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

Cool Caravans? Could a new gener­ation of Airstream trailers make it cool to caravan?

Caravans get a bad press, partic­u­larly from people whose passion is motoring. When you look at it object­ively, they should be a good idea. You get to exper­ience the freedom of the open road without having to spend appalling nights under sweaty vinyl, lugging around overpriced and fetid camping equipment. Once you’ve pitched your van, you still have the motor you came with, and are not tied ether to that annoying compact you tow behind your campervan/​Winnebago or an at-​​times unprac­tical scooter or bicycle. And although trousers that zip off at the thigh to become a pair taupe-​​coloured shorts might seem to be de rigueur amongst the caravanning community, appar­ently they are not obligatory.

The distaste for caravans among many of us is broadly divided along the axes of two arguments: 1) they clog up the roads of Europe every summer with their inter­minable bank holiday crawl; 2) 90 % of them are hideously designed. They look, in other words, awful and you wouldn’t be seen dead in them. We’re not sure whether or not the Airstream, the iconic line of caravans made exclus­ively by a family firm in Ohio for the last three quarters of a century – can be towed any quicker than your average European monstrosity. The latter problem however, is much less of an issue. In fact, the stainless steel curves of an original forties-​​era Airstream caravan (pictured above) recently graced the haloed halls of the Museum of Modern Art. And this is not just a design classic. According to the company’s press office they are super-​​durable. Over sixty five percent of all Airstream trailers ever made are still on the road or in use today. Another more alarming statistic is that of the roughly 400 US trailer companies active in 1936 Airstream is the only survivor. So, buy an Airstream and you are not only contrib­uting to the survival of some of the hard-​​pressed blue-​​collar workers of America, you are buying a sustainable, relat­ively low-​​impact product.

Whatever motivates Airstreamers, the company recently launched a new model into the European market. The Bambi 422 (above) is a relat­ively light and nimble two-​​berther that can be towed by any mid-​​size saloon (A three series BMW or a Golf, for example), and it comes with things like a shower cubicle and vacuum toilet – as well as the external awning – as standard.

But the inherent practic­al­ities of the design doesn’t account for the Airstream’s cult-​​like following. With its stripped down, modernist appeal it is just one of the many brands of retro Americana that has been lifted into an arena of love-​​like devotion. Witness how the mechanical simplicity (and ineffi­ciency) of the V-​​Twin Harley has been made into an icon. Witness also the devotion inspired by stripped down, three chord rock’n’roll. Could it be that the Airstream is the caravanning equivalent of Eddie Cochrane?

So while the roads of Europe and the UK may be graced by a slightly more stylish annoyance this summer, in the states, Airstream have upped the bar in the sleek stakes with The Basecamp Trailer which is designed to be the stepping-​​off point for walkers climbers — even surfers. This little pod has wrap around windows, a skylight, an optional tent, a sink, cooking area, and a ramp for storing outdoor gear while you’re on the move.

Could it be that with long distance travel getting more expensive and inher­ently unsus­tainable, that Caravanning (whisper it) might just become as cool as camping this summer? We won’t be donning the taupe zip-​​offs just yet. But the idea doesn’t seem as ridiculous as it once did.

For great Caravan insurance use Adrian Flux, click or call 0800 089 0050.