You Are A Champion – Lane Leavitt (Innovator/Stuntman/Motorcycling Champion) Ep.44

In this unforgettable episode of The Language of Creativity, host Steven Leavitt shares one last conversation with his father, Lane Leavitt—recorded not long before Lane’s peaceful passing after a private and courageous battle with cancer. It’s a raw, deeply human moment that captures Lane in all his dimensions: inventive, competitive, sharp-witted, and fiercely loving. A motorcycle trials champion turned stunt industry revolutionary, Lane’s legacy isn’t just written in film history—it’s carried in the lives of those he mentored and believed in. Lane Leavitt was a three-time U.S. National Motorcycle Trials Champion whose relentless drive to win earned him a factory contract with Bultaco Motorcycles and, eventually, a new kind of career—one he would help invent. After stepping away from racing at his peak (and giving away his 4th title in a rare gesture of sportsmanship), Lane poured the same precision and intensity into the motion picture world, pioneering safer, more spectacular stunts. He designed flame-retardant fire gel. He reimagined the air ramp. He made machines that helped people fly. His work on films like True Lies, Terminator 2, Cliffhanger, and Last Action Hero didn’t just raise the bar—it redefined what was possible. He spoke plainly about making actors look superhuman, about earning trust under pressure, and about why real innovation only happens when someone refuses to accept "good enough." But this is more than a career retrospective. It’s a tribute to a father-son bond, a meditation on legacy, and a glimpse into the mind of a man who faced the end with clarity, grit, and grace. Lane speaks openly about growing up without a father—and about choosing, deliberately, to become the kind of dad he never had. He reflects on the art of parenting, the soul of stunt work, and the elusive “it factor” that can’t be taught. “My job was to win,” Lane says. But the legacy he left was love—in the lives he mentored, the family he raised, and the countless people he believed in. As Steven drives to say his final goodbye, he carries with him this conversation—honoring his father the best way he knows how: by listening.  This episode is one last lap around the track. One last long talk across the desk. A conversation for those who never got to say goodbye. And one final blessing from a man who never stopped believing in the champion inside us all. 🎙️ Guest: Lane Leavitt Innovator, stuntman, motorcycle champion, action designer, Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Governor, and founder of a stunt engineering company with the mission of “Revolutionizing the Stunt Industry.” Featured Link: 🎥  Lane Leavitt on IMDb 🔧 Lane Leavitt Equipment Archive – StuntRev.com 🏍️ Lane Leavitt (1950-2025) – TrialsGuru 🎧 Host: Steven Leavitt Creative producer, sound engineer, and host of The Language of Creativity podcast. Steven is the founder of I Create Sound, a studio dedicated to amplifying meaningful voices across music, podcasting, and media. With a background in both technical production and artistic coaching, he brings deep listening and interdisciplinary insight to every conversation. 🔗 thelanguageofcreativity.com 🎙️ pod.link/1402964967 🌐 icreatesound.com 🔗 References Toni Bou – World champion motorcycle trials rider. “Go to YouTube and look up Toni Bou.” —Lane Leavitt ▶️ YouTube Search 📖 Wikipedia Bultaco Motorcycles – Spanish factory sponsor during Lane's pro trials career. 📖 Wikipedia Fox Racing Shox – High-performance suspension company where Lane developed damping systems. 🌐 ridefox.com StuntRev: Lane Leavitt Equipment Archive – Photos and descriptions of Lane’s inventions, including the long-throw air ramp. 🔧 stuntrev.com/equipment Les Paul – Guitar legend and recording pioneer whose creative process inspired Lane. 📖 Wikipedia Joel Kramer – Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double and Lane’s longtime creative partner. 🎞️ IMDb True Lies (1994) – Lane’s advanced rigging and fire stunts featured in this James Cameron film. 🎬 IMDb 📹 Behind the Scenes: YouTube – DVD Bonus Feature Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – Lane’s wire work and air ramps helped create iconic action moments. 🎬 IMDb 📹 Behind the Scenes: YouTube – StudioBinder Breakdown Last Action Hero (1993) – Meta-action film with Lane’s rigging, launches, and explosive stunts. 🎬 IMDb 📹 Behind the Scenes: YouTube – JoBlo Bloopers & BTS Cliffhanger (1993) – High-elevation action film featuring Lane’s wire systems and rig innovations. 🎬 IMDb 📹 Behind the Scenes: YouTube – FilmIsNow Yakima Canutt – Rodeo stunt pioneer who revolutionized movie fights with John Wayne. 📖 Wikipedia Buster Keaton – Silent-era stunt actor whose physical precision influenced Lane’s ideals. 📖 Wikipedia Douglas Fairbanks – Lane admired his artistry and action choreography in silent-era adventure films. 📖 Wikipedia The Thief of Bagdad (1924) – A visually groundbreaking Douglas Fairbanks film. 🎬 IMDb Bruce Lee – Martial artist and film star whose stunt screen work was refined through training. 📖 Wikipedia Gene LeBell – Legendary martial artist, stuntman, and wrestling champion who mentored Lane throughout his career. Known for helping adapt Bruce Lee’s martial arts for film, Gene set a new standard for realism in screen fighting. Lane called him “the toughest man alive.”. 📖 Wikipedia 🎧 Tribute Podcast: Gene LeBell Tribute with John Perretti & John Donehue (Apple Podcasts) Benny Dobbins – Stunt coordinator referenced in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. 🎞️ IMDb Jackie Chan – Hailed by Lane as the greatest action actor/stuntman of all time. 📖 Wikipedia Dar Robinson – Stuntman known for high falls and technological stunt safety advances. 📖 Wikipedia Terry Leonard – Respected old-school stunt performer in the pre-engineering era. 🎞️ IMDb Debbie Evans – Lane’s wife, motorcycle stunt legend, and 7-time World Stunt Award winner. 📖 Wikipedia 🌐 debbieevans.com On Any Sunday (1971) – Influential motorcycle documentary featuring Lane’s father-in-law, Dave Evans. 🎬 IMDb 📹 Full Film: YouTube – HD Restoration by FredBear (Dave’s wheelie at 1:12:54) Max Martin – Swedish producer referenced in discussion on the state of pop music and creativity. 📖 Wikipedia Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) – Referenced for its portrayal of Bruce Lee and stunt culture. 🎬 IMDb Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures – Historic organization representing Hollywood stunt performers. 🌐 stuntmen.com Stunts Unlimited – Professional stunt team with extensive industry influence. 🌐 stuntsunlimited.com Tags #LaneLeavitt #YouAreAChampion #motorcycletrials #TrialsChampion #Bultaco #FoxRacing #airram #wirework #firegel #stuntinventions #stuntengineering #stuntsafety #researchanddevelopment #R&D #stuntlegend #actionmovies #Terminator2 #TrueLies #LastActionHero #TheFallGuy #WonderWoman #TopGunMaverick #TheMatrix #MatrixReloaded #TrueLies #Commando #Cliffhanger #IcePirates #ArnoldSchwarzenegger #JoelKramer #HollywoodStunts #moviehistory #creativeengineering #SylvesterStalone #TomCruise #ElvisPresley #TheItFactor #filmcraft #filmtools #actioncinema #garageaslab #StuntLab #RevolutionizingTheStuntIndustry #disciplineequalsfreedom #focusiskey #mentorship #legacy #quietfaith #fatherandson #filmhistory #contrarianmindset #BruceLee #JackieChan #DouglasFairbanks #BusterKeaton #GeneLeBell #ElonMusk #MaxMartin #creativeprocess #paradigmshift #redefiningaction #trainingmindset #coachquotes #legacyquotes #fathermentorship #motiondesign #athleteinventor #quietstrength #gospelofgrit #stuntcoordinator #lanelessons #oldHollywood #NewhallYwood #santaclarita #santaclaritafilmcommision #filmmakingcraft #screeninnovation     When I was listening to this episode the day after his passing, I was turning over and over what to name it, listening to my dad talk about the focus it took to become a motorcycling champion, when I saw this in my rearview mirror: the decal exclaiming YOU ARE A CHAMPION. I laughed, I cried, and I said “THANK YOU DAD, this is exactly what you would have me name it!”   🏁 Quote Library – Lane Leavitt, in His Own Words "Don’t look at what’s going to make you crash—look where you want to go." His philosophy for motorcycle trials riding—and life itself. "Life is a lot like a Trials section." Lane saw obstacles as technical, conquerable sequences—if you walk them first. "I don’t have to train. I get to train." From Lane’s personal notes. A testament to gratitude-fueled discipline. "Bigger stunts, fewer bruises." His motto for engineering safer, more spectacular action. "Revolutionizing the Stunt Industry." The founding slogan of his company—and his lifelong mission. "Champions always do what the also-rans do occasionally." His clearest definition of what separates the great from the average. "This is a lifestyle, not a profession or a gig." Lane on the deep commitment required to succeed in action work. "When I’m focused, I’m focused—and that’s what 99.99999% of people can’t do." A self-aware truth about his work ethic, drive, and clarity. The Language of Creativity explores the inner lives of artists and the hidden connections between creative work and personal transformation. Please SUBSCRIBE in your favorite Podcast App and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. You can support the show by getting a paid subscription on SUBSTACK.