It’s a little known fact that the USSR competed in motorcycle grand prix events in the 1960’s, what’s even more obscure is that they actually did rather well all things considered. The most successful of the Soviet bikes was the Vostok S-364, is was a 4-stroke four cylinder racing bike said to produce 59hp (although this was widely regarded as nonsense) and had a listed top speed of 230kmph.
This great photograph features Jimmy Guthrie at the 1933 Isle of Man TT, he’s push starting his Norton Model 40 and if you take a look into the background you’ll make out a Velocette and another Norton.
There isn’t a red blooded male on the face of the Earth who doesn’t, in some small way, want to be like Steve McQueen. British motorcycle manufacturer Métisse Motorcycles has joined forces with Steve McQueen’s estate to produce a 300 unit production run of the bike you see pictured above and below.
In 1903 brothers and coachbuilders Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker unveiled the 60HP Spyker, this remarkable car featured a number of world firsts including the…
Every now and then I come across a photograph that mesmerises me, click the above picture and take a look at it full scale and you’ll see what I mean.
The 1952 Goodwood 9 Hour Race was first held in 1952, Jaguar sent the above illustrated C-Type with other British manufacturers sending their latest creations.
This super-sepia footage features 1960’s rally drivers Paddy Hopkirk and Timo Makinen demonstrating controlled spins, skids and extreme reverse parking at Pukekohe, New Zealand.
This is a picture of a Jeep piloted by Jim Vaughan in the 70’s, it’s a great example of wheel-articulation is action. I stumbled across this snapshot over on the brilliant OffRoadAction.ca website, check them out if you have time.
This almost prophetic home video from 1989 shows Jenson Button and Dan Wheldon racing in a British kart series as children, Jenson is #14 and Wheldon is #1, Antony Davidson is on track as well although his number isn’t mentioned.
In 1928 Fritz Von Opel set about building the world’s first rocket powered motorcycle, dubbed the Opel Raketen Motorrad, the bike was designed to use it’s internal combustion engine to reach 75mph at which point the rider would hit a foot pedal which ignited the 6 solid rocket boosters.
Editors Note: A relative of Sig is currently looking for the Wisconsin Special, it’s known to still exist as of 2008. If you have any…
This footage is from the 1967 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, and shows the fatal accident of Lorenzo Bandini, the Ferrari driver clipped a chicane and was sent upside down into the hay bales with
