Fun Facts
WORLD WHEELIE RECORD MILEAGE DISPUTE:
Cycle News published “102” miles, but the Ascot lap counting scoreboard confirmed it was 112 miles. Guiness published “111” miles, and Domokos’ manager claimed the Ascot track was not a regulation approved ½ mile oval track!!! Too good!!! Even if that were true to the inside line of the track, Tilson often rode the far outside of Ascot Park’s slanted oval to avoid extra rough patches of ruts and grooves. For the same reason, Tilson also rode right of center through the straights. This begs the question of whether or not Tilson actually wheelied further than 112 miles on December 6, 1983!!! Nevertheless, Tilson smashed any non-stop wheelie record at the time, by a long-shot, and won the Wheelie Wars race to be the first man ever to reach and exceed the bounds of a 100 mile wheelie!
EVEL KNIEVEL CALLS BRANDEN:
Tilson says “I had the honor of sharing the Good News with Evel Knievel and building two wheelie bikes for his son Robbie Knievel. Robbie and I spent several hours practicing our wheelies together and testing new ideas. It started one day in 1983 when Branden answered our house phone as a young boy. It was Evel Knievel introducing himself to Branden and eventually asking if his dad, Tilson was home. To this point, Evel Knievel and I had never met. The funny part was that the conversation went on for awhile because Branden didn’t want something named “evil” get to his dad, so Branden questioned EveL Knievel about his name and if it was really “Evil” (thinking of the incorrect spelling). Eventually, Evel Knievel told Branden, “Because, that’s the name my mom gave me”. Branden slowly handed me the phone as if not wanting to. Evel saw me on the cover of Cycle News and called to ask that I teach his son Robbie how to wheelie, so we began to meet up at Robbie’s place in Canyon Lake, Southern California. I remember Evel’s daughter was a missionary. Evel wanted me to prepare an opening prayer for a jump he was planning in San Diego. I met with his manager to discuss the event, which would have been his last jump, but it never happened.
FIRST MINI BIKE: Tilson got his mini bike ( a Hodaka) in the summer of 1964 and immediately began making upgrades for better handling. This would one day lead to working with Evel Knievel who recognized Tilson and his buddies as the leaders in wheelie riding and wheelie bike design.
TILSON’S FIRST REAL BIKE: Tilson rode what he called “a real bike”, for the first time in 1966, it was a good friend’s yellow Yamaha 80cc. As any typical 7th grader, he felt empowered to be at the controls of a bike that actually shifted gears! It was like graduating from a direct-drive lawn-mower engine to a “real motorcycle” Tilson says. (From a mini-bike to a 2-stroke dirt bike).
YAMDAKA: When Tilson grew out of his Hodaka 90 mini-bike, his dad Howard Shumate landed him a Yamaha 80. The Yamaha engine eventually seized and was ruined, but as usual, Howard’s ingenuity saved the day… He took the Hodaka 90 engine out of the mini bike, and put it in the Yamaha. Tilson’s bike became known among the riders at Motorcycle Hill (off Beach Blvd, Hwy 39), as the Yamdaka. By this time Tilson started to be known as, “The Wheelie Guy”.
CARLSBAD RACEWAY: In 1968, Tilson’s name found its way into Cycle News. Among the many names in the race results, he placed 4th in the 125cc junior class on a red framed, chrome tanked five speed Hodaka Ace 100. In his mind, seeing his name in Cycle News made him a superstar. He said, “I must have read the 4th place name plate on my trophy a hundred times.” Actually his wheelie roll-model of the sixties was European rider Torleif Hansen, a Husqvarna rider.
A FAMILY THING: The Suzuki TS 100/125 models were named after motocross wheelie rider Tilson Shumate. His older brother was chief designer for US Suzuki in La Mirada California.
LINKS WITHIN OUR SITE:
WORLD RECORD BREAKING STORY WITH PHOTOS (HOMEPAGE)
EVEL KNIEVEL | WHEELIE CHAMPION MIRACULOUS CONNECTIONS
“EUROPEAN” AMERICAN RIDER STYLE | VINTAGE MOTO-X PIC
CHASING THE PERFECT WHEELIE | CHASING PERFECT SURF
GEARING UP (CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO)
LOST MEDIA | PHOTOS FROM FANS TRICKLING IN
FUN FACTS | WHEELIE STORIES ALONG THE WAY
SHUMATES ESCAPE WILDFIRE IN 2018, HOME & STORAGE BURNT TO GROUND