The BP Video Library is a treasure trove of historic motorcycle films, mostly made to promote Castrol products.
This collection brings together fascinating shorts covering everything from the Banbury Run to the Isle of Man TT.
Starting in the early 1950s and going through to the early 1970s, this collection takes in the full sweep of motorcycling in the post-War years.
Whether it's sidecars in wheel-to-wheel action at Mallory, club scrambles in rural Worcestershire or boarding the ferry to the Isle of Man, the cameras capture a vanished but oh so familiar world.
Particular gems include footage of the first sidecar TT since 1925, held on the tricky Clypse Course and featuring the TT's first ever female competitor Ingeborg Stoll-Laforge.
Each film is a time capsule that will transport you to a time of simpler bikes, hard suspension and huge crowds at every event. One thing that hasn't changed in the intervening years is the pure joy of motorcycling, which shines through in these wonderful little movies.
‘Racing improves the breed’ – Soichiro Honda
Over the last century competition has been the driving force in developing motorcycles to the point where today’s road bikes can produce in excess of 150bhp and are capable of speeds approaching 200mph.
It is not that long ago a top flight racing motorcycle would be lucky to produce 50bhp and struggle to reach 140mph.
By showcasing fifty iconic racing machines from the birth of the World Championship to start of the MotoGPTM four-stroke era this valuable visual resource charts the development of the racing motorcycle and evolution of speed.
The high quality footage shows some of the most famous racing machines of all time in stunning detail from every angle.
Where possible the bikes have been shown without fairings to reveal the heart of the machine and as an aid to restorers of these rare and wonderful beasts.
The camera work is accompanied by a knowledgeable and informative commentary which includes technical details as well as some of the more notable results the bikes achieved in their careers.
You can navigate directly to each bike or you can watch the whole programme for a comprehensive review of over seventy years of racing technology and development.
This is a fabulous resource for everyone from armchair enthusiasts to people trying to keep classic racers alive.