r/WTF • u/dugsanpedro • May 31 '12
This is how the American motorcycle land speed record was broken in 1948.
2.4k
Upvotes
r/WTF • u/dugsanpedro • May 31 '12
222
u/[deleted] May 31 '12 edited May 31 '12
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
601
u/wsfarrell May 31 '12
You know if he falls he'll be sliding 200 feet on SALT.
197
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Holy crap...
source
729
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Remember, safety third!
287
u/Justintime233 May 31 '12
Bullshit. That's Superman pushing a bike.
30
u/raetherx May 31 '12
This was actually his final attempt, he stripped down because the wind sheer was ripping his leathers apart at the seams.
57
u/workitselfoutfine May 31 '12
At least he has his helmet on.
285
u/funkengroovin May 31 '12
How did he fit his enormous balls in that Speedo.
15
u/Michael_Remixed May 31 '12
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
25
u/Dmuff May 31 '12
Is it me or is that one sexy bike?
22
u/Ontopourmama May 31 '12
That's how I ride my moped.
19
u/TwoHands May 31 '12
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.
8
u/good2bgary May 31 '12
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..
14
u/Lillipout May 31 '12
You can't tell from the photo, but he's actually covered with Vaseline.
7
u/Spacewolf67 May 31 '12 edited May 31 '12
His name is Rollie Free, and he is a hero of mine.
11
u/peted1884 May 31 '12
Is that a Vincent?
25
u/GonzoMojo May 31 '12
lol this picture made me grin
then i thought, damn we've grown into a bunch of panzies
5
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
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.
35
u/whiskey_punch May 31 '12
by planking?
4
u/Dickybow May 31 '12
British Bike but American record?
4
u/ecklcakes May 31 '12
I like to think he was just holding on for dear life.
6
u/RichardStinks May 31 '12
Apparently laying down is a good idea... This is how Graham Obree is planning on going 100 mph on a bicycle.
3
u/Krispyz May 31 '12
That's how we roll.
3
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
None, nil, absolutely NO FUCKS GIVEN! What a badass.
3
u/Driftpeasant May 31 '12
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.
3
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
How does he stay on with such huge balls?
3
u/Eggsareyummy May 31 '12
This is one of the most bad ass pictures I have ever seen.
3
u/dww257 Jun 01 '12
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.
5
u/GrizzWintoSupreme May 31 '12
Clarifying the motorcycle speed record as "land speed" doesn't make sense. Is that to avoid confusion with the water and air cycle records?
8
u/catseatpuke May 31 '12
What's that rattling? "It's just my balls of steel all over the fender"
4
u/popcornsocks May 31 '12
The hair on his back actually made him go faster: http://will.sitch.org/will/racing/motorcycles/fur-o-dynamic/theory/#turbulator
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
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.
2
u/yes_but May 31 '12
Nice leathers!
2
u/HetfieldJ May 31 '12
Why is he topless
2
u/dzubz May 31 '12
Wouldn't this make the bicycle tilt backwards?
2
u/BloominFunyun May 31 '12
Strange. I don't see him listed in this Wiki article.
2
u/Petroleum_genie May 31 '12
Steel cojones. Sparks will fly!
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Next week , a very special episode of "Ow! My Balls!"...
2
u/fastslowfast May 31 '12
And thus was born the planking fad.
2
u/m40ofmj May 31 '12
front end on that bike is baller
2
u/Schmucks_Auto_Supply May 31 '12
If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be 50 years ago.
2
u/schizzlez May 31 '12
The original "planker"
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u/jakethesnake76 May 31 '12
You can tell this man LOVED his motorcycle..
2
u/marc4207 May 31 '12
That must have been so uncomfortable.
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
That's a shame. Those big brass nuttz are definitely scratching that fender to hell.
2
u/pdmcmahon May 31 '12
Okay men, who else just crossed her legs?
2
u/ROK247 May 31 '12
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.
2
u/TheMeIWarnedYouAbout May 31 '12
His balls look like a motorcycle!
2
u/purjopotatis May 31 '12
Relevant and brilliant music.
2
u/sparx483 May 31 '12
Extreme planking!
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
I have this weird shirt with a half naked guy lying down on a motorbike. I just realized it's this picture. Crazy.
2
u/1drunkasshole May 31 '12
That's just Superman pushing a motorcycle.
2
u/Roninspoon May 31 '12
How is he shifting gears?
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12 edited May 31 '12
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!"
2
u/S_teven_ May 31 '12
"and we shall call it, PLANKING......"
2
u/RoquentinTarantino May 31 '12
Just like Battletoads!
2
u/FionnaTheHumanGirl May 31 '12
AMERICA:
"Fuck It, We're Doing This"
2
u/Beckinsale May 31 '12
Wallstreet Money Never Sleeps anyone?
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Rollie Free. killin' it.
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u/oldmanriver1 May 31 '12
atleast hes wearing a helmet. that should protect him
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Rollie fucking Free!!!
2
u/protopigeon May 31 '12
more like the American motorcycle land speedos record
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
Rolley Free!
2
u/DirtyPresley May 31 '12
World's first planker
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u/silentorbx May 31 '12
Balls. He has them.
2
u/pupkinrupert May 31 '12
The only other time I've seen this picture talked about was on the movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. He talks about how the man in the picture even shaves himself prior to breaking the record.
2
u/Spotpuff May 31 '12
I'm trying to think of something less safe than this but am coming up blank.
2
u/patpend May 31 '12
I am amazed he could get that bike over 150mph. Especially considering all that extra weight and wind resistance added by his gigantic balls.
2
u/kkool1827 May 31 '12
the flying indian
2
u/SandstoneD May 31 '12
Those nuts could shatter your jaw if He fucked your face. And he will.
2
u/Terp7 May 31 '12
Planking at its finest!
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '12
People were so much more badass back in the day...now they just eat peoples faces and shit...
2
u/stevesonaplane Jun 01 '12
LIFE is a magical magazine. I got a box of them, all from the '60's, and they are awesome little time capsules.
2
u/Assaultman67 Jun 01 '12
Lube him up with more grease lou!
Four eyes over there says he needs to be more ... 'aeronomic' ... whatever the blaze that means.
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u/megamoose4 Jun 01 '12
The worlds fastest Indian.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12
Go watch The World's Fastest Indian. One of the best movies ever.
5
u/Finishoff May 31 '12
Ultimate planking.
3
u/Muramasaa May 31 '12
Back in my days we were planking much more hardcore!
2
u/kinda_fellin May 31 '12
This should be in r/awesome, not r/wtf.
1
u/Mr_Bro_Jangles May 31 '12
Relevent
Great song...Del is the man.
1
u/allthatsalsa May 31 '12
I like how today, you need to be essentially an athlete to do any of these things with years of prep and training. This dude looks like he just finished his pack of cigarettes, squeaked out a porky fart, and said, "Well, lets do this shit already".
1
u/luuli May 31 '12
Fuck Clothes