https://www.life.com/arts-entertainment/the-greatest-motorcycle-photo-ever/

Skip to content
LIFELIFE
MENU

  *  

[svg][bag-shoppi]Shop [svg][mailbox]Latest Issue
+
Gallery Of

The Greatest Motorcycle Photo Ever

Rollie Free getting ready to break the motorcycle speed record on the
Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
SEE DETAILS`'
[00693941-s]
Arts & Entertainment

The Greatest Motorcycle Photo Ever

View Gallery

Rollie Free, laying horizontally on his bike to reduce wind
resistance, broke the world's speed record for a motorcycle at the
Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, September 13, 1948.

eter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Not only did Rollie Free set the world speed record for a motorcycle
back in 1948--he looked darn good doing it.

The key to setting the record for Free was cutting down on wind
resistance. So when the 47-year-old accelerated his Vincent HRD Black
Shadow, he positioned his body to be as horizontal as it could. Also,
he wore only swim trunks as he whipped across the hard pack of the
Bonneville Salt Flats. His plan worked to perfection, setting a
record of 150.313 miles per hour.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame calls the picture of Free's
record-setting ride "one of the most famous photos in the history of
the sport." LIFE staff photographer Peter Stackpole's image of Free
is also one of the most popular prints in the LIFE photo store.

In LIFE's coverage of the event the magazine actually used a
different photo, taken from a wider angle. That shot is majestic in
its own right, giving more emphasis to the Utah landscape and also
the black line that had been painted on the ground for Free to use as
a guide.

All the shots in this gallery have their charm. The ones of Free's
friends giving him a push as he started out are pretty classic. The
details in Stackpole's photos are evocative of their era, from Free's
everyman physique to the media coverage of the speed record being
dominated by still photography.

Free's record has long since been broken. The current mark of 376.363
miles per hour was set in 2010 by Rocky Robinson--once again in
Bonneville. While in 1948 Free rode a conventional-looking
motorcycle, Robinson set his mark in a vehicle that looks more like a
two-wheeled car, down to its encased cockpit. This meant that
Robinson had no need to strip down to a bathing suit and position his
body at an exotic angle, or do anything else that would result in a
photo for the ages.

    [svg][115685579-]

    Rollie Free getting ready to break the motorcycle speed record on
    the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][115685598-]

    Rollie Free getting ready to break the motorcycle world's speed
    record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][115685562-]

    Rollie Free getting ready to break the motorcycle world's speed
    record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][115685571-]

    Rollie Free accelerated as he readied to break the motorcycle
    world's speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][00693940-1]

    Photographers captured Rollie Free breaking the motorcycle
    world's speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][00693941-1]

    Rollie Free, laying horizontally on his bike to reduce wind
    resistance, broke the world's speed record for a motorcycle at
    the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, September 13, 1948.

    eter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][00693939-1]

    Rollie Free breaking the motorcycle world's speed record on the
    Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter StackpoleLife Picture Collection/Shutterstock

    [svg][115685589-]

    Rollie Free on the day he broke the motorcycle world's speed
    record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, 1948.

    Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Tags Bonneville Salt Flats, motorcycle, Peter Stackpole, Roland Free,
Rollie Free, Utah Post navigation

More Like This

[svg][110426505-1-1024x661] arts & entertainment

Boss Mode: Springsteen in the 80s and 90s

[svg][114885774-1024x680] arts & entertainment

Arnie and Jack: The Best of Rivals

[svg][05781582-1024x679] arts & entertainment

Glenn Gould: Eccentric Genius at Play

[svg][110008936-scaled-e1741629060467-1024x809] arts & entertainment

Dearly Beloved: LIFE's Best Prince Photos

[svg][01020837-1024x706] arts & entertainment

Albert Camus: Intellectual Titan

[svg][1223258-1024x1006] arts & entertainment

Gordon Parks on Alberto Giacometti and his "Skeletons in Space"

Subscribe to the LIFE Newsletter

Travel back in time with treasured photos and stories, sent right to
your inbox

Join Today
[svg][logo_globa] [svg][instagram] [svg][pinterest] [svg][facebook]
Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Service Data Policy California Do
Not Sell (c) 2025 LIFE All Rights Reserved.
Close
[svg][logo_globa]
[                    ] [svg][search]
  * Animals
  * Arts & Entertainment
  * Destinations
  * History
  * Lifestyle
  * Nature
  * People

  * Photographers
  * Life Newsletter
  * The Life Picture Collection

Follow Life

[svg][instagram] [svg][pinterest] [svg][facebook]

Latest Issue