This is how the American motorcycle land speed record was broken in 1948.

wsfarrell · 4 months

You know if he falls he'll be sliding 200 feet on SALT.

l0phty · 4 months

Holy crap...

On the morning of September 13, 1948, Free raised the American motorcycle speed record by riding ... to a speed of 150.313 mph (241.905 km/h).

source

thinkforyourself · 4 months

Remember, safety third!

Justintime233 · 4 months

Bullshit. That's Superman pushing a bike.

ROK247 · 4 months

[deleted]

jonnichols · 4 months

On a related note...if you ever get the chance to watch "The World's Fastest Indian" with Anthony Hopkins...you will not be disappointed.

/corrected movie title

raetherx · 4 months

This was actually his final attempt, he stripped down because the wind sheer was ripping his leathers apart at the seams.

workitselfoutfine · 4 months

At least he has his helmet on.

funkengroovin · 4 months

How did he fit his enormous balls in that Speedo.

Michael_Remixed · 4 months

That's Rollie Free riding a 1000 cc Vincent Black Lightning, even though the article says Black Shadow. The Lightning was the stripped down racing version, the Shadow was the street version.

http://motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=178

Dmuff · 4 months

Is it me or is that one sexy bike?

Ontopourmama · 4 months

That's how I ride my moped.

TwoHands · 4 months

Reduce profile to reduce resistance, get more weight over the drive wheel, because the surface they're driving on is notoriously slippy. Remove seat and other parts, and wear less gear to reduce weight.

This makes amazing sense. Well-played, 40's rider.

good2bgary · 4 months

if that tire rubbed that plate for even just a second... it would ruin his naughty bits forever... this guy was clearly in it to win it.

Edit: from heat obviously..

Lillipout · 4 months

You can't tell from the photo, but he's actually covered with Vaseline.

Spacewolf67 · 4 months

His name is Rollie Free, and he is a hero of mine.

peted1884 · 4 months

Is that a Vincent?

GonzoMojo · 4 months

lol this picture made me grin

then i thought, damn we've grown into a bunch of panzies

scrubbyducky · 4 months

yes, the invention of seats in 1950 was a huge leap forward. many believed the technology was reverse engineered from the downed alien craft recovered at roswell. it truly was one small seat for man, and one giant squat for mankind.

whiskey_punch · 4 months

by planking?

Dickybow · 4 months

British Bike but American record?

ecklcakes · 4 months

I like to think he was just holding on for dear life.

Lorimor · 4 months

Whadda ya think Phil, helmet or no helmet?

futpoo · 4 months

one cock pushup and he is done for.

RichardStinks · 4 months

Apparently laying down is a good idea... This is how Graham Obree is planning on going 100 mph on a bicycle.

Krispyz · 4 months

That's how we roll.

FreightConductor · 4 months

None, nil, absolutely NO FUCKS GIVEN! What a badass.

Driftpeasant · 4 months

That was Rollie Free on a Vincent Black Lightning (the first one they made). I used to work for the guy who owned it in Austin, TX. It's amazing to look at in real life, though I was always afraid I'd sneeze, it would fall over, and I'd get throttled by an angry lawyer.

fistymcbuttpuncher · 4 months

How does he stay on with such huge balls?

Eggsareyummy · 4 months

This is one of the most bad ass pictures I have ever seen.

dww257 · 4 months

To whomever somewhere in this that stated that motorcycles do not turn at 150mph you are mistaken. Normal people on motorcycles may not do this, others do and at speeds in excess of as well. As far as getting off where there is nothing to run into being relatively non eventful, well, that does work. Sometimes. Depends on how one lands as in low or high side, tumbles or not, and if one becomes tangled up with the bike or not. Sometimes the bike is stable sliding on it's side and other times it's bouncing about being all together disagreeable. Main thing is to, unless knocked senseless, never give up. All kinds of little things can be done in mid get off to lesson the inevitable. That would be pain. Plenty of time later to shake and hurt.

GrizzWintoSupreme · 4 months

Clarifying the motorcycle speed record as "land speed" doesn't make sense. Is that to avoid confusion with the water and air cycle records?

catseatpuke · 4 months

What's that rattling? "It's just my balls of steel all over the fender"

popcornsocks · 4 months

The hair on his back actually made him go faster: http://will.sitch.org/will/racing/motorcycles/fur-o-dynamic/theory/#turbulator

nuovo_donna · 4 months

Big Whoops for that Brough Superior. This is how they race the same'ish bike today at the flats. Wally would have a good chuckle.

yes_but · 4 months

Nice leathers!

HetfieldJ · 4 months

Why is he topless

dzubz · 4 months

Wouldn't this make the bicycle tilt backwards?

BloominFunyun · 4 months

Strange. I don't see him listed in this Wiki article.

Petroleum_genie · 4 months

Steel cojones. Sparks will fly!

AcneVulgaris · 4 months

Next week , a very special episode of "Ow! My Balls!"...

fastslowfast · 4 months

And thus was born the planking fad.

m40ofmj · 4 months

front end on that bike is baller

Schmucks_Auto_Supply · 4 months

If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be 50 years ago.

schizzlez · 4 months

The original "planker"

jakethesnake76 · 4 months

You can tell this man LOVED his motorcycle..

marc4207 · 4 months

That must have been so uncomfortable.

smifft · 4 months

That's a shame. Those big brass nuttz are definitely scratching that fender to hell.

pdmcmahon · 4 months

Okay men, who else just crossed her legs?

ROK247 · 4 months

this is probably a lot like that one time my buddy tried to ride his dirt bike across the shit pond out in the pasture, in that there was a large amount of drinking going on.

TheMeIWarnedYouAbout · 4 months

His balls look like a motorcycle!

purjopotatis · 4 months

Relevant and brilliant music.

sparx483 · 4 months

Extreme planking!

Krazy4Karma · 4 months

I have this weird shirt with a half naked guy lying down on a motorbike. I just realized it's this picture. Crazy.

1drunkasshole · 4 months

That's just Superman pushing a motorcycle.

Roninspoon · 4 months

How is he shifting gears?

BigD_Rocks · 4 months

Engineers: "Well guys, it looks like this is the fastest motorcycle we can make. We need to start thinking of ways to reduce aerodynamic friction"

Stuntman: "Could you guys make me a speed suit or something?"

Engineers: "How about you just get naked and hump the rear bumper?"

Stuntman: "I really think a suit would work better..."

Engineers: "Shut the fuck up and get naked already!"

S_teven_ · 4 months

"and we shall call it, PLANKING......"

RoquentinTarantino · 4 months

Just like Battletoads!

FionnaTheHumanGirl · 4 months

AMERICA:

"Fuck It, We're Doing This"

Beckinsale · 4 months

Wallstreet Money Never Sleeps anyone?

WTF

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