Demolition Lawnmower Derby

During a Talisman meeting, my editor pitched this story of a Western student that partakes in demolition lawnmower derby. I jumped at the opportunity. I'm from a small town in Tennessee and every year for the county fair, we have big car demolition derby. ( I never went or understood the event.)

The story is of a Kayla McKnight and her newly found hobby of destroying lawnmowers. McKnight started this hobby after her older brother competed in local demos. She wanted some of that action. Being the only girl in her first demo, McKnight beat out all of her male competitors until she was the last lawnmower running. The demo season has become a huge family project. Kayla and Josh compete, mom is their number one fan, and dad is the mechanic. 

These are a few of my favorite stills from the two days. The story will be in the new Talisman next year. 

Demolition Lawnmower Derby

Kayla McKnight (left) talkes with Tindall's Small Engin's owner about
 tomorrows derby. Tindall's sponsors Kayla for the derby.

Todd McKnight (left) works on Kayla's brother mower, while Kayla (right) removes the
belt from her mower.

Todd reinforces the side of Kayla's mower, as she repaints the sponsors name.

Kayla battles with Nathan Coffee for first place. She ended in second place to a
 controversial ruling of the judges.  Kayla was one of two girls that competed.

 

 

After the lawnmowers, big cars went. It was pretty intense. It's like watching a traffic accident on replay.

 

 

 

Dallas Stoller is the writer for the story. This was my first time working with a writer and it was great
 shooting with him there. We talked about the story and how we wanted to take it. Dallas was
 really awesome of not being in any of my shots.