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The oldest rider to regularly perform in public on the Wall of Death is Jerry De
Roye (USA, b. Gerald Jones, September 4, 1927). He continues to present his Trick'n'Stunt
performances on the vertical Wall of Death riding a 1927 V-Twin Indian Type 101 "Scout"
motorcycle.
Jerry first watched a Wall of Death stunt when he was 11 years old on a visit to a local
musement park and immediately decided it was all he wanted to do in life. However, when he
approached riders to ask to be trained many were reluctant as competition in the business
was fierce and the last thing they wanted was another rider on the circuit. By chance though,
during a stay in hospital, he was browsing through a magazine when he saw an ad that asked for
a Wall of Death rider. As soon as he left hospital he went to the address not expecting Eddie
Monte to open the door. Monte a.k.a. Speedy Williams was Jerry's idol when he had regularly
visited fair grounds as a youngster. After a few months of training Jerry was ready but there
was one thing missing: a name. Shortening Gerald to Jerry, picking out Roye from a magazine
about musicians and adding a little bit of French color, Jerry De Roye was born. He made his
first ride in 1956 in Blackheath in the Midlands and hasn't stopped since. The only accident
he has had in all these years is a broken thumb and the odd bump and bruise. Asked how long he
will keep going he says, 'I'll never stop, it's in my blood".
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