I guess you could say my biggest interest for the last 33 years was to find a way to "Get Back In The Game" as I love the stunt man thing more than life. I got hurt in the prime of my career in 1974. That was a long time ago and also a long time in a wheelchair when you want in your heart to be able to run with the big boys. Now that the idea of the GILL-A Monster Jet Trike is becoming a reality for me, my dreams have come true. My kids and my friends through the years support me in this venture. That will make it happen. So now the fun part, putting it all together... See you in 2008... in Vegas...Be There Or Be Square...
Music
Rock & Roll in Vegas on JACK-FM www.jackbaby.com ,One of my best friends, Engelbert Humperdinck, the "Master of Love Songs" some of us call him "Humpy" or "Enge"..After The Loving is his best song..How bout them Rolling Stones singing "Jumping Jack Flash" & Bob Seger " Turn The Page" Bobby Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone" or any of his tunes. Jimi Hendrix "The Watchtower" and many more " Foxy Lady" was hot, plus all of Janis Joplin..Oh Yes, don't forget the Beatles..then Really Good Country & Great Blues Too..
Movies
Good Action Movies, like "Above The Law" or any movie that Steven Segal is in. I like chase and crashs like in all the BOND MOVIES. One of my best friends in my jumping days was Joie Chitwood Jr. who did the stunts in all the big BOND MOVIES of the 70's, like "LIVE AND LET DIE" Joie was the best stuntman of his time is why they chose him for the BOND MOVIES... I was honored doing a few shows with Joie. If I hadn't got hurt in my prime, he was going to have me do a BOND MOVIE with him. What a "HOOT" that would have been. Joie also got the RYDER TV COMMERCIAL for me to do that was Produced and Directed by the great MICHAEL SLOAN...
Television
I AM NOT A BIG TV FAN OTHER THAN SPORTS WHEN THE DALLAS COWBOYS PLAY AND MY FAVORITE GAME SHOW WHEEL OF FORTUNE..WITH VANNA WHITE!! SHE IS SUCH A BABE, ALWAYS WAS AND STILL HAS A LOT OF MILES LEFT ON HER!!
Books
Not much of a reader, I know that's not good. Reading takes to long, I would rather watch the movie....or look at a sexy picture of a hot babe!
Heroes
JESUS CHRIST,GOD ALMIGHTY, MY MOM & DAD....ALL MY KIDS ARE MY HERO's..
Northeast High School
St Petersburg, FL
Graduated: 1964
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Major: Racing Bikes
Minor: Racing Bikes
Clubs: Rotary Club
I am Monster Bob, In the 70's, I used my real name, Bob Gill & I Jumped Cars Without the use of a Landing Ramp. My National Sponsors were Kawasaki Motor Corporation, The United States Navy, Valvoline Motor Oil, Bell Helmets & Bates Leathers.
I set the World Record in Seattle, Washington at SIR Dragway on July 17th 1973 Jumping 22 Cars to a Record Distance of 171 feet listed in the 1974 & 1975 Book Of Records. I also did the TV Commercial for Ryder Trucks in 1973 that was listed as The Best Commercial of the Year Making Ryder the Number "1" Truck Rental in the USA. It was viewed by over 140 Million Worldwide shown on Super Bowl "8". Also, I was the First to do a Canyon Jump in New Orleans on April, 16th 1972 to a Record 152 feet with No Catch Ramp. It was nick named Cajun Canyon.. Finally, on August 25th, 1974, while Attemping a World Record Lake Jump in West Virgina, I fell 3 feet short and had a 95 mph crash into the bank leaving me with a Spinal Cord Injury confined to a Wheelchair.
$1.2 Million Dollars For Spinal Cord Research
In 1976, after my injury, I built a hand controlled Kawasaki 900 four cyclinder side hack to carry my wheelchair. I rode it 8,000 miles cross country from St. Petersburg, Florida to Hollywood, California by way of Boston threw rain, cold, heat & hail storms. Having a press conference every day to raise money and awareness to spinal cord injury. Kemmons Wilson, Sr. the Founder & CEO of Holiday Inn's was one of my big sponsors. They furnished Suites for me in my 30 city, 30 day trip. $1.2 Million dollars was raised on the trip to be spent by the charity "NPF" on new cars and bigger pay checks. Not a dime towards recovery. That is why my foundation, "The Bob Gill Foundation" was started to help people walk again. When I redo that trip again, I am looking to raise $5 million dollars to go to the foundation.
"BACK IN THE GAME"
Now after 34 years, I am "BACK IN THE GAME" with THE GILL-A MONSTER JET TRIKE! See Me in 2008, Las Vegas, NV. Be There or Be Square.... Go to my website for more info: http://www.thebobgillfoundation.com
"TIME LINE FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY"
I know all my friends think I am crazy, but they have said that before. While in Butte, Montana this year at Evel Days 2007, I was speaking with Doug Danger about his Jet ATV he has in Massachusetts. I was just playing with him about me riding it sometime at his bar the "Danger Zone". He was telling me that was crazy as it is so unstable I could get hurt. So I asked him what could we do to make it safe to ride. He told me the throttle up was very erratic and it would take an expert like Doug Rose the Jet Car King to get it setup right. I thought that was really cool as Doug Rose was a good friend of mine over 30 years ago when I was jumping. I jumped at many NHRA tracks he performed at during the early 70's. He drives the Jet Car "Green Mamba" with over 3000 wins in the last 35 years. He is the King of Kings in Jet Car safety and setup. Doug is still doing it at 70 years old. So now I know I will be plugged into the best of the best.Now I have the best design engineer from the Hollywood film industry, Eddie Paul building my V-8 Blown Chevy, Duel Jet engine Jet Trick as we speak to be completed in Fall 2008. What a team to know to play with a jet engine.
"The Studio Services Division of
E.P. Industries, Inc.
& the Resume of Eddie Paul"
http://www.epindustries.com/epi.html
For over 30 years, Eddie Paul and the Circlescan 4D Productions staff have been working behind the scenes to provide film and television audiences with the wildest props, spectacular stunts, special effects, and the most memorable custom and nostalgic vehicles ever to appear onscreen. From the custom hot rod that John Travolta drove to stardom on "Grease" to the high-tech van that saved "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial", Eddie Paul has established a solid reputation for creating and providing exactly what the script calls for on time. If your production requires more than just the average special effect, vehicle, prop, or animation, give us a call. Circlescan 4D camera and video systems, maintains a complete in-house filming, animating and video editing facility along with a fully staffed, full-time machine shop equipped with state-of-the-art machinery for fabricating props, sets, camera mounts and special effects/stunt vehicles.
"LOU ROCKET RE" IS HOT"
Now my mind is going mach 10 over this venture. Also while in Butte, I watched Lou Rocket Re do his firewall crashes to set a world record of 12 firewalls with great success. Once again my mind is thinking I really want to get "BACK IN THE GAME" and I think I know how after 33 years in a wheelchair watching others doing my dreams. I talked in length with Robbie Knievel about it to. He gave me his cell number to keep him updated on the project as he was interested in doing some things together. So the idea is born. I am building a "GILL-A MONSTER JET TRIKE" to do firewall crashes with at over 100 mph. Go crashing through a record number of 13 firewalls spaced 10 feet apart, 130 feet, a little different then Rocket RE did to set a NEW WORLD RECORD. It will be the first JET TRIKE ever to attempt it. This is a very dangerous venture as if just one nail from the firewalls go's into the jet it could explode into a ball of fire and kill the driver.. ( that's me ) That is why I need the advice of the experts I just told you about. Rocket RE will be happy with the saftey issues too as Jim Deist Safety will keep us safe with fire proof suits that will keep us alive in 90 seconds of flames if needed. Rocket RE is going to be my back-up jet trike pilot if I should get hurt and can't perform... you all know, "THE SHOW MUST GO ON"
..
"IT'S GETTING REAL"
So now the concept of doing this is now becoming reality. Having me come out of retirement after 34 years at the young old age of 62 to do this will be a media frenzy. It will be like you have never seen before. Whoever is hooked to me as a major sponsor will get more mileage from this one event than anything they are doing now 10 fold. I would bet my life ESPN will be there with bells on to cover this record event. One thing Evel & I shared in our jumping careers is we never had to share the spotlight. Example, when a big sponsor is involved in a NASCAR Sponsorship, they share there name with 40 or more racers. When we would perform in front of 10's of thousands of fans, we were the only kid on the block. Every eye was on us...PERIOD and who we represented was at the forefront. That is a sponsors dream. That is what you will get with me and the GILL-A MONSTER JET TRIKE, undivided attention. No one will take a bite of there hot dog, afraid they might miss something. When you capture an audience like that, you are worth millions. For a tax deferred donation to "The Bob Gill Foundation" you get that kind of attention at 50 of the nations top race ways in front of thousands of fans looking only at your game for 5 years. Where can you get that kind of exposure for that kind of money today. A 30 second Super Bowl Commercial cost over 3 Million Dollars for one time. So listen up out there. This is a golden opportunity if you take a bite of this Apple NOW...
"OMG TO WALK AGAIN!"
The reason for only 10 shows a year is because I will be spending 2 weeks a month getting treatments in France to walk again, and 2 weeks a month to promote the shows. This is going to be hard but also exciting as I will be getting better as the months go by. It will be like having your cake and eat it too... we are looking to have a International Carrier, like Delta, Air France,Virgin Airways Etc. for transportation.We can do a product placement deal together with them on the two documentaries being done on me to walk again and another for the "BACK IN THE GAME" This is going to be a real FUN VENTURE!! I thank God for the opportunity to not only walk again myself, but to help others do the same that are injured in sporting events or anything else around the world from the Sponsor Donations to "The Bob Gill Foundation".
"LET'S DO IT AGAIN FOR $5 MILLION"
I also want to take a 30 day time frame out in 2009 to do the Cross Country Ride to generate the $5,000,000.00 I want for the Foundation. This will make it possible to help pay the hospital fee's in France to allow the under privileged ones to walk again.
"Debbie Lawler The Flying Angel"
Debbie Lawler, The Flying Angel of the 70's will be on tour with us too.. She is the pretty young girl jumper who beat Evel Knievel's indoor record in the Houston Astrodome. She holds the womans motorcycle jumping record and is such an asset to have on tour with Spanky Spangler & myself. We all love her & so will you..
"TV TOMMY IVO"
Now do any of you remember Tommy from the Mickey Mouse Club?? I am date stamping you if you remember. Tommy became years later "TV TOMMY IVO" driving a 4 engine exhibition car that made more noise and smoke than anything on the planet. The crowd loves smoke, fire & lots of noise at drag strips. TV Tommy gave them that. He even wore an original Mickey Mouse Club watch with diamonds on each number like a Rolex has now. He was a great Icon & Showman to say the least. His trailer was all glass on both sides so you could see this monster 4 engine car in the trailer going down the hiway. That is what I want our trailer to be like to see the Gill-A Monster Jet Trike in transit around the country. First Class is the only way to go as far as I am concerned.
Somewhere around $500,000 to build the Gill-A Monster Jet Trike and back-up trike, test it and anything else needed to complete this venture. The other money will go into "The Bob Gill Foundation" to use for making people walk again from spinal cord injury. All monies generated from the promotion of the Gill-A Monster Jet Trike will go directly into the Foundation. That is a good plan, that will work.
"THE DANGERS, THEN JUST DO IT"
While I am getting ready my personal announcer will be telling the people all about the dangers of doing this feat with a jet engine. Then I will start the 850 HP V-8 engine and go back 300 feet from the first firewall. line up the Gill-A Monster Jet Trike in the middle of the drag strip and lock the brakes on, then start the jet engine while the announcer tells the crowd what I am doing. I throttle up the V-8 to max performance and do a big fire burnout, then back up, get lined up again and hit the after burner on the twin jets, cut the brakes loose and go up to over 100 mph blowing through 13 firewalls spaced 10 feet apart for a total distance of 130 feet of pure fire. Blowing the flaming firewalls into little pieces and all the pyro explosives going off at each firewall creating lots of fire and smoke, then coming out of the last firewall taking a fresh breath of air and pulling the chute with my big sponsors name all over it to a NEW WORLD RECORD.
I would love to meet Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune as I have watched her for over 25 years and she has always been my secret lover... everyone has a secret lover somewhere on the planet that isn't real, just fun to have one as special as she is. I always thought if I was on Wheel Of Fortune and won the $100,000 cash prize, I wouldn't care about winning the $100,000 , it would be meeting Vanna that would make my day..She would be worth every dime!! Vanna has been and is for sure a real BABE in my book!!
Then the lady singer I have loved since she hit the charts, the one and only Bonnie Tyler.. OMG to meet her!!
I think in the guy department, it would be Jay Leno of the Tonight Show. He has some real cool bikes including a jet bike I would like to see and just be friends with such a funny guy. Jay put on some big shoes taking over from Johnny Carson. He is getting better every day. I had a shot at the Tonight Show With Johnny Carson once, but my tour was so intense I had to pass. Big mistake missing that..Oh Well!! Maybe a GILL-A MONSTER JET TRIKE Firewall Crash on the Tonight Show would be the utmost.
David Letterman would be cool to meet too. Who knows, after we start the tour at the end of 2008...going on there shows just might happen.. I put up some good video clips of Jay & Johnny, enjoy them.
Clint Eastwood has always been my hero, meeting him would be unreal...we will see what happens..
The clip below is my Promo Video of my whole career from 1970 to August 25th 1974 when I was hurt jumping a 200 foot lake for a new world record..Also you will see my Ryder Truck Commercial jumping the whole fleet of Ryder Truck's shown on Super Bowl "8" with a worlwide viewing of over 140 million people. Not bad for a southern boy. This video was produced, edited & directed by Chantal at No Fly Zone Pictures, Hollywood, Ca. She is the best story telling editor I know and also is an Award Winning Writer and was a model with William Morris Agency for 10 years in her prime. I am very proud of this video as she has 100's of hours invested all donated to The Bob Gill Foundation to help others walk again around the world..Again, Thank You Chantal...
