Interesting the "French apple bureaucrats" decided to float World Calvados Day on the third Thursday of November. Maybe Normandy is trying to steal a little thunder from and / or piggy back on the hype surrounding the release of Beaujolais Nouveau wine which is also on the third Thursday of November every year. I know which of the two I would prefer!

I think your second historical note above is commemorating the London Horse Shoe Brewery Flood of 1814, long before Mr. Knievel's birthday. Also, I believe Mr. Knievel spelled his given name "Evel." That's in contrast to the surname of Doctor Evil and his son, Scott Evil, of the Evil family.