker (38:11):
I would say be prepared to live with it.
You're going to live with itnight and day.
I can't say that I'm one thatcan give good advice as what to
do, but I'll tell you what I do.
and that is I do my best andnobody is perfect.
Nobody can pull it off, but I domy best to just treat everybody
(38:36):
right.
Try to be honest with everybody.
I try to go the extra mile witheverybody.
I try to make sure that nobodyfeels like they got had when
they do business with me.
That everybody walks awayfeeling good, even if I gotta
take it in the shorts to makesure that customer is happy.
(38:57):
Go over and above.
Do the extra mile.
And don't stop saying yourprayers.
Joe P (39:02):
Yeah.
That's some really great advice.
Danny Koker (39:05):
That's what works, man.
I keep laying that out there,but it's the truth, man.
It's the truth.
Don't stop saying your prayers.
That's what works.
It's the only thing that's real.
So that's what I stand on.
Joe P (39:19):
Thank you, Mr.
Koker.
Danny Koker (39:20):
Brother, thank you for having me.
Joe P (39:21):
I really appreciate you being here.
Danny Koker (39:22):
It's an honor.
Hope and pray and trust andbelieve that this museum will be
so huge and so successful foryou.
I think it is absolutelywonderful.
I love that it is coming to LasVegas.
I love that you're bringing ithere.
You got my support, whatever wecan do.
Let's have some fun with this.
Brother, I'm with you 100%.
Joe P (39:41):
Thank you.
Danny Koker (39:41):
Thank you for having me.
I appreciate you.
Joe P (39:43):
Appreciate you too.
Danny Koker (39:44):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Joe P (39:46):
Okay.
Happy landings.
Heather (39:49):
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe.
It's our mission to preserve andpresent the legacy of Evel
Knievel.
if you have an idea for anepisode or a guest, or have a
suggestion to improve our show,just drop us a line at joe at
thrill dot show.
Evel Knievel (40:09):
I just think the Evel Knievel way.
Heather (40:14):
We leave you with the encouraging words from the book
of Deuteronomy.
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid.
For the Lord your God goes withyou.
He will never leave you orforsake you.
Until next time, happy landings!You like to fly to the seat of
(40:41):
your pants?
This is where you belong.
Talk about an influence, a hero, as a kid
growing up.
Long before there were BMXbikes, we were taking our
Stingrays jumping cinder blockson the street.
Jumping over our friends on thestreet.
No helmets, no anything likethat.
Just doing it.
We're all still here.
Joe P (00:16):
That one unlucky bastard with the shift lever right
there.
Danny Koker (00:20):
With the shift lever, absolutely.
Forget that.
I know.
That's going to hurt, bro.
That's the truth, man.
But it was Evel Knievel forPete's sake.
Heather (00:30):
Evel Knievel inspired millions of us with his courage
and perseverance.
We're building a museum so youcan relive those memories and be
reinvigorated with that spiritof bravery.
Evel Knievel (00:43):
My name is Evel Knievel.
I'm a professional daredevil.
Heather (00:47):
Along the way, we meet people involved in the life, the
times, and the legacy of theKing of daredevils.
Here with their stories is yourhost, Joe Friday.
Joe P (00:58):
Hey howdy, it's Joe Friday and I'm here with Danny
Koker, our new neighbor.
Danny Koker (01:02):
that's right.
How you doing, Joe?
Joe P (01:04):
Good! We're moving the Evel Knievel Museum to Las
Vegas.
Danny Koker (01:08):
That's awesome.
Joe P (01:08):
Trying to figure out why it was never here before.
Danny Koker (01:11):
It should be here.
Vegas is a destination city.
Everybody from the world comeshere so everybody from the world
needs to be here and see what'sgoing on.
Joe P (01:19):
Yep, 45 million visitors per year.
Danny Koker (01:22):
huh.
Joe P (01:23):
So that's about a million per week.
Danny Koker (01:27):
Yeah, and the world knows Evel Knievel.
So Vegas attracts the entireworld, so they need to be coming
here and seeing what you gotgoing.
Joe P (01:37):
That's true.
And you know Vegas.
Danny Koker (01:40):
Yeah.
Joe P (01:40):
and you know Evel Knievel.
Danny Koker (01:42):
I did.
I did.
I was very blessed to meet him.
I can't say that I was friendsor knew him, but I was very
blessed to meet him and talk tohim and be around him, things
like that, for a little while.
He was larger than life.
Joe P (01:59):
Was he in Vegas?
Danny Koker (02:00):
Yeah.
I met him when New York New Yorkopened and he was part of the
big grand opening of the NewYork New York.
And you know how they have thatBrooklyn Bridge replica there in
front of the place.
We were invited down when myselfand a bunch of guys that I ride
with.
They wanted motorcycles outthere.
(02:20):
And I'm guessing there must havebeen 20 or 25 of us that we used
to get together and ride all thetime.
We all bombed it down there onour bikes, on our Harleys, and
lined up on the bridge.
And that's where I met EvelKnievel.
He came out and hung out with usfor a while.
what a cool cat.
Joe P (02:40):
Huh.
Danny Koker (02:41):
yeah.
Joe P (02:42):
Fun fact.
I designed and made the doorpulls for the New York Casino.
Danny Koker (02:46):
Really?
Joe P (02:47):
They look like little Statue of Liberty's torches.
Danny Koker (02:49):
Yeah.
Joe P (02:49):
Yeah.
Danny Koker (02:50):
Nice.
Very cool.
Very cool.
Joe P (02:53):
That's my contribution.
Danny Koker (02:54):
Were you there when they did the grand opening?
Joe P (02:55):
So far in Las Vegas.
No.
Danny Koker (02:56):
Oh, it's too bad.
Joe P (02:57):
No.
Danny Koker (02:58):
Too bad.
Joe P (02:58):
I wasn't a huge Vegas fan at the time.
Yeah.
because of gambling, ugh.
Danny Koker (03:02):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Joe P (03:03):
But Vegas has changed a lot.
I'm not saying there's lessgambling.
But dude, there is so much moreto do in Las Vegas.
Danny Koker (03:09):
Yeah, I've lived here a couple of times in Vegas.
First time I moved here was in'78.
Yeah.
And I was here from'78 to'82.
And, I absolutely loved that eraof Vegas.
It was openly run by the mob.
There was zero crime in thistown.
(03:31):
Nobody screwed around, or elseyou got 86'd, And that was 80
miles out and 6 feet down iswhere that came from.
So that's why nobody screwedaround.
There was no crime.
There was no crime.
And then, as the city grew andwe decided to clean up Las
Vegas.
They chased the mob out, so tospeak, all the crime came in.
(03:51):
back in those days, it was Ireally loved that era, that end
of the'70s, early'80s era.
And then I left for a while andI've been back here since'89.
And I've really seen this citygrow immensely.
And like you were saying,gambling was the only industry
at one time, but now, the waythe city has grown so much,
(04:15):
there's a lot of industry goingon here, so it's not just
gambling.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And we're in the museum businesswhere I come from, that's the
Evel Knievel Museum, which isawesome.
Yeah.
Joe P (04:25):
And then these other attractions that look to me to
be successful.
I haven't done a lot of marketresearch, but Zak Bagans'
Haunted Museum is shocking.
Made me pee my pants.
Danny Koker (04:36):
What is it?
Joe P (04:36):
Zak Bagans Haunted Museum.
Danny Koker (04:38):
Oh, I've heard of it.
Joe P (04:39):
You've seen ads for it.
Danny Koker (04:39):
I've heard of it.
Yep, haven't been there.
Joe P (04:41):
And then the Mob Museum.
Danny Koker (04:42):
Yep.
Joe P (04:42):
It's gotta be the number one attraction in Las Vegas.
And then ours is going to beawesome.
Danny Koker (04:48):
Yeah.
But you've got one, and I waswondering, what made you open up
your collection, and show thatto the public?
It's like this.
I'm a huge car collector.
So as well as buildingmotorcycles and building cars
and all the other crazy thingsI'm involved in, I collect as
well.
And so that particular sectionof my shop, I just turned it
(05:12):
into a museum.
I turned it into a giantshowroom.
And I've got, man, I'm guessing30 some odd interesting vehicles
inside there.
And, it's just my way of givingback.
I've been on television foryears, building cars and doing
things like that.
People have really enjoyed whatwe do.
(05:33):
And so being in a destinationcity, everybody comes to Vegas
and they want to see what yougot going on.
So I just open my doors and letpeople come in and wander
around.
and just come check it out.
My business is running behindthe scenes.
So if people, come in and theywant to just wander around and
check out the place, I'm happyabout that.
(05:54):
Buy a t shirt on the way out.
That's how I feel about it.
Joe P (05:56):
Okay.
That's how you're making themoney.
Danny Koker (05:59):
Absolutely.
Buy a t shirt on the way out.
Come in for free and buysomething when you leave.
Joe P (06:03):
I just loved it.
The Superfly Cadillac was myfavorite.
Danny Koker (06:08):
That's a personal favorite.
I love that.
Okay, a little backstory on theSuperfly Cadillac.
I was born just south ofCleveland, Akron, Ohio.
And I've got relatives all overOhio, but most of my family is
out of Detroit.
So I spent most, a large part ofmy youth growing up between
(06:29):
Akron and Detroit.
And Detroit, huge influence onmy life, style wise, music wise,
everything wise.
I just, I love that city likecrazy.
And so the first time I ever sawa Superfly Cadillac was in the
'70s on Woodward Avenue backwhen they were new.
And it was like, look at that.
(06:51):
That is insane.
And it made a huge impression.
What's Woodward Avenue?
Woodward Avenue was, is still tothis day one of the most
important roads for automotiveenthusiasts on the planet.
It's several miles, rightthrough Detroit and four lanes
each side, both ways.
And that's, back in the day,everybody used to cruise
(07:13):
Woodward Avenue.
And now they do the WoodwardDream Cruise in Detroit every
year, which is now, it's beenturned into a car show, a big
automotive event.
But it comes by it honestly,where Woodward Avenue was the
place to be cruising back in theday.
And even the big automotivemanufacturers, Ford and GM
(07:33):
Chrysler, whatever, they wouldsometimes sneak prototype
vehicles on Woodward Avenue backin the day and get people's
feedback and stuff.
So you see what they thoughtabout it.
So that's the first time I eversaw a Superfly Cadillac and it
just always left an impressionon me.
And then, my love for that cityand the vibe and the style.
it's gotta be, it's gotta be 10years ago or so now.
(07:58):
I found this superfly Cadillacand it was in, I believe it was
in Pennsylvania.
A broker had it and it wasrepresented as absolutely
beautiful, blah, blah, blah.
And, never buy anything sightunseen.
I tell people this all the time,but I'm also.
a nut job when I get passionateabout things.
(08:18):
And so I got all kinds ofpictures of the car and I bought
it sight unseen.
And I had it shipped to me herein Vegas.
And while it was 100 percentcorrect and complete and there,
it needed full restoration.
I was like, huh.
So I took the car apart.
Yep.
Took the whole car apart.
Completely restored it proper,the way it should be.
(08:41):
And that's the car you see.
Les Dunham, who is in Jersey, heis the owner and founder of
Dunham Coachworks.
He is the cat that built theSuperfly Cadillacs back in the
day.
And Les is still around.
I got his complete approval onthe car.
He loves it and he rememberedthat car because it had some
really special stuff on it.
And so it's been
Joe P (09:02):
He remembered that car?
Danny Koker (09:03):
Yeah, he remembered that car because it was, it's a
convertible.
It's a'71 Eldo convertible, butnot only did a custom fiberglass
tunnel when the top is down,that covers the back.
But he did a, like a Roadstersetup where it covered the
complete backseat like theBatmobile type of humps.
So you can make it like a twoseater if you want to.
And it's all there.
It's all there and completelyrestored.
He totally remembered a car andhe gave me his stamp of approval
(09:26):
on the restoration of this.
That's a really important car tome.
Joe P (09:29):
I'll bet
Danny Koker (09:30):
I love that car.
Yeah, it speaks to my soul.
Joe P (09:32):
Knievel loved the Cadillacs, too.
Danny Koker (09:34):
Big time.
I got another car that Knievelhad.
He had one.
Say what?
Stutz Blackhawk.
Remember when Knievel
Joe P (09:40):
You've got his?
Danny Koker (09:40):
No, I don't have his, but I have one.
I have a Stutz Blackhawk.
Elvis had six of them.
Sammy Davis had one.
Robert Goulet had one.
Dean Martin had one.
Lucille Ball had one.
Evel Knievel had one.
Joe P (09:55):
The Stutz.
Danny Koker (09:56):
And I scored a'74 Stutz Blackhawk and I absolutely
love that car.
Joe P (10:01):
Is that in your showroom?
Danny Koker (10:02):
It is actually, it's actually in my private
building.
Joe P (10:06):
Oh.
Danny Koker (10:06):
because I drive her.
I get her out and I drive heronce in a while.
if I see a Stutz on the road inLas Vegas, I'll know who it is.
They're rare.
It's the only one probablyrunning around town right now,
Joe P (10:18):
You've got a flower car, Cadillac at your place.
Danny Koker (10:21):
I do.
Joe P (10:21):
That's a lot like Evel Knievel's red Cadillac pickup
truck that he would load twomotorcycles in.
Danny Koker (10:27):
Yeah.
I did the same thing with mine.
I made it to put a motorcyclerack on the back so I can put
one of my choppers on the backof it.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I got a screw loose, it's morefun that way.
Joe P (10:41):
What's your favorite restoration?
Do you have one?
Danny Koker (10:45):
It's tough because we've done so many.
I can tell you one that speaksto my heart.
I can tell you a couple if yougot time.
One that really speaks to myheart was Barry White's widow,
Glodean White, who is abeautiful soul.
I just absolutely love her.
We met over the years.
(11:05):
Barry's no longer with us, buthe had, speaking of Stutz,
there's another guy, he had aStutz IV-Porte, which is similar
to the Blackhawk, but it was afour door version.
Came out later.
He had one that was his dailydriver, and they had a place in
Vegas, and that was a car thathe kept in Vegas.
when Barry passed, he had willedthat car to a gentleman that
(11:31):
kind of looked over his estateand looked over his stuff.
So that car went to thatgentleman.
And that gentleman ran into someproblems in his life, stepped
off the curb or whatever.
And over the years, sold the carsomewhere.
And Glodean and the family hadlost track of where he went, or
(11:54):
where the car went.
It was just MIA.
One day Glodean is, she's at myshop with me, because she rides.
She's a motorcycle gal.
She rides Harleys.
She's totally cool.
I've worked on her stuff at theshop.
She's awesome.
We were just chit chatting, andI knew the car from back in the
day, and asked her whateverhappened
Joe P (12:16):
yeah.
Danny Koker (12:16):
to Barry's Stutz?
So she told me this story, andshe's like As far as I know,
it's somewhere in Las Vegas, Iwould do anything to find that
car." Let me tell you, God is inhis heaven and he watches over
his kids.
That's the truth.
One day, I am literally drivingaround neighborhoods in Vegas.
(12:38):
Just shopping.
I do that.
I like to look for interestingthings.
Joe P (12:41):
I've seen you stalking.
Danny Koker (12:43):
Exactly.
Some people think of it thatway.
And I cruise through this oneneighborhood and I miss a turn.
And I'm like, ah! So I go downthe road a little bit further to
make a U turn.
As I go down the road a littlebit further, in a driveway at
this little house is a Stutz IVPorte the paint faded to pieces.
(13:07):
Four flat tires.
Thing is spider webbed to theground.
Doesn't look like it's moved ina hundred years.
And I look at that car and I'mlike,"That's Barry's Stutz,"
because I knew the car from backin the day.
That's gotta be his.
I go to the door.
I'm knocking on the door.
There's nobody home.
I leave a note.
(13:27):
If you're interested in sellingthis car, please call me.
This lady, so kind, it took hera day.
My phone is ringing, and it'sher.
And she says,"Did you leave anote on my house?" Absolutely.
She says, Yeah, I want to getrid of this car." Oh my gosh,
she hated it.
Her husband bought it from thisgentleman who had the car.
(13:49):
Her husband passed.
This thing was an eyesore toher.
It was her and her daughter andshe's I just want to get rid of
it.
I just get this thing out of mydriveway.
I'm like,"Look, I'm going to behonest with you, okay?" because
I'm, that's who I am.
I'm honest that way.
Again, God is in his heaven andhe's watching over his kids, so
(14:10):
I'm not going to, I'm not goingto treat somebody wrong.
I told her straight up, I said,"You gotta know whose car that
was."
Joe P (14:15):
huh.
Danny Koker (14:16):
"And I wanna buy it and get it back to the family,
so I don't want you to say thatI bought this thing from you and
didn't tell you the truth aboutit." So she appreciated me being
honest with her that it wasBarry's car back in the day.
And, but she was like,"Come getit." We decided on a number, I
(14:37):
bought the car, I calledGlodean, because Glodean was
living in California.
And I'm like,"Guess what?" Shesaid,"What?" I said,"I got your
husband's car." She said,"What?
"No way.""Absolutely." So wecheck all the VIN.
We check all the paperwork.
It's confirmed Barry's car.
I restored it for Glodean.
Restored it for the family.
What a challenging car torestore.
(14:58):
Nobody makes parts for a StutzIV Porte or a Stutz Blackhawk or
anything like that.
So it was a big challenge.
Joe P (15:05):
Do you make parts?
Danny Koker (15:06):
We'll make things.
if it doesn't exist, we'll makeit.
Got a full fab shop.
No problem.
So restored that car for thefamily.
I got it back to Glodean.
Got it back to her family.
She is absolutely thrilled.
Her daughter got married.
They used the car in theirdaughter's wedding.
It was such a part of Barry'slife that now it's back in the
(15:29):
family and it's part of theirlife.
And that is a long answer to ashort question of an important
restoration for me.
Was getting Barry White's Stutzback to the family and restoring
that.
Joe P (15:43):
yeah, yeah.
Danny Koker (15:44):
That was a cool one.
And another one that Iabsolutely loved was I did a'67
Corvette restomod for Four StarGeneral Peter Pace.
Joint Chief of Staff.
Chairman, Four Star General, thewhole bit.
Joe P (15:57):
Yes.
Danny Koker (15:57):
Met this cat at a really exclusively cool event.
And it was like his dream car.
That was a really important onefor me too as well.
Joe P (16:05):
One that features prominently in your showroom is
the Mustang that you worked onwith Dad.
Danny Koker (16:09):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Joe P (16:10):
That's gotta mean a lot.
Danny Koker (16:12):
I make tasteless jokes with the boys.
If there's ever a fire in thebuilding, get that out first.
And then go back in and getwhatever else you can.
That car, Dad brought that carhome when I was nine years old.
That car.
he, Dad was a musician.
Didn't have two nickels to rubtogether.
Did everything he could to getthat car.
And he purchased that car andbrought it home when I was nine
(16:34):
years old.
And that thing used to sit inthe garage.
He'd drive it once in a while.
And I remember being a kid.
Going out in the garage at nightand just sitting in it or
looking under the hood, orcrawling under it, or whatever.
That car was such a hugeinfluence on my life and I feel
so blessed that he got to hangon to that vehicle, and now it's
still with me.
(16:55):
That's probably the mostimportant thing that I own
because it was Dad's.
Joe P (17:00):
It's gorgeous.
Thank you.
I didn't realize that you didn'thave to buy that back.
Danny Koker (17:04):
Yeah.
Joe P (17:04):
It's nice.
Danny Koker (17:05):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That car stayed in the familythe whole time.
The whole time.
It's literally been with me for50 years.
Joe P (17:13):
And that was in Detroit?
Danny Koker (17:15):
That was actually in Ohio.
Joe P (17:16):
Oh, yeah.
Danny Koker (17:17):
Dad was born and raised in Detroit.
That's great.
His part of the family was inDetroit, but the house where
that car was in Ohio.
Joe P (17:24):
What brought you to Las Vegas?
Danny Koker (17:26):
Business.
My father and I.
Dad was the biggest influence onmy life.
He was a musician, brought me upin music, and then he got
involved in television andproduction and things like that.
And then he landed the licenseto put on Channel 33 here in Las
Vegas back in 1989.
I was living in South Florida atthe time and I had a production
(17:50):
company down there.
It was a small productioncompany.
Edit bay, back in the day.
So I had three Ikegami camerasand in a nice edit bay.
And I was doing my thing.
And he was like,"I'm going toput this TV station on in Vegas.
You want in?" And I said, Yeah.
folded up shop
Joe P (18:07):
yes.
Danny Koker (18:08):
in Florida.
I came out here.
And I thought I was just goingto be out here long enough to
help put on a TV station, butthat was since 1989.
Joe P (18:18):
Where did the car restoration come in?
Danny Koker (18:20):
My whole life.
My hobby.
It's been a hobby my whole life.
Most of my family worked forFord Motor Company out of
Detroit growing up.
No kidding, they worked rightthere in the factory on the
assembly line, working it, doingit.
I've got aunts that worked whenthe factory converted during
World War II, when the factoryconverted to making airplane
(18:41):
wings and the materials andthings like that.
My aunts were on the line doingthat.
My father for a period of timewas on the assembly line,
checking engine blocks, theinspection, the old chalk mark
inspections on the engineblocks, when checking for leaks,
things like that.
Dad worked there.
My uncle Peter was an executiveat Ford Motor Company back in
(19:02):
the day as well.
I grew up in cars.
My uncle Milford was a biker socars and bikes, I literally grew
up with them.
It's been a part of my life asfar as I can remember.
Whatever I may have been doingfor a job, or an occupation, or
an income at the time, therewere always cars and bikes.
(19:25):
Always cars and bikes in mylife.
When I lived in Florida, I had asmall, I had an edit bay,
because I was camera, director,audio, all that kind of stuff.
That was how I paid the bills.
But the back half of thatbuilding, I probably had eight
or nine cars.
And was tinkering around withstuff.
(19:45):
Always in my life.
fast forward moving to Vegas.
came out here, put on the TVstation, shipped my cars, my
makeshift shop.
I had a hobby shop, basically ina small warehouse.
Had a hobby shop, and I wasbuilding cars and motorcycles
behind the scenes.
Then there was a small group ofus, a handful of us guys, that
would get together.
(20:06):
We would wrench on bikes andwrench on cars or whatever.
We could go out and play on theweekends or night time or
whatever like that.
And it got to the point wherepeople were asking,"Hey, where'd
you get that?" I would be ridinga chopper down the road.
"Where'd you get that?""I wantone of those.""That's really
cool." It just got to the pointof maybe this hobby shop, maybe
(20:28):
we should get a license andinsurance and open a business.
So that's what happened.
And a handful of us startedCount's Kustoms.
The reason it was Count'sKustoms was, I don't know if you
know anything about this, butwhen we put on the TV station,
Channel 33, I used to host alate night horror show.
(20:48):
I was a vampire here in LasVegas for ten years.
That's the truth.
It's crazy.
I hosted a late night horrorshow every Saturday night here
in Las Vegas called SaturdayFright at the Movies.
With your host, Count CoolRider, which was long for C.C.
Rider.
The whole object of the game wasthis vampire was the world's
biggest unliving Elvis fan inLas Vegas.
(21:13):
the character that I played wasa vampire that loved Elvis.
Yeah.
Living in Vegas.
Hosting horror films, having oncrazy guests.
This show ran for 10 years herein Las Vegas.
Joe P (21:23):
How big of an Elvis fan?
wearing a jumpsuit, or?
Danny Koker (21:27):
No.
It was very much a vampire getup, but with the sideburns and
all that kind of stuff.
A lot of Elvis vibe in thecastle set and everything like
that.
And that's honest.
I love Elvis.
I love the king.
All this time that this show wason in Vegas: Saturday, Friday at
(21:51):
the movies with Count CoolRider, behind the scenes, I was
doing this cars and bikes.
So when we decided to open thatplace as a real business,
everybody in town knew theCount.
So what do we call it?
Let's call it Count's Kustomsbecause everybody knows the
Count.
I didn't know that eventuallyCount's Kustoms was going to be
(22:14):
on a television show around theworld.
So now, everybody around theworld is like, Why is it called
Count's Kustoms?
It's because of this crazyvampire hosting horror films in
Vegas for 10 years.
That's where that came from.
I know man, it's kooky.
That is so great.
I've lived 14 lives already.
It's nuts.
I don't know.
(22:35):
I need an intervention in mylife.
Joe P (22:38):
And your bar is Vamp's.
Danny Koker (22:39):
Yeah, Count's Vamped.
Yeah, V-A-M-P-E-D, Count'sVamped on West Sahara.
Old school rock and roll club.
That's what it is, man.
It's a rock bar, rock club, livemusic, restaurant, bar.
Insane.
We support the local rock sceneand then we host national bands
(23:02):
that come through because it'sset up for it.
It's a real stage, real front ofhouse, real lights, real
everything.
We can have big rock shows inthere.
Joe P (23:12):
We can commiserate then.
But I'm just starting myconstruction project.
Danny Koker (23:16):
Yeah.
Joe P (23:17):
Dealing with the city, so
Danny Koker (23:19):
Good luck.
Joe P (23:19):
be patient with me.
Danny Koker (23:20):
It's a challenge, it really is, especially when
you're opening something uniqueand different.
This is not the norm.
So when it's not the norm, likewhen I was doing the rock club
up there, or even my shop,Counts Kustoms, open to the
public to walk around, cityinspectors and rules and
regulations and things thatdon't fall under the norm, it's
(23:47):
challenging to get everybody tounderstand what you're trying to
do.
Yeah, We've got like virtualreality rides.
yeah.
Joe P (23:55):
Sit on this motorcycle and you can experience what it's
like to jump over 17 policecars.
Danny Koker (24:03):
Those are challenges like that.
Yeah.
sure.
Joe P (24:05):
So rewarding.
Danny Koker (24:07):
It is.
It is.
When you get it done, it's sounique.
It's so one of a kind.
It's so different.
That's what makes it special.
Joe P (24:15):
Yeah.
So we're starting our process.
We're going to bring that to theArts District in between The
Strip and Fremont.
Danny Koker (24:22):
Wonderful.
Joe P (24:23):
Yeah, it'll be great.
Danny Koker (24:24):
Wonderful.
I do absolutely love our city.
I love our Mayor, CarolynGoodman.
God bless her.
She is absolutely amazing.
She has been so wonderful andhelpful to myself and my
businesses in overcoming some ofthese challenges and things like
that, opening up a rock and rollclub there in West Sahara.
She completely helped me outwith all that stuff.
(24:45):
She's just an amazing humanbeing.
And she's old school.
Her husband, Oscar, old school.
She's old school.
They're awesome people.
I can't say enough nice thingsabout them.
I hope the next one's just asgood.
Yeah, I know.
because yeah, she's not allowedto run anymore.
That's it.
She's done her term.
Joe P (25:05):
I do have to give a shout out right now to The Space who
loaned us their podcast booth.
We are building one into themuseum.
That's going to be kick ass.
It's going to be in one of EvelKnievel's old trailers, but the
Space has opened up theirpodcast facilities for us to use
in the meantime.
It's beautiful.
We really appreciate it.
Not only are you customizingcars and starring on television
as a vampire and running a bar.
Danny Koker (25:29):
Yeah.
I don't do the vampire thinganymore.
Yeah Yeah But tell me aboutMusic Mob.
Okay, I grew up in music.
Dad was a musician, brought meup in music.
I'm an old school gospel singer.
I grew up singing gospel back inthe day, and amen to that, but
I'm also a hardcore rock androller.
And I front my own band.
(25:49):
It's a band called Count 77.
We're a hard rock band.
We're signed with ShrapnelRecords.
We got two original records out.
We're working on a third recordright now.
As a matter of fact, I'm in thestudio doing a single right now.
One of my dear friends is JeffBlando.
Jeff Blando, who actually wasinstrumental in helping me put
(26:10):
together Vamped.
He was the key person in thesound and the lights up there.
He's an amazing musician, buthe's also a behind the scenes
production guy when it comes tostage, sound, and lights.
He's phenomenal.
Blando and I are like brothers.
He's the lead guitar player forSlaughter.
He's the lead guitar player forVince Neil.
(26:33):
and he does a lot of otherthings.
And he's a wonderful humanbeing.
Joe P (26:37):
Slaughter's a name from the past.
Danny Koker (26:38):
I know.
Joe P (26:38):
Are they still around?
Danny Koker (26:39):
Oh, yeah.
Oh, big time.
Slaughter's touring right now.
They're packing out shows.
It's great.
Mark's voice is on fire.
They're doing wonderful.
On the side, Blando has this gigcalled Music Mob.
It's a trio (26:53):
Guitar, bass, drums.
And then he brings in specialguests.
So I sit in with Music Mob ondifferent shows.
He brings different guests allthe time to do all these great
rock shows.
We were just talking about thisplace the other day.
Joe P (27:14):
And who's Sebastian?
Danny Koker (27:15):
Sebastian Bach?
Joe P (27:16):
Yes.
Danny Koker (27:17):
Do you know Sebastian?
Joe P (27:17):
I don't know.
Danny Koker (27:18):
Okay, Sebastian Bach.
He is a good friend.
He is the, he's Skid Row.
Remember the band Skid Row?
Joe P (27:27):
Yeah, I sure do.
Danny Koker (27:27):
Okay, alright.
Sebastian Bach, lead singer SkidRow.
Now they have gone theirseparate ways.
and Sebastian does a ton of solostuff now.
And he's moved to Vegas.
Sebastian's been in Vegas, it'sgotta be a couple of years now.
And lives a raging 37 secondsfrom my club, from Vamped.
(27:50):
And we hang out all the time.
And he is an amazing, amazingsinger, amazing frontman.
and a really fun guy.
A really fun, crazy guy.
If you hang out with Sebastianfor any period of time, your
face is going to hurt fromlaughing.
So he's a cool cat.
Yeah, there's a lot of greatrockers here in Vegas.
(28:14):
Phil Soussan is another oneright up there by the club.
He's an amazing bass player,played with Ozzy.
He wrote"Shot in the Dark." Wasin Ozzy's band.
Was with Billy Idol.
All kinds of stuff.
He lives right up the street,too.
There's a whole community there.
It's pretty cool.
Paul Shortino, man, another one.
(28:36):
Duke Fame from what in the worldwas that comedy rock movie from
back in the day?
Joe P (28:47):
Spinal Tap.
Danny Koker (28:47):
Thank you.
Duke Fame in Spinal Tap.
Their idol, when the bandidolized this rocker, Duke Fame,
Joe P (28:54):
yes.
Danny Koker (28:54):
that's Paul Shortino.
Paul lives right up the streetas well.
He's a wonderful guy.
There's a lot of great rockershere in town.
Joe P (29:03):
I'm in good company then.
Danny Koker (29:04):
Amen, brother.
Joe P (29:04):
Old punk rocker.
Danny Koker (29:05):
Yeah.
Alright.
It's
Joe P (29:07):
not the focus of our museum, but someday, in the very
distant future, we're going tohave a grand opening.
Danny Koker (29:14):
Not too distant future.
You got this.
This is going to be awesome.
This is going to be awesome.
Joe P (29:20):
It'd be fun to get with those guys.
I hate to call them right now.
because I'm like, Hey, what areyou doing in 2028?
Danny Koker (29:29):
I love it.
Like I said, Blando and I, wewere talking about it.
And he's like You just let themknow when it's grand opening
time, we'll put together a show.
Put together a big kickoff show.
It'll be a ball.
because we all love Evel Knievelbig time.
Joe P (29:46):
Dude
Danny Koker (29:47):
yeah
Joe P (29:47):
Me too.
Danny Koker (29:47):
Yeah.
Joe P (29:48):
I wasn't expecting to.
I was just volunteering at thismuseum that opened up.
Lathan is a huge, wonderfulcollector and he had some
artifacts that he had collected.
He decided he was going to makeit his mission to collect Evel
Knievel's stuff.
Kind of lost to the winds in1977.
So Lathan started collectinghelmets, capes, leathers, canes.
(30:12):
and put together a littletraveling museum that would go
maybe to Butte or to the carshows.
Danny Koker (30:19):
Yeah.
Joe P (30:20):
Things like that.
Came across this big red truck,big red Mack truck, Circus
Wagon.
If this Evel Knievel CircusWagon pulls into your town,
you're in for a really goodtime.
But it was dilapidated.
My friend had restored a HarleyDavidson for the killer in
Memphis.
Danny Koker (30:37):
Yeah.
Joe P (30:39):
Jerry Lee Lewis.
Danny Koker (30:39):
Yeah.
Joe P (30:40):
And they had a mutual friend and referred Lathan to
Mike and Mike restored this Macktruck.
He's a Harley dealer.
Danny Koker (30:48):
Yeah
Joe P (30:48):
He'll work on any Harley no matter what year it is.
Danny Koker (30:50):
Yeah,
Joe P (30:51):
1910 or
Danny Koker (30:52):
yep
Joe P (30:53):
1980, he works on it.
Most dealers won't do that.
But to take on a Mack Truck was,you know, that's a challenge.
And then once it's done what doyou're traveling museum is over
with, right?
You're not going to take thatthing on the road, right?
So Mike and Lathan, together,they founded the museum there in
Topeka, Kansas.
So it was all a little bit byaccident or luck.
Danny Koker (31:15):
Yeah.
Joe P (31:16):
But to be intentional it would be in Las Vegas.
Danny Koker (31:18):
Yeah, man.
This is a great spot for it.
Joe P (31:21):
Yeah.
Danny Koker (31:22):
Absolutely.
Joe P (31:23):
But yeah, in 1977 it was lost and he lost everything or
most things and including hisfame.
Just went away.
It wasn't in the Enquirer everymonth or year.
Danny Koker (31:38):
Sure.
Joe P (31:38):
He just disappeared.
Danny Koker (31:39):
Yeah.
Joe P (31:40):
I forgot about him and volunteered at the museum and
then just fell in love with hisstory of courage and inspiration
and the things that he brings tous.
Guys our age coming to themuseum and the wife thinks
they're doing the world's bestpresent.
"This is his birthday."
Danny Koker (31:59):
Yeah.
Joe P (31:59):
I brought, look what I brought
Yeah.
And it truly is a gift becausethey walk in and it's not like
they mist up or get emotionalright away, but Oh my God, he's
10 years old again.
Danny Koker (32:11):
Yeah.
Joe P (32:12):
Look at him.
He's shrinking.
His freckles are coming back.
Danny Koker (32:14):
It's the truth.
Joe P (32:15):
It's so great.
Danny Koker (32:16):
It is.
We grew up with this.
Talk about an influence, a hero,as a kid growing up.
It's huge.
It's huge.
Long before there were BMXbikes, we were taking our
Stingrays and jumping cinderblocks on the street.
Jumping over our friends on thestreet.
No helmets, no anything likethat.
(32:37):
Just doing it.
We're all still here.
Joe P (32:39):
That one unlucky bastard with the shift lever right
there.
Danny Koker (32:43):
With the shift lever, absolutely.
Forget that.
I know.
That's going to hurt, bro.
That's the truth.
That's the truth, man.
But it was Evel Knievel forPete's sake.
One of the just amazing thingsthat I always think about with
Evel Knievel was when he said hewas going to do it, he put on
(33:05):
the show for the crowd.
Even if he knew in the back ofhis mind, this was not going to
work.
He never backed down.
He never backed down.
The guy had no fear.
That's wild.
You look at some of this stuff.
Joe P (33:23):
He's what am I going to do, give them their money back?
Danny Koker (33:27):
I know, and you also look at the technology that
he did not have for that era.
Joe P (33:35):
Yeah, that is a street motorcycle.
Danny Koker (33:37):
You look at today and you see the incredible
things that these daredevils areable to accomplish today.
They have technology beyondbelief.
And I'm not taking anything awayfrom them, it's amazing.
But look at what Evel Knieveldid on a street bike with four
inches of travel.
What?
Yeah.
Joe P (33:58):
Send it!
Danny Koker (33:58):
Insane.
Insane.
Some years ago, I was part ofwhen Travis Pastrana came out
here and he did three things.
Did you see that?
Joe P (34:08):
Evel Live.
Danny Koker (34:10):
I was on that with him and he did a lot of the
things.
And he's a wonderful young man,by the way, Travis Pastrana.
What a cool cat.
Again, an amazing daredevil.
Hung out with his mom while hewas doing these things.
Joe P (34:25):
Oh man, poor mom.
Danny Koker (34:26):
God bless her.
Oh man, exactly.
She's just like losing her mind,and what he accomplished was
amazing.
But technology, and he eventried to dial back the
technology as much as he couldto pay respect to Evel.
But still, the technology he hadwas a bit more.
It was a bit more than what Evelhad.
(34:48):
And you look at these things andit's like, you've got to be
kidding me.
Watching this, watching thiswith this guy.
Again, Evel Knievel had no fear.
Even if he knew in the back ofhis mind this was not going to
work.
Joe P (35:02):
So true.
Danny Koker (35:03):
Yeah.
Joe P (35:03):
So heroic.
Danny Koker (35:04):
Yeah.
That's what whiskey's for.
Joe P (35:07):
Wild Turkey.
Danny Koker (35:10):
That's right.
Joe P (35:13):
If somebody came to you and said, just asking your
creative mind.
Danny Koker (35:19):
Okay.
Joe P (35:21):
What would be the ultimate tribute vehicle for
Evel Knievel?
If you were going to build thatin your shop.
Danny Koker (35:29):
That's tough, because like you said, he was a
Cadillac guy.
And I love the fact that heloved the Stutz and things like
that.
But man, when I think of EvelKnievel, I just think of that
old school Harley Davidson.
You can't help it.
The pictures, when I look atthat logo behind you here.
Joe P (35:47):
Yes.
Danny Koker (35:48):
You know what I'm saying?
Joe P (35:49):
XR.
Danny Koker (35:49):
It's just it would For me it would be something
like that, because that's whatwe saw all the time.
That was it.
Joe P (36:00):
Yep.
Agreed.
I love that Patriot bike thatyou did on your show.
Had the Constitution on theback.
That's not Evel Knievel, but itis Stars and Stripes.
Danny Koker (36:09):
I appreciate that.
I'm a flag waving, patriotic,God loving American.
If we can't stand behind theStars and Stripes, go away.
That's how I feel about it.
I'm proud to wave that flagwherever I can.
Amen to that.
Our constitution, our, yeah,absolutely.
(36:30):
Don't get me started.
I'll get, I'll go crazy on that.
Joe P (36:34):
But anyways, that's what we would do for Evel Knievel.
Danny Koker (36:36):
Yeah.
Joe P (36:36):
Take an XR750 Harley Davidson.
Danny Koker (36:39):
Yep.
Joe P (36:39):
And put Stars and Stripes on it.
Danny Koker (36:41):
And I love the fact that Evel was huge on the Stars
and Stripes.
His outfits were extremelypatriotic.
He was America.
He was a slice of Americanaright there.
Joe P (36:51):
Yeah.
When it wasn't popular.
1968, he had his first red,white, and blue.
And he had that made for thatwas the year that he did
Caesar's Palace here in LasVegas.
And motorcycling was differentthen.
Danny Koker (37:06):
There was a taboo to it.
Joe P (37:07):
And he was counter to the counterculture.
Soldiers are coming back fromVietnam, getting spat on, baby
killers.
And he's can you make me a red,white, and blue?
Danny Koker (37:19):
Amen.
Love that about him.
Joe P (37:21):
Yeah, me too.
Danny Koker (37:22):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yep.
Yep.
Joe P (37:26):
Worked out great.
That is a great look.
Danny Koker (37:28):
Without a doubt.
Joe P (37:29):
Lasted 50 years.
Danny Koker (37:30):
Yeah, and again, as an Elvis fan, too, there was a
certain Elvis flair to some ofthem jumpsuits, too, you know
what I'm saying?
It had that vibe to it.
It was really cool.
Yeah.
It was really cool.
Joe P (37:41):
Yeah.
Now that I'm on Evel's side andnot Elvis's, I'm a huge Elvis
Presley fan, too,
Danny Koker (37:47):
Absolutely.
Joe P (37:48):
They can compare belt buckles, right?
They can compare collars.
But only one of them gets tocall it a jumpsuit.
Danny Koker (37:55):
That's a good point.
That's a good point.
Only one of them was jumping.
That's true.
That's great.
That's great.
Joe P (38:03):
Any advice for a young, bootstrapping museum?
Moving to Las Vegas?
Danny Koker (38:11):
I would say be prepared to live with it.
You're going to live with itnight and day.
I can't say that I'm one thatcan give good advice as what to
do, but I'll tell you what I do.
and that is I do my best andnobody is perfect.
Nobody can pull it off, but I domy best to just treat everybody
(38:36):
right.
Try to be honest with everybody.
I try to go the extra mile witheverybody.
I try to make sure that nobodyfeels like they got had when
they do business with me.
That everybody walks awayfeeling good, even if I gotta
take it in the shorts to makesure that customer is happy.
(38:57):
Go over and above.
Do the extra mile.
And don't stop saying yourprayers.
Joe P (39:02):
Yeah.
That's some really great advice.
Danny Koker (39:05):
That's what works, man.
I keep laying that out there,but it's the truth, man.
It's the truth.
Don't stop saying your prayers.
That's what works.
It's the only thing that's real.
So that's what I stand on.
Joe P (39:19):
Thank you, Mr.
Koker.
Danny Koker (39:20):
Brother, thank you for having me.
Joe P (39:21):
I really appreciate you being here.
Danny Koker (39:22):
It's an honor.
Hope and pray and trust andbelieve that this museum will be
so huge and so successful foryou.
I think it is absolutelywonderful.
I love that it is coming to LasVegas.
I love that you're bringing ithere.
You got my support, whatever wecan do.
Let's have some fun with this.
Brother, I'm with you 100%.
Joe P (39:41):
Thank you.
Danny Koker (39:41):
Thank you for having me.
I appreciate you.
Joe P (39:43):
Appreciate you too.
Danny Koker (39:44):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Joe P (39:46):
Okay.
Happy landings.
Heather (39:49):
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe.
It's our mission to preserve andpresent the legacy of Evel
Knievel.
if you have an idea for anepisode or a guest, or have a
suggestion to improve our show,just drop us a line at joe at
thrill dot show.
Evel Knievel (40:09):
I just think the Evel Knievel way.
Heather (40:14):
We leave you with the encouraging words from the book
of Deuteronomy.
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid.
For the Lord your God goes withyou.
He will never leave you orforsake you.
Until next time, happy landings!You like to fly to the seat of
(40:41):
your pants?
This is where you belong.
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