American Motorsports

Crash Fest driver parking at the Walla Walla Music Fest 2025.

Demolition derbies and chopper building highlight creativity and determination. Derbies show the skill it takes to keep old machines alive and the excitement of testing them in competition, and chopper building turns mechanical work into a display of craftsmanship. Both carry a beauty that reflects individuality,  hard work and a fading American culture. I’ve photographed this theme for both hire and hobby, and I plan to continue exploring and documenting more of it.

Crash Fest Heat Races at the Walla Walla Music Fest 2025.
A demolition derby car sits in a Kansas junkyard in 2021.
Motorcycles are parked in front of the Harley-Davidson-sponsored Wall of Death at the Born Free Motorcycle Show in Silverado, Calif., in 2021.
A motorcyclist rides on the Wall of Death as attendees watch at the Born Free Motorcycle Show in Silverado, Calif., in 2021.
A motorcyclist with a custom bike sits on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif., in 2021.
Christopher Mumma, a motorcycle builder, works in his garage in Southern California in 2021.
Frank Ball Jr., motorcycle builder and owner of 5 Ball Leathers, rides his custom bike in Southern Los Angeles, Calif.
Crash Fest Heat Races at the Walla Walla Music Fest 2025.