08/22/2026
Stunts Unlimited mourns the loss of one of our own, J.N. Roberts—a true legend of desert racing, off-road motorcycling, and Hollywood stunt work.
J.N. was one of the greats. He won 27 consecutive desert races, took the Barstow-to-Vegas four times in a row, and won both the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 twice. He was also a pioneer in the development of protective equipment for off-road racing. His extraordinary talent, innovation, and fearless riding established him as a legend long before his career in Hollywood.
Fellow motorcyclist, future film director, and Stunts Unlimited co-founder Hal Needham introduced J.N. to the exclusive Viewfinders motorcycle club, a group of stuntmen and Hollywood actors who shared a passion for desert racing. Among its members were Ronnie Rondell and Glenn Wilder, also co-founders of Stunts Unlimited, and legendary actor Steve McQueen.
After Needham established himself as a successful director, he helped J.N. launch his career as a stuntman. J.N. quickly proved himself on both two and four wheels, performing memorable motorcycle and car stunts for film and television and doubling for stars including Charles Bronson and Paul Newman.
J.N. also helped push the sport of off-road racing forward through his innovative approach to safety. He adapted protective equipment from other sports—including football face guards and shoulder pads and baseball catcher’s shin guards—to create better protection for riders.
But to us, J.N. was more than his accomplishments and his legend. He was a member of the Stunts Unlimited family. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and especially his son, Jimmy N. Roberts, who carries on that family connection as a member of Stunts Unlimited.
Ride on, J.N. You will be missed.
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