17 year old Jaimi Tyrrell has become the youngest Wall of Death rider in the world, as she began her new career just a few months ago. With supportive parents she struck off to follow her passion for riding across the UK and Europe. The “Wall of Death” is a carnival act comprised of lightweight motorcycles (often vintage) traveling horizontal in a cylindrical, barrel-like wooden track. The audience stands on a stage at the top, looking down into the track area and the rider begins at the bottom, climbing gradually up the sides as he/she gains velocity. While this feat is amazing, riders additionally ride with no hands or climbing over the handlebar or with another rider on the track at the same time.
Jaimi left high school early to join the traveling act and is thoroughly enjoying her new line of work. Her parents are proud and supportive, commenting that she seems natural on the bike. Jaimi rides in tall black boots, a tank top, with her hair flying back –no helmet which apparently affects the drag as she races around the track. On the Wall of Death she travels as fast as 45 miles per hour –horizontally on the wooden surface. Jaimie was introduced to the sport by Ken Fox, owner of the traveling act she now rides for. He used to take her on the handlebars, giving her a chance to experience the gravity-defying riding style.
She now performs a 15 minute act all across Europe at a variety of bike festivals, concerts and events. I caught a Wall of Death performance in Sturgis and loved it. Anyone seen an act? Would you be tempted to try it? Would you let your teenage daughter try it? Hypothetical questions of course, as there are just a handful of Wall of Death artists in the world, but I support the very unique expression on two wheels!
