SEELEY A memorial service for Todd Seeley, 35, of Tampa, Fla. who died July 26, 1998 in Lancaster, Pa. will be held on Sunday, August 9, 1998 at 4 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to and after the service. He is survived and cherished by his devoted wife, Noreen, known to everyone as Chook, and her family, including grandsons, Louie and Alex; nephews, Eddie and Charlie; and niece, Katie (his "Best Buddy Pals"). He is also survived by his parents, John and Cathy Seeley of New Concord, Ohio; brother, Mark; sisters, Brenda and Heidi and their families. Todd was a Professional Stuntman, a World Record Holder, a member of The Screen Actors Guild, The Tampa Showmen's Association and The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. He was a well respected stuntman, a wonderful son, brother and friend, and a loving husband. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Todd Seeley Memorial Fund For Less Advantaged Children, P.O. Box 624, Crystal Springs, FL 33524. Services will be held at: The Tampa Woman's Club, 2901 Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa, Fl 33629.
Published in The Columbus Dispatch, (OH) - August 2, 1998, Page: 6D
Todd Seeley - Daredevil dies during 15-foot jump
A one-time record-holding motorcycle jumper died after plummeting from a ramp while trying to soar 150 feet on an all-terrain vehicle at a motor car spectacular.
Todd Seeley, 35, of Tampa, Fla., missed the ramp during a jump, landing face down in the dirt at Buck Motorsports Park Saturday night. He died in the operating room of Lancaster General Hospital late Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
"His back end just spun out about halfway up that ramp," spectator Ross Trimble of Darlington, Md., said.
Seeley, who held the Guiness Book of World Record from 1988 to 1991 for jumping 246 feet on a motorcycle, started the evening with a successful 150-foot jump on his stock motocross cycle.
He then geared up for the 150-foot jump on a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle -- which would have been a record at the arena. Seeley had jumped 160 feet on an ATV at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., in 1993, for what is considered the world's record, though Guiness doesn't recognize that category.
As the stunt began, Seeley revved up the squat red-and-white ATV to reach 65 mph, a shower of golden sparks from a firecracker trailing behind it. Ahead of him, he aimed for the 12-foot wide, 84-foot long landing ramp about 100 feet away.
More than 4,000 spectators gasped and rose to their feet as Seeley came off the ramp -- the ATV visibly pulling left. He shoved his vehicle away in mid-air, his body clipped the safety catcher along the ramp's side, and he hit the dirt face down beside the landing ramp. He didn't move as ambulance crews carried him away.
"The point is to push the limits, but I think Todd was trying to do too much, more than he'd planned," said stunt instructor Daniel Gajecki of the Kahana Stunt School in Orlando, Fla., who was traveling with Seeley. "I told him not to do it, but the crowd was so in back of him, and he wanted to give them something extra."
In Seeley's 15-year career -- during which he has participated in about 60 stunt shows a year -- his worst injury had been a broken ankle. He also was a professional stuntman, performing in Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and TV's Miami Vice.
"I'm not a daredevil, like Evel Knievel. I'm a professional stuntman, and every stunt I do is very precise -- practiced, measured and controlled," Seeley said before the event, signing autographs in his white jumpsuit, emblazoned with red and blue stars.
"I love doing it. All I ever wanted to do, from the time I was 16, was to ride a motorcycle and make a living doing it."
From the Associated Press Archive - July 26, 1998
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