Bullet-Proof Vest Testing
Many years ago, before the advent of “manscaping” and the resulting loss of a generation of men to the affliction of metrosexualism there existed real men.
Photography
Harriet Quimby
The men flyers have given out the impression that aeroplaning is very perilous work, something that an ordinary mortal should not dream of attempting. But when I saw how easily the man flyers manipulated their machines I said I could fly.
The Hong Kong Dispatch Riders
In 1941 the threat of a Japanese invasion of Hong Kong was imminent, the small British colony has a garrison made up of just 11,000 British and Indian troops set to fight the 6,095,000 men of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Flat Track Kid
There’s something wonderful about this old photograph, I think the most impressive part of it is the boy’s perfectly positioned left foot. He looks for all the world like a crusty flat track old timer.
Leo Payne Heats a Tire
The look of pure nonchalance on the faces of Leo Payne and his frame-holding friend in this photograph still makes me smile.
The 12.8 Litre Argyll Sleeve Valve Aero Engine
The 12.8 Litre Argyll sleeve-valve aero engine was first prototyped in 1914, this is the first image of the engine on the test-stand before it was sent to London for the Olympia Show held from mid-to-late March of the same year.
Vintage Drag
I’m fairly sure that the image above captures the exact moment that the driver’s foot came off the gas pedal. It looks to me like they’re bicycle tires on the front end but I’m convinced that they can’t be. No one is that crazy.
BSA Afternoon
This image comes courtesy of the Museum of Victoria and it shows a couple taking an afternoon ride on their BSA with their Jack Russell.
Drag Facing
I can’t get past the fantastic look on the face of this drag racer, it’s somewhere equidistant between horror and happiness.
Sonny
Sonny Barger is, not even arguably, the most famous outlaw biker of all time. He was the main character in Hunter S. Thompson’s book “Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs”, he also wrote a series of books, he’s been in a number of feature films and more recently appeared in the television series “Sons of Anarchy” (which is based on Hamlet, interestingly).
Mini Moto
We don’t know who this little fellow is but by God, he appears to have had the coolest childhood in recorded human history.
Sidewinder Jim
Motorcycle sidecar racing is one of the most extreme motor-sport events I’ve ever encountered. I can’t imagine the guts it must take to be the guy hanging off the side into every turn, with total faith in the chap holding the handlebars.