Skip to main content

Wall of Death




I must have been six or seven years old, when my Dad and I went to the Rand Easter Show, I must have been that age because it was the two of us, which meant my brother’s were still to young. The Rand Easter Show, is a huge consumer exhibition, where thousands of exhibitors from all over the word come to Johannesburg to trade, it is in fact the largest show of it’s kind in the world outside of the US. My farther had been sent by his boss to take a look at some German machinery that was on exhibition, or something like that, because my Dad wasn’t the kind of guy to go with having to be prodded with a stick, of course for me, it was going to be great, because as a kid the only real attraction was the Carnival. The Carnival was huge, with Rollercoaster, Octopus and all sorts of rides, there were games of skill where you could win stuff and candy vendors, and tucked away in a corner there it was this thing that emitted a loud noise. The Wall Of Death the name did it, I was hooked, and then that noise, I nagged and dragged and nagged some more until he finally said yes, and if you knew my Dad, you will know just how much nagging it took. He bought tickets and I remember as we climbed the stairs that went around the wall, eventually spilling out onto this balcony, the sound was hypnotic, looking over the edge into that barrel, I was in awe, mesmerized by these motorcycles, and these people, I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, it was the most amazing thing ever.
I don’t want to get into the science of the wall, but it’s all about centrifugal force, something all motorcyclists learn very early on, and it’s what keeps you upright when leaning over into a corner, obviously speed and is relevant to angle and all that.



The Wall of death was an offshoot of the old wooden board track racing days of the early 1900’s, and I believe its first appearance was at Coney Island, New York. The wall is a cylindrical barrel of wood, between 6 and 10 meters in diameter, where stunt riders on motorcycles and the odd racecar literally rode the wall doing tricks. It’s the Wall of Death because it’s no mean feat and it’s dangerous as all hell. The Wall of Death’s heyday was in the 1930’s and there were troupes travelling all over the US and the UK and back then in the US there was even a family that rode the wall with a lion, yes you read that, they were a circus family and kept lions, and the one used to sit in the car while being driven around the wall.







Today there are probably only a handful left if that, and while motorcyclist jump there bikes and do multiple summersaults, knickknacks, can cans, and what the what ever else, these memories stay with me, that smell, the sound those amazing men. I still own a motorcycle, I always have since I was 14, and though I have nearly lost my life to them, I still can never get away from them, and I think this is why. The impression of that the Wall of Death left with me however romanticized will always be with me, and my motorcycle.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Love and Happiness

At this time of year when everyone is reminded that being a human being is being kind and loving, forgiving and tolerant, I feel that it's all bullshit, this is not a state for the holidays, this should be a constant state and something we should strive towards in our everyday lives. I blogged about being a "mensch" and perhaps it's good to remind ourselves what it means to be one. what follows is that blog A while ago I mentioned being a “mensch” and I was not really clear on what it means. A good friend and client brought this in for me, it’s part of an article written by Charlotte Cohen, and it sums it up well. What is a honourable mensch It is a voice, and the understanding behind it. It is the eyes, and the intelligence behind them. It is the recognition that support is needed, and asked for, giving it And the kindness that lies behind all of that. It’s keeping quiet when one ought and speaking when one should and knowing the difference. It’s giving pr

These gay days it seems

 In light of what we are seeing in the world today, specially in the US, I am always reminded of this song. In 76 this was an issue and it's half a century later and it feels more relevant than ever, why must people live in fear for being themselves, in fear of living when those around them do so without a thought for anyone else. We have allowed those loudest voices to rob us of compassion and love for one another, we have allowed them to brow beat us into hiding who we are, who our kids are, and in turn robbing us all of a future. I am not as kind as Rod about those that killed Georgie, in that time ignorance my have been a factor, today however this is not ignorance, this is malevolence, orchestrated hate. If this song doesn't touch you, go take a hard look in the mirror, I bet you won't like what you see. Oh yeah In these days of changing ways So called liberated days A story comes to mind of a friend of mine Georgie boy was gay I guess Nothin' more or nothin' l

David Bowie's 50th Birthday Bash Pt 6 - Space Boy with The Foo Fighters.mpg