Showing posts with label infernal varanne members. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infernal varanne members. Show all posts
3/3/15
1/9/14
My best trick "BACKWARD"
Pits Todeswand, Munich Oktoberfest 1992. Photos taken by Samantha Morgan.
When I started my career of trick rider at 14 years old, there was a legend saying that a rider in Germany was riding backward! Ouch! When you want to prove your skills at this age, with such
innocence and unconsciousness, it's something you wanna try.
So I started to train for it. From left side ride, I started to look back. A bit more each time. And bit more. Looking back while riding on the wall of death gets you dizzy strait away. The bike goes up, and you must come back quickly to look in the front to stop the dizziness.
That's sport! I spent couple of month doing this, and thinking that I reached my limit. The limit of all other riders attempting this trick. Big names did almost the the backward. But none passed the left leg over the rear wheel. They had both legs on one side.
So after couple of month doing like them, we went to the MECCA of Wall of Death, the Oktoberfest of Munich. Where the Original Pits Todeswand hired my brothers and I as guest riders.
The honor to have been chosen to perform at this event putted wings in my back.
After one week of crashes in this Huge wall of Death (10 meters), and remembered that the legend of the "Backward" rider came from this wall. The PITS TODESWAND.
As I was riding one of theirs Indian Scout, I thought if he did that, I can do that.
At every show, I progressed to the back, centimeters by centimeters. It was hard to understand that being backward, the bike goes up, and to put it straight you have to invert the body moves.
Some shows gave me the fright I was looking for.
My leg over the wheel, and next show, the leg was two centimeters more to the other side. The bike get such instability. But work pays, and I my foot reached the other side, touching the other foot peg.
I called miss Irene Wissinger, the owner of Pit's Todeswand, and showed that trick.
She asked to stop and explained me why. The legend rider who did that backward before, was Franz Loffelhart, her brother in law.. He attempted and got sever head injuries. He had metal plates in his head. Once out of hospital, he reattempted, but crashed and got killed.
I heard the story. But I was 18 years old, I couldn't resist by not doing it. So I kept going
The following years I perfected , and did the trick on various motorcycles. Even on a Honda Motorcycle in Florida in the THRILL ARENA of Samantha Morgan. But keeping one hand on handle bar this time.
That trick is so mental, that one season I couldn't perform it. Just don't know why. Then, again performing it. My last season performing the backward, I was passing the right leg over the rear wheel.
On my way to do the complete circle on the motorcycle, I stopped the wall of death, to work only with the Globe of death.
I did backward ride 8 years long in my life. The first time in 1988. I know no other rider have done this trick since then. My brother Jesse, was also working on the trick couple of years later, was close to do it. But I asked him to stop. For unknow reasons.
How not to think of the freestyle motocross guys who get bunch of dollars and they are the only one to perform a trick at the X-games??
I did not get any bonus dollar for my "Backward" riding, but I got the respect of couple of people, riders and non riders, or wall of death fans. That's enough for me. It makes me so happy when someone is reminding me, " I saw you doing that"
Munich, my last year doing the trick. I was passing my right leg over the wheel, to make a complete circle on the bike. But training took too long, we came at the end of the season. That was my last season doing classic wall of death. So, unfinished trick. And am not ready to finish it now !!! Time has passed. The work is for someone else.
8/17/13
The Varanne are back in the Wall !
Written by Danny.
Done! We are back in the WALL OF DEATH show. It was at least 5 years that I felt the lack of wall riding in my life. These last 5 years, my job with the GLOBE made me more than happy. I brought my team to Monte Carlo Circus festival, we got the Guiness world record, we made a Splitter Globe of Death, we made the DOUBLE GLOBE, ect...It seemed to me that I have done all what can be done in the GLOBE of death show. As I always wants to innovate and not doing like the others, I dreamed of a WALL of DEATH, but not like my family had before. Not in wood. It's too much work to maintain. And because people must climb above the cylinder to see inside, it blocks the market to fun fairs and rallies only. So my idea was a WALL OF DEATH, you could see thru. Easy to think, not easy to build.
A WALL OF DEATH, like a GLOBE.
The first step was to find a producer. I mean a first customer who will buy the show, just on my words, as the WALL/GLOBE (Invisible Wall of Death), do not exist, I had to convict someone to pay the first gig.
I found this crazy customer in the person of Jason, a UK man working in a Japanese festival. I explained my project, and after some search on the internet, he saw that we had the trust of many people in matter of organization, and riding skills. Si he confirmed the deal.
Papers done, and I started the construction of the invisible wall. One month of meeting and search on internet for the right material. As a Pioneer, none is giving answer. That's the good to be the first in something. But the hassle as well.
After a month of searching and plans, discussion with my bro Jesse and father Daniel on how will we make this or this, we could start the construction.
Two month after, the METAL WALL of death was born.
I did the first ride under the eyes of my dad and mom. I was in worry, but trusted my heart. Why worry? Simply, thinking of, may be the motorcycles wont grip, may be it will be too soft, may be this....If it don't work, all this work, all this money for nothing. Not to mention, the problems with Jason the customer of the show. So I rode the barrel, and it worked! Harder than in the classic wood WALL, Harder than a GLOBE. I found my master! A challenge. Exactly what I was looking for. Something I don't control, something I will have to work with.
I spent one week on working on few things to modify, and training with my brother Jesse.
A phone call from Jason, who told me to hurry to pack the WALL in the sea container for outbound to Japan. So no time to rehearse a complete show.
Two month after, we opened the doors of the container in Japan. Only 4 days before the first show.
Bruno Alliot, a family member from Italy did not rode the WALL since 6 years. Nevertheless he came to our compound in Paris to train a little in the GLOBE, to rework his head. To avoid the dizziness we got in circle of death when it's been long time without riding.
So it was not easy to think about a victory, in those conditions. But after the three days, it was done.
The Friday night 26 th of July, saw our return in the WALL of DEATH, and saw the birth of a new show. I am so glad that almost everything steps worked as I imagined it. From the construction, but also the show. The Japanese crowd reacted where I thought they will react. I imagined it 1000 times in my head. I also imagined 1000 times, the failure, the fall. But ok. I followed my heart, not my head, who is always in contradiction.
The show in Japan was a big success. Jason the customer still send me e-mails saying "Great show Danny", that what am proud and work for.
I am back in the family of WALL of DEATH, in my way.
I am so happy to bring the old tradition in the new century. Like ROSENTHAL invented the GLOBE, like ABBINS, the pioneers of our business, I showed that there's still something to do to surprise.
I will just say, do more than what was done before. Put the bar higher. Don't copy your neighbor.
Thank you to my brother Jesse, with who I have the pleasure to ride. To Bruno, who did not hanged up the phone. Thank you to my wife who supported me in my dream. And a mega thanks to
DANIEL VARANNE SENIOR, who putted me in a WALL OF DEATH 29 years ago.
And today at age of 67 years, who welded the Invisible WALL.
Danny Varanne
Full website of the Invisible Wall of Death is here:
History of the Wall of Death:
ALL PHOTOS HERE
7/4/13
Varanne Brothers in Popstar Video Clip "OSLO"
Video clip of French band "OSLO" during the show called POPSTAR.
The clip was edited by old friend Julien Bachelet who is a pioneer of FMX movies like "True Tactics".
So, Julien called brothers Jesse and Danny to take a ride for the POPSTAR show.
Not really a vacation day. Wake up at O5 in the morning to drive in the Paris jam. We arrived in time and started to ride for the TV crew. From 09 to 09 in the evening, and then set down the "Globe de la Mort" We had to ride sessions of 4 minutes non stop each times, and this at least 50 times.
But waooo, what a result. A superb clip, the magic of cinema has a price, that none can see on the screen. The illusions has to be created for real. Thank you Popstar, thanks Julien.
2/28/13
Wall of Death
Danny Varanne, riding backward on a 1926 scout. Photo taken in Munich, Oktoberfest in 1992 by Gerard Pleynet.
2/12/13
4/27/12
Globe of Death, The chase.
Nice shots in Monte Carlo CIrcus Festival by Infernal Varanne team.
Winners of two awards.
Ariel ( Los Angeles Division) and Danny (Hossegor Division ) on photos.
6/20/11
Jasmine Support her Local Infernal Varanne
Jasmine Takacs is a bautifull performer, dancer. She comes from United Kingdom. You can check her website: www.jasminetakacs.com and see her and follow her news.
She joined the Infernal Varanne family. So we will keep you update. Welcome Jasemine!
6/11/11
Ride the World with Giorgos
Giorgos is one of our notable member. With FMX angel, they runs the Infernal Varanne GREEK DIVISION. And they are realy active. Ride FMX, Surf, Drift, Beers, CHicks....Ect ect...
Giorgos has now the crazy project to share with us, his trips around the world. He is a talented photographer so it will be a pleasure for us to watch the nature thru his eyes.
Giorgos is a ULTRA human guy. Going to its feelings to places and people. He is now in ARGENTINA. So I give you ONE advice: Bookmark this website, and follow our bro.
In his bautifull home, Greece
Giorgos in the air!!
Cliffhangers in Patagonia
Ready to catch the waves
KTM hotel
dog name is DEEGAN !!!
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