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The Space
Wheel, when assembled, is close to 50 feet tall at it's apex.
It consists of the wheel, axes, counter weight and rigging.
This was one of the most popular acts that had preformed with our
circus. The Space Wheel, like the
Flying Trapeze, is very
versatile in that it can be set up at different heights, and used both
indoors and out.
The Space Wheel is one of the most
dangerous acts, even more so than the
Flying Trapeze or the Motorcycle Globe, since there is no way to use
safety lines or netting below because of it's constant rotation.
"The
Amazing Garcia" walked within the Space Wheel, causing it to rise into
the air. He performed different tricks inside the
Space Wheel such as, summersaults and juggling fire torches, while the
Space Wheel constantly revolved at different speeds.
While
walking on the outside of the wheel (pictured below) "The Amazing
Garcia" performed stunts like jumping rope, and running around the
outside blindfolded, while the wheel rotated in circles, making the act
even more dangerous.
He
often tempted fate by seeing how fast he could run around the outside
of the Space Wheel without loosing his balance.
 The final
stunt was to push himself away from the Space Wheel (pictured above)
just after it had gone past it's apex, and to catch the outside edges
as it rotated past him while he was in mid-air.
Catching the Space Wheel as he was falling, "The Amazing Garcia" would
ride the wheel until it rotated past the ground, letting go.
The momentum "pushed" him away just as he landed on the ground forcing
him to run forward so as not to get hit by the Space Wheels counter
weight (that you cannot see) as it rotated. Because of the
speed and force of the counterweight, it could easily have maimed or
even killed someone if they were in the way.
Every time "The Amazing Garcia" performed on the Space Wheel, the
audience was in awe.......and was so quiet, you could almost hear a pin
drop. Even the most experienced performers would stop to
watch him, knowing how dangerous of an act it really was.
Unfortunately, while touring with a different circus at Busch Stadium,
"The Amazing Garcia" fell off of the Space Wheel while it was almost at
it's highest point. His injuries were so severe, he was
hospitalized for over 18 months and was in rehabilitation for over two
years.
Living up to his circus name, "The Amazing Garcia" AMAZINGLY only walks
with a limp. This Space Wheel, which had given so many
audiences "thrills & chills" has been retired by the only man
in circus history to accomplish so many great feats of
courage. His performing days on the Space Wheel are over, but
he continues to travel with circuses to this day.
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