Featured on the front page of The Canberra Times 37 years ago, Norman Gray, of the Norman Gray Motor Cycle Spectacular, limped into the administration office and asked if he could cancel the afternoon performance but press on with the evening one.
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The motorcycle stuntman had impaled his foot during a weekend performance at the Royal Canberra Show.
Mr Gray's accident occurred during part of his act where he rode his powerful bike into a wheel of fireworks and it was locked into place while the wheel rolled over.
One of the metal pins that anchored the bike ripped his heavy leather boot and stabbed his foot. His screams for help went unheard over all the noise.
"It really hurt", he said.
Nevertheless, he pressed on with his performance with only 10 minutes to go. He finished the act safely and "emptied the boot, of blood" when he left the arena.
The president of the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society, Mr Rod Hanstein, said although Mr Gray's spirit had to be admired, he thought that this was one occasion when the show did not have to go on.
See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116392307
