Published: June 29, 2008 12:09 am         

Stunt riders star at Windber

WINDBER — Shane Fleegle was so impressed by the motorcycle stunt team StarBoyz the 14-year-old was itching to duplicate the stunts on his dirt bike. He offered one caveat.

“I can do some of the stuff already,” he said.

The Windber youth was one of hundreds who turned out for Saturday’s 1 p.m. demonstration on Graham Avenue.

The stunt team from Akron, Ohio, bravely mounted three motorcycles doing wheelies and other stunts, sometimes with two people on one bike.

It was part of Thunder in the Valley motorcycle event.

“It was pretty sweet, wheelies and burnouts,” Shane said.

StarBoyz has been performing for more than 10 years.

They practice weekdays and perform on weekends, said Kevin Marino. He partnered with Scott Caraboolad to get the team started.

They came to stardom when their first video was circulated after a California business spotted them on the television news.

StarBoyz then began booking shows in 1996.

Marino cautions young bikers looking to duplicate the team’s stunts.

“A lot of kids watch and then buy a bike and think they can do it,” he said. “That’s definitely dangerous.”

With practice the stunts can be copied, he said.

“It’s all about how much you put into it,” Marino said.

Chastity Doell of Johnstown turned out with her children, Brody, 21/2, and Cheyenne, 4, and her brother in-law Philip.

“It was pretty cool. The kids really liked it,” she said.

Doell said she is isn’t likely to allow her son to perform such stunts.

“Because I’m his mother I would have to say no,” she said.

     

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