Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

[cjforumadmin]

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/Gearhead-Guys-You-Should-Know-Rollie-Free.html

[DanStokes]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

I had not heard of him - thanks, Brian. People like this should be known by all gearheads. BTW - 150 is still a respectable speed for a V-twin powered bike, depending on class. Come to Maxton and you'll see what I mean.

Dan

[Caveman]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

That iconic pic of Rollie Free was the very first time I had ever seen or heard anything to do with a place called Bonneville. It is an image that is forever burned in my mind.

Plus the guy was just plain nuts. Swim trunks at 150mph???!!! If he'd crashed on the salt, the wounds would've self cauterized.

I wish I could've met him.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

I just realized the salt and possible wreck part. Ugh. Salt in the road rash? I'd rather be gut shot.

I finally got a close up view of Vincent Black Shadow a guy had in the bed of his truck. Absolutely, amazing bikes.

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

The first graph of that story (as the others do) should read Black Lightening. More gutsy version of the Shadow.
Turk knows some dudes from Oz who built one recently, from scratch!

I just like the fact that those bikes can still hold their own to some level today. Not many vehicles from that era can make any sort of claim like that.

EJ Potter rode one off of an Ohio highway when he fell asleep during a near 24 hour ride as a kid. He woke up with broken limbs....ouch.

Brian

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

I did read that Black Lightning. I was just saying it's the only Vincent I've seen outside a museum that I could actually touch and get close enough to see detailing and engineering..

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

Gotcha. Killer eh?

Brian

[mustang13]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

One of my all time favorite pictures. Imagine telling a track official today "what you are about to do". I'd hate to think what his HUGE brass balls looked like in those swim trunks!LOLOLOLOLOL :D

[Darren N.]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

What can I say...the man was badass 8)

The shot on the salt is epic. Rollie Free is now a Gearhead Guy that I now know, thanks! ;D

[Part Timer]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

Unreal! Hard to believe he could even ride a motorcycle with the size stones he must have had to make that run. The real shame is guys like him and the other gear heads you have introduced us to seem to be a lost breed.

Bob

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

Agreed that we're not makin' 'em like we used to, but all hope is not lost.

There's a late model or two in the pipe!

Brian

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

The good ole days of racing. Tech says," He's a big boy. He knows the danger. And, if he loses it, no one else will get hurt."

[mustang13]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

[quote=Rebeldryver ]
The good ole days of racing. Tech says," He's a big boy. He knows the danger. And, if he loses it, no one else will get hurt."
[/quote THATS WHEN THERE WERE MORE RACERS THAN LAWYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JRoberts]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

Here's a book we need to add to our list. I have not read it, but would like to. Go to the link of the audio interview -- you'll love what Rollie has to say.

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/news/2008/rolliefreestory.asp

Thanks for this piece Brian Rollie Free is a Gearhead that we should indeed get to know.

[Monster]

Re: Gearhead Guys You Should Know: Rollie Free

.. and he?s the guy in the iconic photo, laying flat in his undies on a screaming Vincent Black Shadow ..

Also, Rollie was in a swim suit, not undies.