The Wall of Death started it’s early years by two great showmen, Billy Butlin and Pat Collins. Butlin was rumoured to have had as many as ten built up along the sea front at Skegness for training riders before they went into his holiday camps and other enterprises.
The Wall of Death was an instant hit and many popped up in and around the UK. Because there was so many appearing on the scene competition became fierce! Showmen had to think up new ideas to attract customers. Ladies started to ride and animals such as lions, monkeys and bears were introduced, often riding along side the drivers in sidecars or on the tanks of the Indian Scouts.
Sadly the war brought the Wall of Death hey day to a stand still and the animals disappeared along with it.
Ken Fox however decided he needed to encourage the idea once more and learnt to ride with Cripsey's Wall of Death in Skegness before building his own Wall in 1995. It was built in a massive ship yard at New Brighton and was completed in just 20 weeks, a mammoth task! After being built up for trials at New Brighton, the Wall made it's official travelling debut at the 1995 Rempstone Steam Rally. The Wall itself is 20ft high and 32ft diameter and made completely of Oregon Pine.
The Indian motorcycles also play an integral part in the history of the Wall. The four Indians riding in Ken's Walls today would tell a story or two if they could talk! Ken's particular Indian was once ridden by Peter Catchpoole and Harry Holland before him. Luke's Indian was ridden by the well known Tornado Smith and Alex's Indian the famous Doug Murphy.
