Wall of Death - History of the Wall

Another round trip along Wall

News-Journal
Volusia County

October 21, 2006

By Kelly Cuculiansky

Samsula - The circular wooden room trembles as he rides the motorcycle at at dizzying speeds, only slowing slightly to snatch money from a women's lips.

As he reaches between 30 and 70 mph, dozens of spectators test the stuntman's skills with tips at Rhett Rotten's Wall of Death. Cheers fill gasoline-tinted air every time he grads dollars bills from hands and mouths or lets go of the handle-bars.

"It's worth the...tip," said Deb Fore, one of several women holding a dollar bill in her mouth. "It was way thrilling."

After riding almost parallel to the ground for 13 years, Rotten knows he is lucky to continue to earn a living from his stunts, he said. Dripping in sweat after a show at Sopotnick's Cabbage Patch Bar, he looks toward scrapes on his Wall of Death racetrack. They are a reminder of one of the worse crashes of his life, when he fell while riding his red 1927 Indian Scout.

"You never know what's going to happen when you're riding 12 feet high," said Rotten 30, whose real last name is Giordano.

But a Friday afternoon crowd saw his master the stunt that pital's trauma unit for 10 days in June. With Kid Rock's "Cowboy" blasting the room while he rode the track, he risked sitting up on the vintage bike's gas tank.

"I'm pretty proud of that," he told the crowd as cheers erupted.

Rotten took 19 staples to the head in the June accident. The Pennsylvania native also tells the crowd at Sopotnick's, I'm all right. The main thing is my bike."

Maintenance of the Wall, built in 1941, is a major part of safety, said Rotten, who mentioned mo one from the audience has ever been hurt. Ever since that accident, he is also sure to warm up and take a practice run before people gather in the 30-foot round volume.

But there also seems to be some faith attached to the preventive measures. Rotten, who has been racing motorcycles, since he was a kid, quickly makes the sign of the cross over his chest and utters a prayer before hopping onto that Indian Scout. He'll take one last drag from his cigarette, stop in for a smooch for his wife, Kimberly Giordano and take off on the circular track. Spectators are instructed to keep their hands and cameras away form the edge of the Wall as she keeps an eye on Rotten and the crowd.

"I've got nerves of steel," said Kimberly.

But the 28-year-old who met her husband of six years at Daytona Beach Bike Week, also has business sense.

"She is what this whole business thrives off of, just keeping me motivated and keeping things organized," Rotten said.

That includes scheduling trips around the country, as far as California, Washington and sometimes performing at Puerto Rico's bike events.

It's a nine-month tour each year, but even when they are relaxing at home in Ponce Inlet, there is still plenty of planning going on for the next year.

"It's brutal on the road, but we have fun," Rotten said.

Please Click Event to View Article

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2006

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Rhett Rotten Work can be a barrel of fun
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Another round trip along Wall
October 21, 2006

Puerto Rico Bike Weekend
Metal @ Work
February, 2006

Circular Sicko
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"Indian Larry He was my Friend"
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"The Wall of Death is His Life"
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"Biker Barrel"
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"Driving Himself Up a Wall"
September 12, 2003