Biker's appeal to trace Notts wall-of-death daredevil
FOR fairground fans the world over, braving the wall of death is the ultimate display of daredevil antics.
The motorcycle act – which sees riders travel horizontally at high speed inside a giant barrel-shaped wooden cylinder – has been performed in the UK for more than 80 years.
Now, the hunt is on to find a woman rider, believed to be from Nottingham, who features in one of the stunt's most iconic images.
The woman, known only as Lianne, was drawn in stunt mode around ten to 15 years ago on the touring Ken Fox Wall of Death, formerly in Skegness.
The image has since achieved cult status among bikers.
Enthusiast Alan Mercer wants to track down the woman as part of a project to celebrate the achievements of those who rode the wall in the UK.
Mr Mercer, 52, has used the image of Lianne as the centrepiece on a custom-made 1954 Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle he built in honour of the riders.
He began his quest to trace her in 2008 but has so far not had any luck.
He said: "There was a big celebration in 2008 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Wall of Death stunt being performed in the UK. Riders came from all over to share their stories.
"I spent 18 months building a custom motorcycle for the event and when I took it along, all the former Wall of Death riders started signing the petrol tank.
"From that, I have been researching every rider in the UK who is still alive – the oldest I've found is 85 and he started riding in 1949."
Mr Mercer, of Hampshire, has so far tracked down 60 former riders of the fairground attraction in the UK.
He even flew the petrol tank over to Tenerife to get the signature of one rider.
"The signatures are all around this image of Lianne on the petrol tank," he said.
"It is a striking image, and I want to find her so she can add her name, too.
"I've contacted Ken Fox and the details are sketchy. She's called Lianne, worked on the ride at some point, and is believed to come from Nottingham."
Can you help trace Lianne? Anyone with information is asked to e-mail Mr Mercer on mrgiant@talk21.com
bryan.henesey@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
Comments
by Leanne Crossland, Nottingham
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 12:06AM
“I am 'lianne' I worked on the wall of death in 2003 I was the youngest female rider to ride the wall of death and the first female to ride a bike on the wall in 25 years I would happily meet Mr Mercer and i'm in contact with him.”