Wall of Death - History of the Wall

Rotten Goes Vertical

The Daily Journal
Thursday
March 6, 2003

New Smyrna Beach - Rhett "Rotten" Giordano makes his living going around in circles.

For $5 each, spectators line the rim of his "wall of Death" as the 29 year-old Lake Helen resident rides an antique motorcycle on the sides of a massive barrel at 50 mph, held up by nothing more than centrifugal force.

"This is about the hardest thing you can do on a motorcycles," he said with no small amount of pride before a show at Gilly's Pub 44 Tuesday afternoon. "It looks easy, but it takes a lot of practice.

For the most pf the past decade, Giordano has promoted himself as the "baddest thing on two wheels" at motorcycle events, car dealerships and just about anywhere else people might gather. For 30 minutes, spectators can watch the tall, thin, pony-tailed man ride his 1927 Indian Scout or 1954 Harley-Davidson Hummer motorcycles. he grads dollars bills from their hands as he whizzes past, chases a go-cart or whips up and down the sides of the wooden cylinder in a gut-churning display of balance and skill.

"This is the Rhett Rotten Show live," he said.

And like the carnival side-show hawkers of old, Giordano said it's all about showmanship.

A lifelong motorcycle racer, Giordano decided early that he wanted to find some way to earn a living on two wheels. Fate presented that opportunity in the form of a classified ad in a Long Island, N. Y., newspaper when the former owner of his "Wall of Death" sold the 12 foot tall, 30-foot round track.

Giordano purchased the 62-year-old attraction, and for seven months of the year, he hauls it back and forth across the country entertaining all comers.

He even met his wife and business partner, Limberly, because of the show.

"her mom was working for me and she came down to help," Giordano recalled. "We got married 10 days later. It is going on two years."

Rhett Rotten's "Wall of Death" is just one of the attractions available today at Pub44 as thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts cruise into town for its annual Bike Bash.

Starting at noon today, the Pub will become biker central with bands, food, vendors and the infamous bashing of a Japanese motorcycle.

The annual fund-raiser for the Pop Aguiar Scholarship Fund and Serenity House gives participants a chance to swing a sledge in an orgy of destruction. The bashing starts at about 8:00 pm.

But when the sirens go off it will be Giordano at the center of attention, riding in circles to the cheers of the crowd under his black-and-white checked tent.

By Mark I. Johnson
Staff Writer

Rhett "Rotten" Giordano rides his 1927 Indian motorcycle on the "Wall of Death" during vintage motorcycle stunt shows at Gilly's Pub 44 in New Smyrna Beach. Giordano has presented his show at the Pub on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach for the last 10 years for Bike Week and Biketober Fest.

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"Driving Himself Up a Wall"
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