On this day: August 30, 2004

On this day, August 30, 2004, Larry Desmedt, known as Indian Larry, died at 3:45 a.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina of injuries he suffered doing a motorcycle stunt. He was 55.

Desmedt had gone to Charlotte for the shooting of an episode of "Biker Build-Off," in which he has successfully competed with other riders of custom made motorcycles. Desmedt fell off his motorcycle while performing before a crowd of around 8,000 people at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center as part of the Liquid Steel Classic and Custom Bike Series.

 

Pictured: Indian Larry and his 'Grease Monkey' chopper

Desmedt was performing his most famous stunt, standing on the seat of the moving motorcycle, when the bike started to wobble, and he lost control. Paramedics were standing by and aided Desmedt until he could be airlifted to the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Because his full name wasn’t immediately available, hospital officials couldn’t discuss his condition, citing federal privacy laws.

The last words reportedly that Desmedt uttered were to his wife Bambi, saying, "Sweetie, sweetie." Bambi, known as the "Mermaid of Coney Island" his wife since June 3, 2000 was also at the event. Desmedt was cremated per his request, the location of his ashes are currently unknown to the general public.

A memorial service was held at his shop, Indian Larry Enterprises in Brooklyn, New York from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on September 19. The memorial service was packed with thousands of bikers from across the country, including Billy Lane, several HAMC members and the Rumblers car club.

The crowd was so large that parking extended to several blocks, and local police directed traffic. The entertainment included Six Gun Republic, an ice sculpture was created in a likeness of Desmedt dressed in full Native American headdress.

 Photo attribution: Indian Larry Motorcycles

Learn more about Indian Larry: IndianLarry.com
Learn more about Bambi: BambiTheMermaid.com
Larry Desmedt at Find A Grave: Lawrence Desmedt-9391696


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