1948: Speed Record, Swim Trunks, and a History-Making Pose

In 1948, 47-year-old Rollie Free employed an unconventional strategy to break the world motorcycle speed record: wearing only swim trunks, he lay horizontally on his Vincent HRD Black Shadow motorcycle to minimize wind resistance. This daring attempt succeeded on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats, resulting in a record-breaking speed of 150.313 mph and an iconic photograph. While the record has since been broken, Free's image and approach remain legendary in motorcycle history.