Ok, I did a jump in July and one of the producers from letterman saw it on "Youtube"and after some digging around he managed to dig up my contact info.
"I'm Mike and I'm a producer for the "LateNight w/David Letteman show" would you have any intrest in coming to New York and jumping some taxi cabs?
"Hell yes!" great so wha,,,,,,and thus began a nightmareish trip in the details of T.V. land.
I have heard it said that GOD is in the details ,,,
I believe it is the devil,
and he loves to eat your soul from the inside out.
Still,,the trek was on and daily was an onslaught of questions from this person and that,,,,,,,,,now don't get me wrong,,,,
The Letterman people couldn't have been ANY nicer and they were wonderful to work with and I really mean that ,
it's just so many questions were asked because they didn't know what to expect AND
I had a crew of people working on ramps and quads and this and that and It all got a bit hetic but in a very cool way.
When I got the word on a that the show was a "GO" I only had 5 days to be there so I am lucky that Russ and I went ahead with all the work in good faith.
I tex msged a few friends that it was on .
and let me give you some advice dear reader ,,,
If you are ever in a position like this keep it quiet till all the work is done .
Because all Hell broke loose T.V. radio , Newspaper friends family strangers geez,,,
everyone called , and all at the same time .
wow that was quite the media blitz it was kinda fun,,,,,,,but it took time .
By this time I hadn't had any sleep in days with work 12 hours,,,and then all of the daredevil stuff,,,,wow SLEEP ! YOU DON'T NEED NO STINKING SLEEP!
I felt like such a zombie that it actually began to hurt my head , body everything.
The thoughts of making a 14 hour trip to N.Y. was NOT very inviting.
but thing's got packed up and away we went.
Me and my Dad drove one truck pulling the ramps
and Russ and Tommy (photo guy supreme)
in a other truck pulling the quads and tools and everything else.
A couple of hours into the trip we stopped at a truckstop and fueled while I was walking out I heard a group of kids remark about my coat
"who does he think he is ,,,,Evel Knievel?"
I heard them snickering around and I just left it alone
as I was walking outside They were in a truck
laughing and one yelled out
"I'll give you 5 bucks for your autograph dude!!!!"
I walked over to them and said " whats up ?"
and they remarked about the coat and I laughed and said "Well ,,,next friday if you watch David Letterman you may stop the laughing"
This cute girl was in the truck with them and she looked around saw the ramps and busted out laughing "He really is a jumper you morons there's his ramps ha ha ha!"
"you jerks!",,,,
Hey can you give me your autograph for real?
It was at this point that I realized we were NOT in Kansas anymore toto,,,,,,,,
She got her autograph and the guys shook my hand and a bad start had a good ending,,,
Back on the road pretty much a boring ride
THAT I THOUGHT WAS NEVER GOING TO END !!!
We arrived after 4 hours of bumper to bumper traffic in N.Y. at Madison Square Garden
Where we were given permission to store all the gear right out front,,,,how cool is that?
Then to the Hotel,,,,,,,,,Holy crap!
"Hotel Dream" just a block and a half away from The Late Show.
Man this place was so cool neon under the beds 4 star hotel,,,,my dad laughed
"all this trouble because you can ride a 4 wheeler?" I grinned and said "I guess so,,,"
Times Square,,, if you have never been,,, it is like another planet,,,,,a planet FULL of very hot chicks,,,wow!
so that kept us busy while we ate and got ready to sleep,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
my dad wanted to go to the hotel room so I told him to go ahead and I'd get him something to eat,,,now ,,,
anyone who has never been to Times square is kinda like a scene from star wars , a hot chick here business man there rapper wannabe here cop over here etc,,,etc,,,
I am a small town guy and I like the fact that I don't have to worry about traffic jams and crime but it was really neat to go there and visit.
The next morning jump day,,,,
I had the most wonderful sleep in the greatest bed I have even been in , I'm telling you babies don't sleep this good.
About 6:30 am I woke and did the shower and shave and all that .
All the time I began to get my mind on what I was there to do I had on purpose kept from dwelling on the fact that what I was doing was a huge deal and I needed to pull this thing off.
Tom my dad and Russ all at one point or another kind of wondered out loud if maybe this might had been a bit more than I bargained for and had a worry or two that I might get hurt.
Before I left Ohio in the middle of the night I stopped and said goodbye to my mom and she asked me if I was ready for all of this ? I looked her square in the eyes and said "All my life!"
She smiled and said "Yes you have,,,,,!"
(later she told me that the look in my eye and calmness of my voice made her not have a doubt in her mind)
So far we had , had a great time with the trip and all but now it was time to get to it.
So the calls started coming in with everyone checking in and getting things rounded up to meet the valet with our truck.
We all met downstairs and the truck approached and we got in ,,
(we had to be at M.S.G. by 8 am to get the ramps)
after the ramps were hooked back up to the trucks we left the with the staff of M.S.G. wishing me good luck.
20 blocks down There loomed a huge sigh that said "late show w/David Letterman"
and the street beside it except for a fire lane was closed down,,,,,,,man it was really real
it was really going to happen and it was going to start ,,,,,,,,,,,,now .
After meeting the crew who would be setting up my ramps (union guys ,,,we touched nothing)
Tom started taking pictures , my Dad and Russ was showing the crew what had to be done and be moved where I just stood there thinking
"What a long strange road my life had been on and 5 years ago I would have never dared to think I would be setting up my ramps to jump on David Letterman"
I did have to admit I had a HUGE grin on my face thinking about all the people that said I would never do this and never do that.
I felt that no matter what as soon as the ramps started to get unloaded,,,,,I won.
I was here and I was doing this and this was really going to happen.
My Sister and Brother would have loved this and been so proud. My sister knew I was going to meet Evel Knievel back in 98 and she was so happy sadly just a few days after we talked about that stuff ,,she died.
It was unexpected and that started me down a road I hope nobody will ever have to go down.
a few years later my Dad had a heart attack
and that coupled with me going threw a divorce and my best friend my brother's death
all at the same time showed me something.
You are only here for a short while and you will Never be here again so you have to live your life how YOU see fit do the thing's you want to do today because you might not ever get a second chance.
so,,,,,I began jumping again .
With all the action of the morning and me not able to do any of it .
I was left with a lot of time on my hands just to sit and watch a bunch of people I didn't know and until 20 min ago never met
set up the biggest jump of my life and hopefully not get me killed.
T.V. is a funny thing it is never what you think.
Everything looks so easy and isn't, it takes one person to set up a light and one person to plug it in and another to adjust it,,,
the point is everyone wants to get a share to call his (or her )own.
Russ had his hands full from the time we arrived we had union guys saying "NO,,,NO,,,NO" and Russ saying "yes,,,yes,,, yes!"
So as I watched the melee ensue with Russ telling me "Stay away I'll be the one to argue and take the heat,,,not you !"
He really is a great friend I thought and the man has been around me forever He is in control and he does have ahold of "this" .
Kind of lugging a Dragon around by the tail
yes he does have hold of this but when is it going to turn on him? ,,,ha,,,
These big city guys didn't expect me to bring him and they never knew what hit them.
You see , my friend Russ Belt he is the biggest go-getter I have ever run into ,
former V.P. of the biggest bank in town .
He just up and quit that high paying gig because it stopped being a challenge.
Now , a Businessman a couple of times over
and a mini sprintcar driver I knew noone could handle or understand all of this quite like Russell , I was in very good hands.
Tommy my picture guy gave me a holler "hey Henry , come here a second"
I walked towards him and he lead me through a door beside the "HELLO DELI" owned by Rupert of LATE NIGHT fame.
I walked into a modest doorway and all of a sudden there it was ,,,,The LATE NIGHT set.
The Ed Sullivan Theater is a modest place not as big as you might think , but there it was Dave's desk and the chairs for the stars.
I thought to myself,,,,"man ,,this is really real,,,,how damn cool is this?
Tom said in a very quiet voice "I just wanted you to see it because you'll be busy later!
I'm glad he did that , that was when it really hit me "I'm going to be on the frikken
Dave Letterman show !"
Like a bunch of bees people moved lights and cleaned up the set almost as much activity as outside I had never been there before but I knew every inch of the stage from watching Dave on T.V.
I spent a moment or two just standing there drinking the atmosphere in.
"Are you Henry ? "I heard a voice ask as I walked outside.
"Yes I am ,," "Great I'm Mike Producer for the show how is everything going?"
I told him great and then gave him a rundown of what was going on and we went over times for practice ,,,"one o'clock we will be ready to start filming ,,, can you be ready to go by then?" Mike asked.
"Yea,,,No problem ,,,wheels up by 1:05 ."
"You hear that fellas?,,,,,,,,wheels up by 1:05,,,,,,,,Mike said into a walkie talkie.
"Great , Henry We are all REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ,,,, I want to wish you the best of luck and stay safe !"
"I will do the best I can,,,,,,because it hurts me a hell of alot more than it'll hurt you !"
Mike smiled and remarked how calm I looked
and made a little chit chat and then he got a call on his cell phone and had to tend to something else.
12:30 pm
As I was pulling on my black and red Thor outfit and tucking all the pads in Mike returned and asked someone looking working a camera if the asst director was here and they wanted to look at the outfit to see if that was what he wanted.
"Do you have anything lighter ?
he asked "yep I sure do how about white and blue?" ,,,,"give me a couple of ,,,,let me get back to you Henry."
while I was waiting I asked Russ if we asked permission could we go Broadway with the quad
and take some pictures,,,,,"Go ahead,,, and if anyone says anything you tell them ,,I said you could!"
Who is that I asked Russ as he stood there smiling " That is the police chief of this whole city !" he said.
We both smiled and pushed Bubba (my favorite
quad) up the street and had Tommy snap Pictures.
"Ha ha ha they think were nuts,,, Russ said
look at the look in these people's eyes !"
Those New Yorkers looked at us like we were aliens taking pictures in full armor full outfit and sitting on the quad,,,,very cool.
I went back to the trailer and changed into the white outfit and walked out a noticeable murmur was going on and I asked my dad "what the hell is going on ?"
"well I guess they just noticed Evel Knievel
was closer than they thought"
It was true , and I was in the black outfit noone noticed in the white outfit a crowd started to gather.
" Henry ,,,,we are ready when you are ,,,,good luck kid ! the asst director said.
Bubba glared at me like a bull waiting on the next cowboy,,,,,,,,,,
As I walked closer to Bubba I was thinking about what my dad said about Evel Knievel being in the house he really was and it wasn't me .
The aura of Evel still lingers and I've seen it before but not like this it's the white and blue outfit and the threat of looming danger .
I reached Bubba and swung a leg over my old buddy , (Bubba is the first quad I bought since my comeback and it is the ONLY one I've jumped and done the tricks with .
It is set perfect the power comes on hard but very smooth and with no surprises.
He is a beast . Make NO mistake about that but it is easy to read .
I have only wrecked Bubba once and it was just a minor thing.)
I remember thinking ,,,"same deal as before dude ,,I don't hurt you you don't hurt me ."
I realize it is just a bunch of steel and rubber and plastic but I still know this thing better than any other and it acts like a extension of me at
times ,,,
and a few special times there has been a "Zen" like partnership so I have a bond with this bunch of steel and rubber and plastic.
Russ and another Producer Mark stood there talking about the gap and taxis.
The setup crew had moved the ramps 4 or 5 times before Russ and everyone agreed on a position "man it's only about 88 feet before you hit the ramp,,," Russ said you need more.
In practice in Van Wert I had done the jump in the amount of space they told me 330feet.
with 120 feet of takeoff and 55feet to stop
the rest was ramps and taxi's .
To top thing's off cops and feds were crawling all over the place with ear pieces
and taking into their wrist the whole bit.
all of this was due to George W.Bush and the President of Iran being just two blocks away at the U.N.
in the takeoff area three cops in suits were walking around checking the crowd for any kind of threat.
burrrr,,,,,,,,burrrr,,,,,,,!!!!!
Bubba came to life loud and throaty one kick he always starts with one kick.
with the noise bouncing off the tall building's I "blipped" the throttle and Bubba sprang to life WAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
I help up 6 fingers to Russ and Mark asking if there was a gap of six cars .
with so much activity I was just double checking "YEP,,,Mark said " "YEA SIX DUDE !,,
Russ told me .
The noise was a bit to much for some as I watched some people plug ears with there fingers.
"Henry ,,,,,,,,,CAN YOU HEAR ME ???? a voice spoke in my right ear,,,
THIS IS JERRY THE DIRECTOR ."
"YEA ,,,,,,,,I HEAR YOU ,,,,,,,,WHAT'S UP ? I SAID .
"I AM JUST LETTING YOU KNOW ,,,,,WE ARE READY WHEN YOU ARE!"
"LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT KID !"
As I sat there looking at the giant red arrow pointing up to the sky on my takeoff ramp,,,,,,,,I thought "yep,,,,,that's the way
either victory or failure ,,,,just go that way !"
I was used to performing in front of crowds since I was a little kid , it didn't bug me then and it sure wasn't going to bug me now.
Overhead there was a large boom moving a camera into place,,,,,,,,
braaaaaaa,,,,,,,,, braaaaaaaa,,,,,,,
I cleaned out Bubba's throat with a flick of the throttle ,
behind my back I heard people whispering and I stood up swinging both hands in the air telling the crowd it was time
and a large amount of applause broke out and then cheering and off I went ,,,,
braaaaa,,,,,,,,2nd gear braaaaa,,,,,,,,3rd
wherrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
hard on the front and rear brakes right up to the edge of the ramp.
Looking across I thought "man,,,,you got this,,,,"
I flicked Bubba's transmission into neutral
and coasted backward giving myself enough room to be able to swing Bubba around counterclockwise ,,,,,I nodded ,
"HERE WE GO,,,,,,,STANDBY,,,I heard Jerry say.
bruuuuoooon Bubba started to move I short shifted into second gear (so as soon as I made my last turn I could pin it and get one quick shift into 3rd and make as much use as I could of 3rd gear before liftoff.)
The second to last turn a cop walked on the outside of me thus cutting my turn by a very important few feet.
last turn BR_____________AAAAAAAAAAAAA,,,,,!!!!!!!!
BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!!!!!!!
THA,,,,,,,,THUMP!!!!!!!!!!
As I left the ramp I KNEW there was not enough speed.
Was it the cop getting in the way?
Was it the stutter I heard Bubba make as I pinned the throttle?
All of that was unimportant at that point ,
the fact of the matter was I WAS NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!
I wasn't high enough and I knew it.
All I could do was watch the last Taxi and see the safety apron get closer and closer
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!!!
A audible gasp could be heard from the crowd
Visions of old grainy footage of a very young Evel Knievel doing the very same thing in 1967 at ceasers palace then going over the bars and then the bones breaking ,,,,,,,,,
Jesus Christ ,,,,,,,,,,,man this wasn't a film this was happening and it was happening to me !
I leaned back shifted my weight to the rear part of the seat and hung on like nothing I have ever grabbed before!
erttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I brought Bubba to a stop and thought "I'm still on!!!!!!!!!!
I AM STILL ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Braaaaaaaa,,,,,,,,, Braaaaaaaaaaaa,,,,,,,
Bubba was still running ,,,,,,,,
"let's do this right this time ! I told myself,,,,,,,I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought,,,,,,,,whewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!
As I found 1st gear on Bubba and started to roll back around for another try ,,,,,,,,
waaaaaak,,,,,,,,,,waaaaaaaaak,,,,,,,,waaaaaaaak,,,,,,,,,,,,I looked behind me and I knew I hadn't exaggerated the impact.
Both rear tires were flat and both rims were collapsed and the rear axel was bent in the shape of a smiley face,,,,,,,,,,or if you rolled it enough a frown.
I turned toward the trailer and limped Bubba back to the end where my dad and Russ stood
wide eyed " HOW THE F___ DID YOU STAY ON THAT THING? Russ said.
My dad just looked at me and said "NOT FAST ENOUGH,,,,,,,,NOT NEAR FAST ENOUGH.",,,"
YOU OK?"
"YEA,,,,,,,,,,DAMNIT!" it was a lie.
In practice I had broken my wrist , even wrapped up and in a splint I had hurt it again and my whole hand was totally numb.
I kept walking toward the trailer and I heard
people giggling in the crowd behind me .
Russ walking beside me looking at me
I said
"GET OUT HOWARD!"
As I walked closer to the trailer and Russ kept checking my eyes like a cornerman does a boxer that's been knocked silly .
The look In my eyes I can assure you was not one of stunned surprise but more like total and complete ,,anger.
More mad at myself than anything else "what the hell was I thinking?,,,,,,,I NEVER come up short?"
The needles shooting up in to my forearm letting me know that just a few weeks before I had overshot my landing ramp , broken it
and instead of getting a cast like I should have chose to baby the arm and hide the injury from all the T.V. people " A LOT OF GOOD THAT DONE !
" I snorted to myself as I looked down squeezing the hand tightly together to make sure I could still grab ahold of the handlebars.
"Good as it's gonna get I thought,,"
I tore the Velcro from the splint I was wearing and pulled them tighter offering as much support as possible .
Russ saw that this wasn't the time to argue
Or ask questions he just walked quietly into the trailer to the front of "Howard"
Howard was new to me and I had not much seat time on it at all , I had just bought Howard
a few months before I named it Howard in honor of Howard Stern , the name just felt right.
(and yes,,, Bubba is named after "Bubba The Love Sponge")
Howard was 2006 450r Honda 2 years newer than Bubba but all together a different
animal.
where Bubba was forgiving Howard is not,
I have joked and said Howard was a prick.
It is mean and unruly , the first time Russ climbed on both quads he said , I like Bubba
but Howard , Howard is mean.
Howard CAN outrun Bubba in a race about 1/2 a bike length every time in the 1/8 mile.
Power was never a problem it's just not smooth ,,,it's pipey and twitchy ,
and very very fast.
Give me Bubba any day.
I was waiting for Howard to come out and I could hear chatter and snickers and outright laughter all of which succeeded in doing one thing,,,turning my anger into pure rage.
"keep calm I thought,,,,don't let this rattle your cage "
"Ok Dan well it looks like he's done let's start getting thing;s packed up",,said the directors voice in my ear.
"NO NO NO ,,,I'M NOT DONE !",,,but noone was listening,,,my mic was turned off.
With Jerry the Director's voice barking out orders and the chatter of the crowd.
Howard made his appearance,,,,,,,,,,,
all noise stopped,,,,"HE'S GOT ANOTHER ONE !"
I heard Jerry yell to his crew.
the once noisy crowd was as silent as a graveyard.
In the quiet I heard the faint sound of Gnarles Barkley singing " My hero's had the heart to live the life I want to live ,,,
and all I remember is thinking I want to be like them !"
It made a smile come across my face just for a second
"fitting,,,"
To top everything off Howard had a bad battery I flipped the switch and turned the key,,,,,,,,,,,nothing.
I shut the key off flicked it again hit the button rew rew rew,,,BAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAAAAAAAAA ,,,,,,,,,,BRAAAAAAAAAAAAA
howard came to life!
"Gezzzzzzzz I'm gonna have heart failure !"
As I started to roll Howard Mark the Producer stopped me and said "Henry ,,,,we need to talk !"
"What ? " I asked.
"are you aware that your safety apron is destroyed?,,,,,,,,"
"YES !"
",,,,,and your ok with that?"
"yep"
"are you SURE?"
"I AM"
"Henry,,,,,,,you don't have to do this."
"Yes I do ."
"Your ready to jump?"
" your damn right I am !"
"Give em hell kid !,,,,,,,,,HE'S READY !"
"HENRY,,,THIS IS JERRY THE DIRECTOR CAN YOU HEAR ME ?,,,,,"
"YES JERRY,,"
"WHY SHOULD I FEEL OK WITH YOU JUMPING AND YOUR RAMP BEING DAMAGED,,,,,,WHY SHOULD I FEEL OK WITH THAT?"
"BECAUSE ,,, I'M NOT GOING TO HIT THAT DAMN THING AGAIN ,,,,,,,,NOT LIKE THAT."
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"
"OK,,,,,,,GO GET EM KID !"
Howard and I rode to the top of the street.
Braaaaaaaaaa,,,,,,,,,,braaaaaaaaaa
Thump thump to the top of the ramp.
No showmanship not this time just 100% focus
no showoff all business.
I flicked Howard in neutral and backed down the ramp.
No cops in the way nothing is gonna stop this
not this time.
Same as before short shift to second ,
first turn , more throttle
last turn , straight,HIT IT!
BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,,,,,,,,,,,BRAAAAAAAAAA
Howard sounded sweet .
Like a little red bat flying straight out of hell I hit the ramp with Howard in full song
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,,,
T H U M P !
"HE DID IT ! MAN HE F_____G DID IT!"
"WOW,,,,,,,THAT WAS COOL!,,,,GREAT JOB HENRY!!"
"HE'S GOING AGAIN !
Shift to second , first turn , last turn
BRAAAAAAAAAAAAA,,,,,,,,,,,BRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Again Howard did his job and I did mine.
My confidence was once again restored.
I brought Howard to a stop to loud applause and cheering .
It felt good , but I was still a little bent about my mishap earlier.
A huge weight had lifted off my shoulders
But this was still rehearsal and there was one more taxi to go into the line for the real thing.
I told Russ the brake needed adjusted
he went to work .
I had 6 hours to think about the days events.,,,
I used it.
I never changed clothes I never left.
I just sat there and looked at the area and ran it over and over in my head.
My anger settled down after the second good jump .
Hearing people snicker around after my bad first jump succeeded in doing one thing , focus.
I was thinking about if I did that again for the actual taping of the show ,,,,that was a crap sandwich I was NOT prepared to eat for the rest of my life !
As I sat and watched the camera guys change the quad cam from Bubba To Howard I saw Russ
Talking to Mark .
Both guys were smiling and seemed very happy
with the end result of the days events so far.
I walked up and Mark smiled at me and laughed and said "Henry ,,,you are one tuff guy !,,,,"man you scared me out there,,,
after that first jump you just walked up
and wanted another 4-wheeler!,,,you weren't even scared ! you looked like you wanted to kill someone!,,,,,HA HA !
Then you did the second and third jumps they were AWESOME!"
As Russ smiled I was busy looking at the ramps with a space for a cab in between
the ramp and the first cab,,,,AND a space
from the last cab to the landing ramp.
"How many cabs did you guys tell me were lined up?
"6 dude,,,,,,why?"
"That's seven,,,,,"
"You know each one of those spaces count !"
Russ and Mark both understood what I was saying,,,,,and both were equally pale.
"He's right,,,,"
I just walked away.
If there were six cars like they said instead
of seven I would have landed right on the mark.
Russ told me to check the brake while I was back there I did and it felt right.
I was more mad at messing Bubba up than getting hurt but I let it all go ,,,I had too.
Both guys had so much on there minds and they were just trying to help.
A girl walked up beside me and my dad and with a Irish accent asked "what are you jumping with mate?"
"My A.T.V. right there,,,,,,,,"I said.
"WOW!!! REALLY???,,,,,RIGHT ON MATE!
She walked away smiling.
A huge Black man walked up behind me and said "
I see that look in your eye my brother,,,
you got it and your going to be alright tonight,,,,,,but you already know that don't you?"
"Yep"
"I know you do,,,,you have that thing all around you man! you are one of those aren't
you my friend?"
"one of what"
"Your a doer not a dreamer ! your a rare one my friend."
I smiled and leaned over and shook his hand.
"Solomon"
"Henry"
"I know , Henry ,,,,Now you just go out there and show em Henry!"
He smiled and that's the last I remember seeing him , it was weird.
It got to be around 5:30 pm and I was looking at the ramps and all of a sudden I saw a back limo pull up right beside my takeoff ramp
I just really wasn't paying much attention to what was going on.
Applause broke out and out popped someone I had long been a fan of ,,Jamie Foxx !
Ha! how cool was this I thought.
Jamie looked really put together , big smile
on his face "is this you ? ,,,Jamie asked pointing at the ramps.
"Better be or I stole his clothes ." I joked.
Jamie laughed and walked up offered his hand.
I grabbed it smiled and said "I loved Ray,,,
but you'll always rock my world ",,,
He laughed and said "you so crazy!"
crossing his eyes,,,,
"Becareful brother "
and just that quick he was inside.
DAMN I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE!
(Tom and my dad were gone eating)
Soon , another limo pulled up and out came
actor Jimmy Smitts
"Do well tonight,," Jimmy smiled and said to me as he shook my hand.
DAMN NO PICTURE OF THAT EITHER!,,,,DAMN!
Soon Tommy and my father made there way back
and I could hear the show being taped with the ear piece in my ear .
"
Be ready "I told Tommy.
As I heard the show close I knew they would soon be coming out.
First came Jamie "where's you motorcycle at man?,,
"No bike tonight J"
"What you jumping with?"He asked.
"That,,," I pointed to Howard.
"For real ? wow man your brave,,,,,,
You do good tonight ok ? I'm gonna watch this
really,,, I'm gonna watch it,,,,,take care."
Second came Jimmy " you'll be fine .
I see it ,,,your calmer than I would be man,,
be safe !"
and he walked away.
It was getting dark , the shadows of all the building's starting to reach up and grow .
All of the lights were starting to shine and a huge crowd had began to gather.
Mark walked up and asked how long would it take me to get Howard warmed up and ready.
"5 to 10 min"
"Great do what you have to do and get ready."
I said ok and walked toward my little red Honda.
I though "ok,,,it's time ,,,Howard don't let me down !
I unhooked the charger flipped on the key
the green neutral light popped on
I flipped the choke and pushed the button.
roooooooommmmmmmmmmmmm!
Howard came to life .
I rolled away from the trailer roooooooooo
mmmmmmmm utmmmmmmmmm utmmmmmmm
"what the hell is going on now?"
Howard spit and sputtered.
"what the hell is wrong????????"
"think dude,,,,,,,,,,,think!"
Russ worked on the brakes he stood Howard up on end ,,,,,
AND SHUT THE FUEL OFF AND FORGOT TO TURN IT BACK ON.
"GEEEEZZZZZZZZUSSSSSSSS"
I flipped the lever
rooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Howard was sounding sweet as I rode past Russ I looked at him ,,,,,
"You shut the f_____g fuel off!"
Then I grinned "what the hell else was gonna happen?"
As I warmed up Howard back and forth down the street I was thinking how many times
I'd watched Evel , Robbie and countless other jumpers go threw this process.
It was a kind of foreplay between the jumper and the crowd.
The crowd was absolutely buzzing.
I rode up to the top of the street and shut
Howard off right in front of Mark He was waving at be to kill Howard so I shut it off right beside the take off ramp.
Then I saw a Black S.U.V. pull up on the other side of the ramp I heard a lot of commotion.
I was all rapped up in my jump and wasn't paying any attention at all.
Russ was standing beside me and I saw something catching the corner of my eye.
I still didn't pay any attention and the "something" kept trying to be seen by me .
I looked over , as soon as I did I saw a huge smile come across her face ,
I was staring face to face with Paris Hilton !
"Damn dude she's flirting with you ,,,,hahaha" Russ said. I couldn't believe it. but it was true she was being Very flirty.
She waved smiled and winked and mouthed the words "good luck"
"You've got to be kidding me ,,,,,,hahahaha" I laughed and waved back a kind of schoolboy wave like I was embarassed.
Goofball or not,,,,,,,man that chick was hott !
"Dude,,,,,,,you suck." Russ laughed at me .
I pulled Howard in front of the takeoff ramp and shut it off again Mark and his cameraguy were standing right in front of me .
"just listen a watch my hand signals",, Mark said.
So I began to hear the shows music start and off started the show.
Finally my time came "We have a guy outside on 53rd street from Van Wert Ohio any Ohioans here? anyone from the great Buckeye state?"
Dave asked.
"His name is Henry Rife I believe,,,,,,and ah ,,,,he is going to be doing something I have not seen before"
"Henry are you out there on 53rd street? "
I shook the numbness out of my hand as I spoke .
" Yea Dave,,,,,,,," I said
"nice to see ya Henry how are ya ?"
"I'm good how are you?",,,,,,,haha I was talking with David frekking Letterman haha!
"good ,,,what do you do in Ohio sir,,,?"
"Ah,,, I drive a semi"
"ah uh ,,,,that must be a good living right ?"
"Oh yea it's a good living ,,,I love my job"
"Do you go all over the country?"
"uh ,,,useally to Detroit."
"uh huh,,,,,,,oh,,,,,haha" Dave gave a nervous chuckle so did the crowd.
"Henry ,,,,um,,,,how are thing's in Detriot?"
I smiled and said "pretty grim"
The crowd busted out laughing I relaxed a bit after that.
"I'm sorry to hear that ",,Dave said
"Henry tell all the folks what it is you'll be doing tonight? I see a suit there and certainly a protective crash helmet"
What are you going to do for us this evening?"
"Well,, I'm going to take my A.T.V. and jump eight ,,uh,,seven I'm sorry New York City Taxi cabs"
"Wow,,,oh my GOD,,,now have you done this before ,,,Henry ?"
"I've never jumped any taxi cabs" ,,,,,the crowd laughed.
"Is this the largest jump you've ever attempted?"
"Naa, I've jumped bigger than this but,,,the space you guys gave me it's not enough taa,,,,"
It's our fault is that what your saying Henry ? all of a sudden it's my fault the street is not big enough for youuu!?"
Paul jumped in "it's not long enough!"
"so , when did you start doing this Henry?"
"I started jumping when I was five .."
"Any mishaps?"
"yea a couple ,,,,"
"Any broken bones?"
"yea more than a couple"
"Oh my GOD ,,,"
"But you do it for the fun is that correct?"
"ah yea I do it for the fun"
"I don't want to put words in your mounth but is it true you might be a adrinaline junkie?"
"That's an understatement"
So that was the first segment,,,,,,,,
Mark gave me the thumbs up he said "your doing great kid !"
In the next segment Dave said we understand it's six taxis not seven actually it was seven,,,,
but the last one was a space the director didn't like the safty deck on top of the last one.
we did a middle segement where Dave joked with me and I followed his lead ,,, people laughed.
I din't think it was a big deal but people liked it.
after Dave tore Paris up he came back to me .
"Anything you'd like to say before you attempt the jump?"
"Yea ,,I want to say all my love to my little boy Ethen,,"
"Ah,,,how old is Ethen?"
"He's seven,,,,"
"Do you let him do the jumps and stuff?"
"He told me the other day that he wants to be a Kung Fu Fighter,,,,"
" I see,,,,haha" Dave and the crowd cracked up.
"Good luck Henry anytime your ready ,,,take it away!"
"Thanks Dave!"
With that Mark gave me the cue I started Howard .
I remember thinking "Ok man,,,here it is this is the moment you have waited for all your life!"
"D O N ' T B L O W I T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"
Up the ramp I went ,,,one last look.
Coast back down , people were cheering " good luck Henry !"
up the street I went , short shift to second first turn , second turn HIT IT ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I gave Howard EVERYTHING it had , I had it absolutly pinned shift 3rd gear the cool air was letting Howard make a lot of power .
THUMP , THUMP !
I took off into the air as soon as I left I knew "I nailed it"
I just looked at the guy standing in the trailer , I saw his face the look of focus in his eyes.
That was a look I had grown to expect to see in every football game and every wrestling match I'd ever been in.
I knew he was right there , flying right beside me and I knew tonight he was VERY proud of his son.
WAAAAAAAAAK I hit the landing ramp right in the sweet spot and didn't even feel it.
I put my arm in the air looked over and saw my dad grinning and he gave me a thunbs up , I smiled.
Turned around and went back to another cameraman they were clapping and saying "Man that was cool"!
"How did I do?" I asked.
"Kid you did great,,,,were gonna have you back !"
so that's my story I hope you guys liked it.
It was for me , my oldest dream come true.
Take care.
Pitbull
