The only thing that was missing was the national publicity that has eluded so many talented stuntmen. Over the next couple of years the wheel stand shows got better and the length of the jumps grew from 110 ft. Long hours of practice, hours on the phone, sleeping in little track side trailer and eating in greasy spoons soon taught him that the life of a struggling young stunt man is not the Glory Trail that the public perceives. Being an accomplished pilot since the age of 16 allowed him to fly to the jumps, while his crew (consisting of his younger brother) drove the truck loaded with the bikes, ramp and props. He felt that Florida would serve as a better home base than Ohio, so he and his wife Denise moved to Ocala. Now he was pumped and ready to go on the road. The wheel stand show was flawless and the jump went off without a hitch. When he thought he was ready to give the people a good enough show, he got himself booked at Sunset Dragstrip for a 10 car jump. He had some how talked the owner of a drag strip into letting him use the track to practice. After watching one of Bob Gill's shows, he decided to do away with the landing ramp. He wanted to make sure that the odds were in his favor, so he consulted with a Physics professor at Kent State University about ramp angles, studied with a ski jumper to learn about body position and learned "how to fall" from a martial arts instructor. He seemed to thrive off the attention and decided to go "Pro". Naturally he had to start jumping over things, anything. It got to where the kids would wait after school every day knowing there would be a show. Soon he was driving the principal crazy "wheel walking" his 250 Suzuki X6 Hustler past the school busses flashing a big "V" sign to the admiring crowds of students. Being one of those people who could play any instrument that he picked up, much of his time was spent with music until later in High School when he got "the bug". He quickly learned to ride his bicycle on one wheel as easily as two and like many kids of the "Evel"era, started jumping his bicycle over ditches, water barrels and trusting friends. No broken bones.Ħ6 professional jumps from New York to Florida.īob jumped with "Joie Chitwood Thrill Show" on several occasions (including Birmingham International Speedway, Montgomery Speedway and the Alabama State Fairground).įirst jump was at "Sunset Dragstrip" for a flat rate of $500.00.įrom the beginning Bob displayed all the traits of a daredevil. Had three previous crashes and got up and walked away from all three.
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