Paul "Sonny" Pelaquin

When board tracks were outlawed in the mid-1920s for safety concerns, thrill-seekers turned to a new spectacle: the motor drome, or more famously, the “Wall of Death.” These portable wooden racetracks, shaped like giant bowls with vertical 90-degree walls, captivated crowds with breathtaking performances. Few names are as synonymous with this adrenaline-fueled sport as Paul “Sonny” Pelaquin.

Born into a family of wall riders, Sonny carried on a daring family tradition—complete with lions riding in sidecars at high speeds on the vertical wall. A natural performer and extraordinarily skilled rider, Sonny’s talents even caught Hollywood’s eye, leading him to do stunt riding for Elvis Presley in the 1964 film Roustabout.

As Sonny took over the family business, he saw the sport’s popularity beginning to wane. Determined to keep it alive, he became a driving force in reshaping the future of motor drome riding. He demanded professionalism, insisted on safe and unimpaired performances, and emphasized excellence in showmanship. His leadership and high standards extended his career well beyond most riders—surpassed in longevity by only one other.

Among his greatest contributions to the sport was his mentorship of Samantha Morgan Storm. Under his exacting guidance, she would go on to become one of the most celebrated motor drome performers of her era. Sonny passed away on March 1, 2002, but his legacy lives on in every roar of the engines and every rider who dares to defy gravity on the Wall of Death.