THE WALL OF DEATH from benedict campbell on Vimeo.
This short film caught my attention, as I’ve always had a thing for old-time carnival attractions, especially those involving motorcycles and cars. I was rather terrified at seeing a similar Globe of Death in Innsbruck when I was maybe five or six. The Wall Of Death was on offshoot of the old wooden boardtrack motorcycle racing tracks, a way to encapsulate its thrills and spills. The first one opened at Coney Island in 1911. There are still a few traveling Wall Of Deaths in the US, as well as Fox Family in the UK featured in this film, which still has some vintage Indian bikes in its stable.
I’m not really a carnival fan, but when this crew came to town I took one look at the vintage Indian on show outside and knew I’d only get one chance to see them in action and I shouldn’t waste it. Don’t think they had the girls riding – it was a few years ago. The quarter-elliptic front spring on the Indian is really cute. The “track” goes out-of-round as the bike goes round it. Scary.
I remember seeing the wall as a kid awesome it hasnt been allowed here for donkeys years Thanx brings back memories
Nice film, the music made me want to cut myself though
I agree. I made it about half way through before I’d had it with the music. Seems like they made it really slow paced in order to emphasis the music too.
The Indians are 101 Scouts, the best Indian of them all. An incredible handling bike. You sit on it, it says ‘cruiser’. Get going down the road and into the twisties, you’re talking ‘sportbike’. I could grind the floorboards on mine anytime I wanted to.