Bubba Blackwell
| Bubba Blackwell | |
|---|---|
 Bubba Blackwell performs stunts on a Harley FLHTCU |
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| Born | James Blackwell October 4, 1967 Bon Secour, Alabama, USA |
| Occupation | Stunt performer |
| Website | |
| http://www.bubbablackwell.com | |
Bubba Blackwell is a stunt performer and motorcycle jumping world record holder who was sponsored by and promoted Buell Motorcycle Company (Buell was partnered with Harley-Davidson Motorcycles before becoming defunct in October, 2009).[1] Bubba is best known for breaking Evel Knievel's jump record for both cars and buses using a Harley-Davidson XR-750 track race motorcycle.
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[edit] Records
Bubba Blackwell began his career on April 26, 1998, when he jumped 20 cars in Everett, Massachusetts, breaking the 19 car record held by Evel Knievel. The following year, on July 4, 1999 during an airing of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Bubba jumped 14 buses at Del Mar Fair in California, tying the record held by Knievel,[2] who leapt 14 buses at Kings Island in 1975 (although Knievel's rear tire touched the 14th bus, his landing was successful). Five months later, Bubba would break Knievel's bus-jumping record by jumping 15 buses.
Bubba broke Knievel's last remaining jump record on on a Harley-Davidson XR-750 by jumping 52 stacked cars on October 4, 2008. The jump took place at the Deep South Speedway located between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama. The jump also marked Bubba's 41st birthday.
[edit] Accidents
On July 4, 2001, Bubba attempted to beat his own record, attempting to jump 22 cars at Del Mar Fair.[3] He came up short and crashed. The crash is featured on episode 13 of A & E's Shockwave[4] and on the Discovery Channel's Destroyed In Seconds. Bubba planned to attempt to beat the XR-750 record again on June 12, 2010 by jumping 22 Ford Focus cars at the Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire.[5] However that event was cancelled.[6]
[edit] Cycle Shows
[edit] Motorcycles
During a show, Bubba rotates through several motorcycles, including:
- A Harley-Davidson XR-1200 (stunt bike)
- A Harley-Davidson VRSC (stunt bike)
- A Harley-Davidson Super Glide (stunt bike)
- A Harley-Davidson FLHTCU (stunt bike)
- A Harley-Davidson XR-750 (jump bike)
Before Buell went out of business in 2009, Bubba was sponsored by the Harley-Davidson subsidy and included the Buell Blast and the Buell Lighting. In 2010, Bubba discontinued using the Buell bikes.
[edit] Stunts
One of the highlights of the stunt show was Bubba lifting the front wheel (or doing a motorcycle wheelie) on a Harley-Davidson FLHTCU. Bubba also performs burnouts, including going through all 5-speeds of his custom Harley-Davidson Super Glide. The burn-outs often end with the rear tire of the motorcycle blowing.
In recent years, Bubba toured with Team Bubba, which included two other stunt riders other than himself: Andrew Griffy and Taylor "Tanus" Alvidrez. The two new riders to Bubba's team also featured stunts on Buell motorcycles, while Bubba performed on both the Buell and the Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
According to Bubba's website, he will continue performing for the "Harley-Davidson community".
[edit] Jumps
Bubba returned to jumping his Harley-Davidson XR-750 at Ukes Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Dealer in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 30, 2003 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson. Bubba is still periodically jumping the XR-750.
[edit] References
- ^ Michael Burge (July 4, 2002), "Daredevil Bubba Bounces Back", The San Diego Union - Tribune, San Diego, Calif.
- ^ Associated Press (July 31, 1999), "Bubba: Stunt King", New York Post, New York, NY
- ^ Perry, Tony (July 6, 2001), "Daredevil Injured When Jump Goes Awry", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA
- ^ The History Channel - Shockwave
- ^ Lieback, Ron. All About Bikes Magazine, Feb. 2010
- ^ Jarret Bencks. "Lack of ticket sales cancels stunt event at The Rock". http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x1996918932/Lack-of-ticket-sales-cancels-stunt-event-at-The-Rock.
