Stanley Wanlass Bronze Sculpture of the \"Bathing Suit Bike\" Roland Free record
![Stanley Wanlass Bronze Sculpture of the \](img-large/g/9BQAAOSwE9Bbx66X/s-l1600/Stanley-Wanlass-Bronze-Sculpture-of-the-Bathing-Su.jpg "Stanley Wanlass Bronze Sculpture of the \")
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Stanley Wanlass Bronze Sculpture of the \"Bathing Suit Bike\" Roland Free record:
$400.00
Stanley Wanlass Bronze of the \"Bathing SuitBike\" - Roland \"Rollie\" Free flying mile record
Solid Bronze: ~8lbs of bronze not including the base
Size: 13 1/2\" long x 6\" tall
Mounted: Matte finish marble base
Artist:
Stanley Wanlass -Professor Emeritus, B.F.A./ M.A./ A.F.A.S.,taught at numerous universities in the United States, Canada and abroadincluding the European Art Academy in Paris and the University of Grenoble,France. He is president of Renaissance International, Inc. a design studiobased in Oregon. Wanlass, who resides in Oregon and Utah, is an internationallyknown automotive sculptor and painter. He also creates heroic bronze historicalmonuments. His statements are of beauty and the pursuit of excellence.
Roland Free:
Few motorcyclephotographs are as iconic as that of the famous Bonneville “Bathing SuitPicture.” While you have undoubtedly seen this image before, you may not knowthe story behind it. The scantily clad and debatably crazy rider was a man bythe name of Roland “Rollie” Free.
The bike, oftenthought by many to be a Vincent Black Shadow, was in fact a Black Lightning –the fastest Vincent ever to see production. The Black Lightning was availableby custom order from the factory and weighed 100 lbs less than the Shadow whileoffering 25 more horsepower.
Determined tobreak the land speed record in theFlying Mile, Free’s first passhit 148 mph. After breaking the record, Free was still not satisfied and sethis next goal – 150 mph. Before his next pass, he noticed that his ridingleathers had come apart at the seams from the force of the wind. Realizing thatthis, along with his helmet and riding boots would create even more drag, hemade the historic decision to shed his clothes completely in favor of a bathingsuit, cap and tennis shoes. With this increase in aerodynamics, Free topped outat 150.313 mph.
Taken from aspeeding car that attempted to run alongside Free and his Black Lightning onthe Salt Flats of Utah, the image from Sept. 13, 1948would document amomentous occasion. Not only did Free break his own record set minutesearlier,but he also created one of the most famous photographs inmotorcycling history.
Stanley Wanlass Bronze Sculpture of the \"Bathing Suit Bike\" Roland Free record:
$400.00