The Curtis family, front row: Kim, left, and Lincoln. Back row: Harley Madison, Rick and Jordan. Lisa Stark photos.
In a breathtaking, gravity-defying motorcycle performance, the Curtis family of daredevils (The Real Steel Riders) showed what they were made of at the 2016 annual Gibtown Bike Fest held Jan. 15-17 at the IISA event grounds.
The three-person motorcycle team composed of “Wild Child” Lincoln, age 13, “Caveman” Jordan, age 23, and “The Beast” Harley Madison, age 17, performed the Globe of Death in a 12-foot metal cage at speeds of up to 45 mph, while dad Rick served as emcee, and mom Kim added her own entertaining flourish to the act.
The Bike Fest was a crowd-pleasing three-day event with Real Steel Riders performing daily. Popular at this year’s bike show were the daredevil acts that combined high-speed motorcycle stunts with lights, fire and fog effects.
“We stand out because of our flamboyant kids and because we add fire and special effects to our act,” said Kim, who credits her long family history in the circus industry for her unconventional lifestyle.
“I was born and raised in the business,” said Kim, a ninth-generation circus performer whose ancestors have included elephant trainers, acrobats, aerialists, fire-eaters, lion tamers, contortionists, dancers and musicians. “Our family tree goes all the way back to 1763,” said Kim, “and we still have the circus tradition in our hearts.”
Present at the Globe of Death Show on Saturday was Kim’s mother, Mimi Zerbini, a former aerialist and Walt Disney World’s First Tinkerbell. She talked about some of the changes that have taken place in the industry, including the recent removal of the elephants from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. “I feel awful about them taking the elephants out,” said Mimi. “They’ve always been an important part of the show, and we will really miss them.”
“Caveman” Jordan,
age 23.
“The Beast” Harley Madison, age 17.
“Wild Child” Lincoln,
age 13.
Tarzan Zerbini of the famed Zerbini Family Circus is Kim’s uncle, and her cousin Patricia Zerbini is the co-founder of Two Tails Ranch near Gainesville, a refuge for elephants who have retired from the circus or the zoo and are in need of temporary or permanent housing.
The Curtis family now lives on 2.1 acres in rural Wimauma, where the children complete their education through online programs rather than traditional schools, giving them the flexibility to train and travel for the show. “It’s a lifestyle with a lot of pick-up-and-go,” said Kim. “We don’t sit still for very long.”
The family travels to festivals, state fairs and bike fests all around the country in a two-rig caravan that includes their roomy RV living quarters plus a large trailer to transport the structure for the Death Globe.
“After being home for a few weeks, we’re ready to go again,” said Kim, who said they meet all kinds of interesting people on their journeys throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Kim’s mother, Mimi Zerbini, was the first Tinkerbell at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Photo courtesy of Kim Curtis.
Harley Madison, nicknamed “The Beast,” is a pretty teenager of 17 who has the normal interests of her high school peers — with the exception of her passion for daredevil bike stunts. “There are only a handful of females who do this,” said her mother Kim, “so we are very proud of her.”
“I like to be different,” said Harley Madison. “I don’t like to follow the crowd.” And while other girls her age are more focused on makeup, clothes, and fashion, Harley said: “I hate girly things — I hate pink. I’m a huge tomboy, and I like to prove that girls have power.”
Her 13-year-old brother, “Wild Child” Lincoln, wears his hair in a fluorescent green mohawk, which he admits to sometimes wearing “around town.” In addition to his professional act, he also enjoys riding dirt bikes on trails for fun and playing video games that feature motorcycles. His idol is “Wall of Death” star Shawn Ives, 24, who was also performing in his own act at the Bike Fest.
For more information about the Curtis family, look for Real Steel Riders on Facebook.com. You may also find more information on Two Tails Ranch at www.allaboutelephants.com.
