Send to a friendVMMVMMM August 14th, 2007 1:44 PM Link
“As Rollie crosses the 150 mph mark he thinks to himself…sure glad this bike’s got a rear fender”
Caption It: Rollie Free’s 1948 Land Speed Record Run
Written By: Chris Paukert
The unbelievable image above is of Rolland, “Rollie” Free and his 1948 land speed record run at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
The image, which is arguably the most famous photo in all of motorcycledom, depicts Rollie’s last-ditch attempt to set an American LSR on the Vincent HRD Black Lightning, which he did, hitting a startling 150.313 mph in a bathing suit, shower cap, and a pair of borrowed sneakers.
As the story goes, Free had actually made earlier, slower runs in specially-made clothing, but they shredded at speed, leaving him to improvise in search of a slipperier (and readily-available) getup. Job done, we’d say.
In any case, even if you’ve seen this image already, we think his heroics are worth a caption. Take your best shot in ‘Comments.’
+ Wikipedia: Rollie Free
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27 Comments
Van August 14th, 2007 1:56 PM Link
“Later, Clark would realize he really didn’t need the training wheels any longer.”
CHARLES G. August 14th, 2007 2:14 PM Link
“So what if I can’t meet girls…”
CHARLES G. August 14th, 2007 2:18 PM Link
“Man, I’ve GOT to get a seat for this thing.”
Ducati Minor August 14th, 2007 3:49 PM Link
“Who needs George Reeves?”
smokeydog001 August 14th, 2007 5:59 PM Link
I hope this is the right way to Sturgis!
Max August 14th, 2007 6:09 PM Link
Without his cape, Superman was forced to resort to terrestrial forms of flight.
John Carder August 14th, 2007 6:40 PM Link
Try as he might, Rollie could not stop thinking about salty road rash.
Brock August 14th, 2007 8:41 PM Link
Although maximum points for style were awarded, it was the dismount that kept everyone talking long after the EMS personnel left.
Bumblebee August 14th, 2007 9:15 PM Link
Bob has his craziest idea yet to get an erection.
M. Dillon August 15th, 2007 2:10 AM Link
Roland,”Rollie”,Free was clearly unaware that his record breaking feat,in 1948,would be the basis,of what would be,the world’s first X-Games event,ironically named,” High-Speed,Free-Balling”,in his honor.
Paul D. August 15th, 2007 2:14 AM Link
Balls out!
Graham Lunn August 15th, 2007 2:54 AM Link
I love my bike
Chris August 15th, 2007 1:16 PM Link
The chiropractor swore this would work.
karan August 15th, 2007 3:37 PM Link
Rollie had begun to realise the salt lake probably didn’t have to much water for a dip…
JJ Daddy-O August 15th, 2007 5:42 PM Link
No caption, but this guy couldn’t find a bucket big enough to hold his balls (which, surprisingly, don’t show in this photo.)
EdificeWrecks August 16th, 2007 1:00 AM Link
“I knew I smelt gas.”
Record de velocidad en motocicleta de 1948 en Bonneville August 16th, 2007 2:12 AM Link
[…] Vía: Winding Road Escrito a las 6:12 | Envia esta nota por correo electrónico Por Fernando Alvarez | Lee más de: Otros: Records, Otros: Curiosidades, Otros: Historia Otros blogs que comentan acerca de esta anotación […]
David S. August 17th, 2007 11:00 AM Link
‘Tocks up!
fantasyfreddy August 20th, 2007 12:21 AM Link
Here we see a rare photo of a human and a machine having sexual intercourse. Sadly, the human suffered irreperable injury.
fantasyfreddy August 20th, 2007 12:37 AM Link
Better version:
Here, we see a rare photo of a man and a motorcycle enjoying sexual intercourse. Sadly, the man suffered irreparable injury, and the relationship ended quickly!
fantasyfreddy August 20th, 2007 1:03 AM Link
Or…
Only after filming had begun did it occur to Rollie that the “Snuff Film” he had agreed to star in was not an ad for powdered tobacco!
Winding Road » Archive » Caption It: Time to Say Goodbye? August 21st, 2007 12:18 PM Link
[…] + WINDING ROAD: Caption It: Rollie Free’s 1948 Land Speed Record Run […]
Man Gets in Auto Accident, Six-Years Later Gets in Guinness Book of World Records - Winding Road December 9th, 2007 11:10 AM Link
[…] that night, turns out to be the longest such of all time. The Guinness book started recognizing the record in 2003 and will list it in its publication for the first time in […]
Rodney Morris April 2nd, 2008 1:09 AM Link
Rollie Free caption.
“What are you prepared to do?”
Winding Road » Archive » 800 MPH or Bust: The North American Eagle Land Speed Record Car April 17th, 2008 11:00 AM Link
[…] an aim to capture the official Land Speed Record, Ted Shadle and Keith Zanghi have created this totally gonzo North American Eagle jet […]
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