Some sort of motorcycle dare devil show has been part of motorcycle events since the beginning. The Thousand Islands River Run committee quickly incorporated a motorcycle stunt show team as part of the entertainment lineup for last year’s event, and invited them back for the 2011 rally. They wanted a team of stunt riders with experience, and could perform stunts that would make the above average motorcyclist only dream about trying such electrifying motorcycle tricks.

The motorcycle stunt team is the Vertical Outlaws of southern Maine. These guys started out about a dozen years ago, a time when the freestyle streetbike revolution was just getting off the ground. They started out doing small wheelie competitions between friends that rode together on a regular basis. They became familiar and comfortable with each other’s moves and stunts, and eventually evolved into the team which they are today.

They currently have seven members, Jason Gousse, Chris Gousse, Joe Dryden, Frank Gatto, Tim Gatto, Dave Beaudin, and Craig Turcotte. They perform an average of 3 – 4 shows per month starting in April and going through October. They put on stunt shows from as far north as Canada and all the way down to southern Florida, and many states in between. The preferred motorcycle for their stunts is the Kawasaki Zx636, which is a lightweight powerful and durable machine that is also very popular within the stunt riding community.

The group has no particular leader, and all of their decisions are made on a joint basis, which is a quality that makes them a strong team supporting each other. All stunt members work full-time jobs, except for Joe Dryden, who is a full-time freestyle streetbike performer. Most of their motorcycle stunts are performed on weekends, and a few on special occasions.

When I asked them how did they get the name, Vertical Outlaws, they replied, “The vertical outlaw name came from the orientation of the bike and the fact what we were doing was and still is illegal on public roads.”

These guys are great with very supportive spouses and girlfriends. A couple new baby twins will soon join the group. Their stunts at the 2011 Thousand Islands River Run were spectacular, and we look forward to their 2012 return to the Bay.