Team Yamaha at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, Calif., in 1973, one of many photos available through The MotoJones Gallery.
Long-time motorcycle journalist Tod Rafferty has linked up with like-minded moto scribes and photographers to create The MotoJones Gallery, a repository and outlet for classic and contemporary motorcycle images, covering, as Rafferty says, “the world of motorcycling in its comprehensive span.” The service, which has only just launched, promises to offer an archive of motorcycling images covering most of the 20th century.
Very much a project in the making, Rafferty hopes The MotoJones Gallery will grow to become a focal point for motorcyclists and others looking for images that highlight their addiction to the sport. Images like the one above, showing Team Yamaha at Ontario Motor Speedway in California in 1973 can be ordered in three sizes, 11 x 14, 14 x 18 and 16 x 20, to fit standard mat and frame dimensions. Posters, and some prints, will later be available in 20 x 30 and 24 x 36 formats. Smaller sizes for cards, flyers, calendars, etc., will be offered as demand warrants. All images are printed on top quality archival paper on deluxe digital printers. The smaller sizes are offered as standard acid-free glossy prints. The 16 x 20 prints are produced on Kodak metallic paper, which enhances both the sharpness and color of older photographs. The following, from www.motojones.com, expresses the site’s mission:
“WELCOME to the magical realm of motorcycle sport. We cover – in photos, posters, video, illustration and text – the world of motorcycling in its comprehensive span: from vintage machines at the dawn of motorized travel, the pioneers of early racing glory, the varieties of specialized competition worldwide, the advent of modern motorcycle design and manufacture, to the panorama of contemporary sport riding, touring, off-road recreation, racing, custom bikes, cafe racers, rare or unusual machines for sale or trade and links to other fun stuff.
“This is the first installment of prints from an archive covering most of the 20th century. As the site grows, more action and studio photography will be offered, in addition to fine and commercial art, plus feature stories and videos.
“So this is the MotoJones prototype, a baseline endeavor to determine the long-term prospects of a site devoted to the graphic portrayal of the art of motorcycling. We invite you to be part of this evolving story, and solicit your comments and suggestions.”