When Real Men Set Motorcycle Speed Records

[Warbaby]

This is Rollie Free riding a Vincent on his 1948 world speed record run on the Bonneville flats.

Not only did he have a unique riding style that involved removing the seat and lying prone on the rear fender to reduce wind resistance, but in previous runs he found that the wind was ripping his leathers at speeds over 140mph and was slowing him down. For his record run he took off all of his clothing, donned swim trunks, a bath cap and pool shoes, and proceeded to set a world speed record of 150.313 mph (241.905 km/h).

They don't make guys like that anymore.

 

[lolly_loisides]

That is certainly something. Did you ever see the Worlds fastest Indian? Burt Munro was 68 (and was riding a 47 year old bike) when he set the under-1000cc world record, at Bonneville, 26 August 1967. The record still stands.

 

[scottyrocks]

Yes, Anthony Hopkins did a magnificent job in that role.