Recovering after riding the 15-ft. wooden plank walls of the American Motor Drome Co.’s “Wall of Death” at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, star rider Charlie Ransom greeted enthusiastic audience members. Some had never seen anything like the authentic “American thrill show,” where riders steer century-old Indian motorcycles (and go carts, and bicycles . . .) up the steep walls, inching toward the audience, which loom over the spectacle below. That’s when we caught up with him.
We’ve read that riding the Wall of Death is just something that you are born to do; you have to be able to withstand the G forces. Did you find that?
Some people over-think it. It’s a job more than anything.
How long have you been doing this job?
I’ve been riding and traveling with this show for 14 years. I stumbled upon the American Motor Drome Co. show on the side of the road near my home in Northern California and just found my calling. I was in the right place in my life for something like this.
There’s a point in the show where folks are encouraged to hold out money for you to ride by and grab. When you are riding sideways and in circles like that can you tell the difference between a $1 bill and a $20?
(Smiles) I can see the color of your eyes.
