Stephen Lovell-Davis

Will Glanville - Isle of Man 1991

I went to the Isle of Man to cover the TT for the short-lived but magnificent Road Rocket magazine. I did a series of portraits of people with their bikes. This photograph was taken at Creg-ny-baa. I loved the bike and Will’s super-cool style. He told me that it was his late brother’s bike (he had died on the island) and that he brought it back every year.

TT spectators on a bus stop - Isle of Man 1991

Despite the bikes passing at around 150 mph (240 kph) the sense here is one of indifference. The guy on the top right is more interested in the Bray Hill Beauty Salon. I was astonished at how close you could get to the bikes at the Isle of Man TT. This bus stop was at the bottom of Bray Hill, which is an ordinary street in Douglas, and people could freely walk up and down the pavement.

TT fan at the Creg-ny-Baa pub - Isle of Man 1991

When I took this he asked that I didn't print his name because he was supposed to be at work in Colne. Fair enough.

Owen Moss - Isle of Man 1991

Another portrait from The Island. My notes simply say: Owen Moss (23) from Ripon, marine engineer .

Marie Wornell - Isle of Man 1991

Marie from Norwich and her Suzuki Katana at S&G Motors in Ramsey. 

Classic Norton Commando with era-appropriate hairstyle and sideburns - Isle of Man 1991

Ted Hodge from Cornwall at Creg-ny-Baa - Isle of Man 1991

Robert Dunlop's Norton rotary being fettled in the street outside E B Christian in Douglas - Isle of Man 1991

Saturday night in Douglas - Isle of Man 1991

A fight outside the Pit Stop Bar, Douglas - Isle of Man 1991

Difficult to know how this came about. Did he go out boozing in his full leathers and helmet, or just fell asleep having ridden to this bench?

Mike Hailwood - the man, the legend, the terrifying waxwork...

Douglas Waxworks - Isle of Man 1991

Pit Lane Marshall at the 24 Heures Motos - Le Mans 1992

'Bandit' at the 24 Heures Motos - Le Mans 1992

I photographed this chap at the Le Mans 24 hour race, which I was covering for Bike magazine. He wasn’t very forthcoming, so I never found out why he was covered in soot and had a pair of horns made from a rope handle on his hat, or indeed why the hat itself was daubed with what looked very like lard. He still somehow managed to make the whole thing look incredibly cool.

Race fan at the 24 Heures Motos - Le Mans 1992

Another portrait from the Le Mans 24 hour bike race. Sadly, I don’t have this bloke’s name. It was rather hard to understand him due to his accent and the fact that he was completely hammered… it was about 10 o’clock in the morning. Impressive. 

Another race fan - Le Mans 1992

This chap has what appears to be a WWII German helmet with the Breton flag attached to it under one horn. These horns were not originally attached to the helmet, except during military productions of Siegfried.

Bikers at the 24 Heures Motos - Le Mans 1992

These two fellows may have had a small glass of wine...

Lap counting in the early morning at the 24 Heures Motos - Le Mans 1992

Denis (right foreground) and his brothers during the customary end-of-race track invasion - Le Mans 1992

I'm ashamed to say that I don't know this man's name. Particularly poor since I photographed him twice, in 1991 and 1993. My notes for both days are feeble and unspecific. This is him with his bike, accommodation and workshop - Elvington 1991

On the old airstrip - Elvington 1991

Waiting to be called to the start - Elvington 1993

Real lightweight bike - Elvington 1993

Burger van - Elvington 1991

Start/finish line - Rye House Rockets Speedway 1991

High-tech spring-loaded tapes and painted start line at Rye House Stadium, Hertfordshire 

The stadium bar - Rye House Rockets Speedway 1991

Rye House Rockets Speedway - 1991

For the winners, a victory lap in a plywood chariot

Joe Dilworth - London 1993

Photographer, drummer, bookstore owner and MZ enthusiast Joe Dilworth astride his East German military-spec ES 250.

Hugo Wilson goes off road - Peterborough brick pits 2000

Former Bike Magazine editor Hugo Wilson demonstrates the catastrophic result of running over a catering pack of Maltesers with a dirt bike.