PHOTOGRAPHY OF BOB MAGILL | EPIC IMAGES OF AMERICAN MOTORCYCLING

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“Don & Marge Fera, 1940s. Back then, race bikes had hand-shifters, metal number plates and if your gal had nerve she showed just a hint of leg.”  –caption by Dean Adams

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THESE GUYS (EH-HEM, AND GAL) ARE COOL BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT TRYIN’ TO BE– THEY’RE SIMPLY DOIN’ WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO.  RIDIN’.  THESE EPIC SHOTS TAKEN BACK IN THE 1940s – 50s PERFECTLY SHOW THE NATURAL, RAW BEAUTY OF MOTORCYCLING IN ITS PURIST FORM.  THE GEAR IS NO NONSENSE AND RUGGED SPORTSWEAR, AND THE EXPRESSIONS OF GRIT AND JOY ON THEIR FACES ARE PRICELESS– CAPTURED BY THE LEGENDARY MOTORCYCLING PHOTOGRAPHER BOB MAGILL (1917-2005).  RIDIN’ NEVER LOOKED BETTER. ROLLED, WORN DENIM.  ENGINEER BOOTS.  LEATHERS AND GOGGLES AND CAPS– OH, MY.

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“While those wobblers James Dean and Brando get all the press about riding bikes in the 1940s and 50s, character actor Keenan Wynn actually raced motorcycles (as did Howard Hawks). Here Wynn (with cigar) fills up for his riding pals, about sixty-odd years ago.”  –caption by Dean Adams

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“Don Emde’s dad, Floyd, on the grid of the 1940 Oakland 200 mile race.” –caption by Dean Adams

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“Riverside, 1949″  –Caption by Dean Adams.

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“Unknown rider, unknown race. At speed.”  –caption by Dean Adams

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“Lincoln Park, date unknown.”  –caption by Dean Adams

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“Magill, like many purists, could never get his head around the fact that nearly the entire news photography industry dropped medium-format cameras for 35mm, without a real analysis of the wonderful photos that the larger format produced. ‘I can’t understand why fellas use 35mm. The frame is so small, it’s like shooting through a microscope,’ he’d muse.”

–Dean Adams

Bob Magill photos on SuperbikePlanets

photos found via Jockey Journal

Via theselvedgeyard