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PORT ROYAL – Agricultural fairs have been in existence for almost 200 years. Fair managers quickly learned the value of automotive entertainment. In fact, auto racing and automobile thrill shows became a vital source to some fairs’ survival. Things have changed slightly since promoters discovered music concerts produce income as well. There are still a handful of fairs with auto racing. There’s also one remaining stunt and thrill show.
Tonny Petersen has enjoyed a full life doing exactly what he loves. In fact, Petersen wouldn’t change a thing.
Petersen begrudging admits he is 80 years old but also adds, “I like to say I’m 47.”
Petersen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and entered show business at a young age. By the time he turned 14, Petersen was performing in America thrilling crowds. That was Petersen’s first career.
Acrobatic performances brought him to America. Petersen performed in both an acrobatic troupe and thrill show early on. His balancing act allowed him to perform on TV for Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason and Queen Elizabeth among others.
Petersen went back and forth between the U.S. and Europe eight or nine times playing the circuit. His desire to return and remain in the U.S. necessitated the need for an immigration sponsor.
Enter Jack Kochman, one of the greats of the thrill show business. Kochman’s group, known as the Jack Kochman Hell Drivers, toured the world. Eventually they would have five different groups working the U.S. at one time. They weren’t the only thrill show either. The Chitwoods were also traveling with multiple shows.
Business was booming for Jack Kochman in the late 1950s. Petersen became a big part of the act and along the way a connection to Juniata County was born that exists to
this day.
“I think it started with Pete Groce,” Petersen said. “That was ’57 or ’58. We had as many as eight guys from Juniata County working in our show. Groce, Dave Cisney, Tom Howard, the Casner boys – they were all a big part of the show. We performed at the World’s Fair in 1964 and ’65. We performed 3,700 shows in two seasons.”
The program book offers a glimpse into the Juniata County boys. Pete Groce is billed as the “King of Car Crashes” having already successfully destroyed more than 2,000 cars. Tom Howard’s profile is listed. And there’s a third fellow who is credited as the youngest performing member of the show. Then 23 years old, Butch Renninger of Mifflintown joined the group four years earlier after leaving his former job as a milkman.
Renninger performed both car and motorcycle acts. Petersen said Renninger just wanted to be part of the show.
“We all did whatever it took. If you needed to be the show clown, you got dressed and did it. Butch did bike stunts and whatever else was needed,” he said.
Doing whatever it takes is the story of this year’s thrill show that performs during the fair at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. It’s a show and season that almost never happened.
Johnny Wisner and Petersen have kept the thrill show business alive in America. Their act was the last remaining stunt show in America. It has performed with other stars under the name Black Cat Hell Drivers.
Unfortunately, Wisner became seriously ill and was unable to travel. Wisner’s first thought was the season would have to be canceled. Petersen and others still believe the show must go on and set about to rescue this season’s effort.
“We put the whole show together on the phone in about three and a half weeks,” Petersen said. “I called Tim Chitwood and Chris Moreno. They contacted people. We all had something left from previous shows we worked on. They equipment isn’t new but it works fine. We’ve put together a once-in-a-lifetime thrill show that will never be repeated. Port Royal is our final show. There will be a thrill show next year but with different people. You won’t see this show again.”
The cast of performers is impressive. Petersen is the stunt coordinator and performs car acts. Chitwood was part of his father’s troupe of Joie Chitwood Chevy Thunder shows that barnstormed America. Moreno and Petersen worked on the now-defunct Toyota Hollywood Stunt Show. The group has amassed an impressive resume performing stunts for numerous movies and TV shows. A number of James Bond movies are among their credits.
The show includes two-wheel driving, dive bomb car crashes, motorcycle acts, ramp-to-ramp jumps and a performer crashing through a burning wall of fire while riding head first on the hood of a car.
Make no mistake, there’s a definite element of danger that remains to this day, but Petersen doesn’t dwell on it.
“You can get hurt or killed walking down the street,” he said. “We’re in a dangerous profession. You don’t think of the danger. We don’t get it right every time. You just keep going.”
The group stresses safety while reminding all to never try these stunts at home.
“Lucky Teeter, Snooks Wentzel, Bill Reed and George Patton all paved the way. Teeter was killed at the Indiana State Fair in 1942 while performing a ramp-to-ramp jump that came up short,” Petersen said. “Teeter died instantly in what was billed a benefit performance for the Army-Navy Relief Fund during World War II. Teeter had been drafted and was set report for military duty the day after he died.”
Petersen loves performing and enjoys his friends from Juniata County. Petersen stays in contact with family members of the Juniata County thrill show gang. Much fun has been enjoyed since Petersen arrived in town. Camping and golf have been regular activities. Petersen enjoys the free time, but will he remain a performer?
“I have friends tell me I should retire,” he said. “What would I do? They say travel. I travel now. I like to get off the interstates and drive down two-lane roads and see small towns, the part of the country you miss on the highway. My friends tell me I could play golf. I do that now. When I see a course I like, I stop and play a round. I live in North Carolina and golf there too! As long as I feel good and can perform, I will continue.”
The words of a true show man.
Petersen, Chitwood and Moreno are thrill show legends. I encourage all to enjoy their performance. While you’re there, take a look across the track at the infield where you will likely find the family members of Juniata County’s daredevils from days gone by. It’s thrill show reunion week in Juniata County.
Sentinel correspondent Craig Rutherford writes about motorsports for The Sentinel.