Did you know? Fun Roller Derby History Facts

Here’s some fun roller derby history facts:

1  Sugar Ray Robinson, the boxing champion, had another champion in his family. His son Ronnie Robinson was a derby star in the late 60s and early 70s, leading his team to their league title.  Learn more here.

2.  The first two people inducted into the Roller Derby Hall of Fame were Johnny Rosasco and Josephine ‘Ma’ Bogash, in 1952. The Roller Derby Hall of Fame closed its doors in 1973, but reopened in 2004.  Learn more here.

3.  Roller Derby is one of only four major sports created in America (the others being basketball, American football, and baseball).

4.  Originally, roller derby was a marathon sport, the goal being to complete 57,000 laps around the track. Learn more here.

5.  The first threat to roller derby came with America’s entrance into World War II, when more than half of its skaters enlisted in the armed forces. Learn more here.

6.  What team was originally considered the “Yankees of Roller Derby”? The Bay Area Bombers. The franchise became so popular, it had to split in two. Learn more here.

7. Vanessa Mayer, aka Lady Fairy Floss, an Australian derby girl, set a world record in 2010 for the fastest time to run through 10 locked and burning doors at 17.32 seconds. Learn more here.