The Ride of Your Life!

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In 2014, Sam Fischer was on a shoot for Indian Motorcycles at Sturgis in South Dakota. Part of the shoot involved a circus-style motorcycle act known as the wall of death (or motordome).

The Wall of Death (also known as the motordrome or silodrome) is a carnival sideshow featuring a silo— or barrel-shaped wooden cylinder, typically ranging from 20 to 36 feet in diameter. It’s made of wooden planks inside which motorcyclists, or the drivers of miniature automobiles, travel along the vertical wall and perform stunts. The vehicles are held in place by friction and centrifugal force.

Sam met riders that go by names like Jay Lighting, Hobo Bill, Charlie Ransom and Reckless Rita and he became fascinated by the sub-culture of the men and women that have carried on this tradition for over one hundred years.

A few years after meeting the riders of the wall of death, Sam teamed up with his friend Mike Cather of Edwin Entertainment and the two decided it was time for a passion project: telling the story of this dying art form. Currently still in production, CRASH+SUES is supporting Sam in his efforts to complete the documentary.

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