Biking Heroes: Eddie Kidd

With him currently doing his own London Marathon in aid of a children's cancer charity, it seems you can't go very far without tripping over stories about Eddie Kidd lately. But it wasn't always like that - for the last 15 years or so he has been largely hidden from public view. A footnote in history as someone who might have been famous once. However, those of us of a certain age know better - for Eddie Kidd was, and remains, the real deal.

Motorcycle racing and stunt riding exploded in popularity during the 1970s. The dominant personalities of the era were Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts and a certain brash American named Evel Knieval. Addicted to glare of publicity and the glamour and glitz of a superstar lifestyle, in his career heyday Knievel's motorcycle jumps were televised across America. He was making big money and had a huge film and merchandising operation behind him. I still recall, as a 10-year old boy, queuing outside the ABC in Wimbledon to see Evel Knieval the movie - I also had the toy stunt figure and bike. Such simple pleasures in those days....

But then, along came Eddie Kidd. Brave, fit, good looking, he had all the chat and was more at home in jeans and a leather jacket than stars and stripes-studded cape and boots - so in lots of ways, Eddie was the complete antithesis to Knieval. A very British hero. He was also one of those very rare people who, while being adored by legions of female admirers, was equally popular amongst blokes - and he appealed to all age-groups. He was a huge hero of mine. 

Eddie made over 10,000 jumps between his debut in 1974 as a fourteen year old and that fateful day in 1996. In doing so he surpassed Knieval and set numerous jumping records. Then it all came to a crashing end. He suffered serious head and pelvic injuries in a crash at the Bulldog Bash at Long Marston Airfield, when a landing went wrong. In comparison to many of his previous jumps, this stunt was relatively minor - a jump of fifty feet or so across a drag strip. Though he landed the bike upright and on two wheels, Eddie was knocked unconscious and was unable to prevent the bike from continuing up and over a thirty foot drop beyond the end of the run off area. He was in a coma for six weeks afterwards - his career over.

Much of the time since has been spent dealing with his disabilities, which are significant. Without the support of anything like the Knieval Corporation, when he crashed Eddie, somewhat unbelievably, was uninsured and all the money he had made during his career has since gone on medical bills and adaptations. He now lives in Sussex, dependent on state benefits. 

But does he let all this misfortune get him down? Not a bit. With the aid of an adapted walking frame, he has re-emerged into public view with his heroic marathon round London's streets and so far has raised nearly £53,000 for his chosen charity. Eddie is currently at the 20-mile mark and is due to finish at Buckingham Palace on Monday 6 June. He describes it as his greatest stunt yet.

I hope he gets a huge crowd when he finally walks across the finishing line.

Mrs CC and I were lucky enough to get to meet Eddie and his lovely wife Sami at the recent I, Superbiker premiere in Leicester Square. He's a terrific bloke and judging by the way he played around with the missus, still has that little glint in his eye! In a world that worships minor celebrity, X-Factor wannabees and the bloated millionaires that pass as Premiership footballers, Eddie Kidd stands tall as a REAL hero. All power to him.

Eddie's fundraising page is here