by Christine Holmes
Samantha Morgan Storm died April 28, 2008 at her ranch in Loxahatchee, Florida. She was home recovering from injuries she had sustained riding the Wall of Death. It has been reported that she was moving motorcycles around her property and one fell on her. Another report simply states that she died of complications from her previous injuries. Although the cause of her death is not officially confirmed, the true tragedy is that Sam Morgan is no longer in this world. Sam was 53 years old. Her life’s passion was speeding her 1931 Indian Scout 101 (named Beth) around the walls of the motor drome, better known as the Thrill Arena or Wall of Death. Sam was the only current female trick rider in the world and, for many years, the only female drome rider in the United States.
Sam’s First Look At A Motor Drome
Sam Morgan a.k.a. Marsha Greene was born in Long Island, New York in 1955. She was the product of several bad foster homes. At age eleven Sam decided it would be best for everyone involved if she just ran away. She made her way up and down the east coast living on the streets and doing odd jobs to support herself. While working at a horse track in Miami, Florida, Sam attended a Dade County Youth Fair. She was drawn to the Wall of Death Attraction. Sam later said she had no idea when she walked up the steps of the motor drome that night she would be walking up to the rest of her life.
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Sonny Pelaquin
The motor drome, “Hell On Wheels” was run by legendary drome rider, Sonny Pelaquin, the son of Joe and Viola Pelaquin Sr. who pioneered the sport back in the 1920’s. The Pelaquins were known as the “First Family Of The Drome” and Sonny’s dad, mom and brothers all rode the walls. Sonny became known as the “Mad Penguin” inside the drome.
Sam looked down into the wooden cylinder that night and said it was like someone slapped her - “it was the coolest thing I had ever seen” - Sonny zooming around the inside of the 15 foot tall wooden cylinder at a 90 degree angle snatching dollar bills from the spectators’ outstretched hands and laughing the entire time!
Can a girl do that?
Later that night Sam asked some of the drome crew ‘if a girl could do that?’ They didn’t take her seriously and responded with jokes. Determined, Sam approached Sonny and asked if he needed any help on the road. Sonny said he had a full crew and did not need any extra help. Sam watched the men tear down the wall and load it up for travel. She found out they were heading to Jacksonville next, so she packed her guitar and few belongings onto her motorcycle and headed north to Jacksonville, Florida. On the way she got a flat tire and had to ride her bike slowly along the side of the road. A truck stopped and offered to help. It was one of the motor drome crew. They loaded her bike into the truck and Sam’s new life began that night.
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Sonny Pelaquin