Did
you know there is royalty in motorcycling? We have a King (Kenny Roberts), a Sultan
of Supercross (Jeremy McGrath) and a Prince of Peoria (Chris Carr). In 2018 we
induct another member of motorcycling royalty into the Trailblazers Hall of
Fame, Debbie Evans, the Queen of Trials.
Debbie
is considered a pioneer in Observed Trials competition. She was the first woman
to compete in FIM World Championship Trials and was dubbed the “Queen of
Trials” by the motorcycling press. She was also the first woman to successfully
ride in the U.S. Trials during the late 1970’s and is considered one of the
best female Trials riders in the history of the sport.
Debbie
was born in Lakewood, California, on February 5, 1958. The daughter of an avid
motorcyclist, she learned to ride when she was just six years old. Her father
was a Trials rider and young Debbie grew up around the sport. She entered her
first Trials when she was nine and took third in her class.
At
a time when there were no classes for girls, Debbie competed successfully
against the guys and rose-up in the Trials ranks quickly. She earned a sponsorship
from Yamaha. In addition to Trials competition; Debbie began giving exhibition
shows, first at fairs and local races, and eventually in front of thousands of
fans at Grand National and Supercross events. Her trademark move became a trick
in which she would stop her motorcycle, balance stopped on two-wheels, and
perform a headstand on the seat.
Debbie
became the first woman to obtain expert classification in Trials, and in 1979,
she recorded another first when she scored a victory in the sportsman class at
the U.S. Trials Nationals. At just 19, Debbie accepted an invitation to race in
the grueling Scottish Six Days. She proved her skill by not only finishing the
event, but placing an impressive fourth in the 175cc division against some of
the best riders in the world.
While
she was attending college and competing on weekends, a friend called to ask if
she would be interested in doing stunt work for a movie, and a new career began.
The movie was Death Sport with David
Carradine and Debbie proved to be an exceptional stunt rider. This first movie
was just the beginning. Her expert Trials skills gave her the perfect
background to plan and pull off the trick riding required for Hollywood stunts.
Debbie rapidly became one of the leading stunt actors in Hollywood. She
performed stunts on many of the top TV shows and movies from the 1980’s to the
present day. Along the way she was thrilled to get to work with some great
riders who made the move into stunts including Bud Ekins, Dave Ekins, John
Hateley and others.
It
was Debbie who doubled for Lynda Carter for motorcycle stunts in the hit series Wonder Woman and that was her wheeling
the big full-dressed Kawasaki CHP bikes in CHiPs,
doubling for Pam Anderson in Barb Wire,
and later riding as “Trinity” doing the motorcycle stunts in the Matrix movies. Debbie has been seen in multiple
TV shows, commercials, and movies and has been recognized for her
accomplishments by winning numerous awards for her stunts, including a
prestigious Taurus World Stunt Award in 2002.
With
stunt work taking up most of her time, Debbie stopped competing in Trials for
nearly two decades. Then, in 1998, Italy hosted the first Women’s Trials World
Championship. After 18 years away from the sport, and at 40 years old, Debbie
still had enough talent and skill to finish eighth in the world. The next
season she led a U.S. squad that finished third overall in a Women’s Trials
Team competition.
Debbie
Evans-Leavitt is married to three-time U.S. Trials Champion Lane Leavitt. The
two have often collaborated in business ventures, including teaching Trials
schools and forming a top stunt-work agency. They still ride together, work
doing stunts, and have raised three children and one grandchild.
The
Trailblazers proudly welcome Debbie Evans-Leavitt—the Queen of Trials—to our
Hall of Fame.
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