What you see before you, called "The Wall of Death"
is also known as a 'Motordrome'. Motordromes started out in the early 1900's as board track racing, consisting
of mile long racetracks all around the country. The entire race track was made of wood. The turns went into long
steep, almost vertical sweeps around the racetrack. The steep corners and long straight aways allowed the riders to
reach very high speeds. The riders fought for position as they raced around the board track. The sport was very
dangerous and was eventually outlawed due to a fatal accident involving a few racers as well as spectators. Although
this type of racetrack was banned, the riders still had an undying passion for the sport, so they created their own board
track. This time they took out the straight aways and made the track 90 degrees perpendicular to the ground and instead
of competing against each-other, they worked together to create a show where people and families could come to watch in a
much safer environment.
This particular Motordrome
was built in 1962 by a gentleman named Joe Boudreau of Ocean Grove, Massachusetts. In Joe's lifetime he built three
dromes. This particular one is the last of the three he built to replace one his father had built back in 1929.
Joe's father, Pappy, retired and Joe kept the show going until 1976. When Joe retired from riding the wall
sat in lot disassembled until Wayne Campbell, who rode with Joe from 1972 until the show folded in 1976, brought it back to
life. Wayne spent a year doing repairs and a year training riders then hit the road in 1981. Don Daniels
Sr. started riding for Wayne in 1982 and bought it from Wayne in 1984. Our walls stand 14 feet high and is
24 feet diameter. We are one of only three who continue to tour in the United States today . If
you went overseas you would see a lot more of these types of shows.
We are more than a one man operation. In our show we are a family, we have three different riders and each
member completes our circle. We will be out there for years and years to come. With the others , we
plan to keep it alive. Opening eyes to this great American sport.-
