Onfire

Our latest range of Vintage rugby T shirts  plays on the theme of  ‘Pick It Up And Run With It’ - these are the words inscribed on a plaque commemerating the birth of rugby and citing the games originater as one William Webb Ellis who it is claimed “with fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time at Rugby school, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the Rugby game”.

This story was first repoprted on by Matthew Bloxam, himself a former pupil of Rugby school, writing in The Meteor (the Rugby School magazine). Bloxham later expanded on his initial account:

“A boy of the name Ellis – William Webb Ellis – a town boy and a foundationer, … whilst playing Bigside at football in that half-year [1823], caught the ball in his arms. This being so, according to the then rules, he ought to have retired back as far as he pleased, without parting with the ball, for the combatants on the opposite side could only advance to the spot where he had caught the ball, and were unable to rush forward till he had either punted it or had placed it for some one else to kick, for it was by means of these placed kicks that most of the goals were in those days kicked, but the moment the ball touched the ground the opposite side might rush on. Ellis, for the first time, disregarded this rule, and on catching the ball, instead of retiring backwards, rushed forwards with the ball in his hands towards the opposite goal, with what result as to the game I know not, neither do I know how this infringement of a well-known rule was followed up, or when it became, as it is now, a standing rule.”

Whilst it is almost impossible to substantiate this - even within Bloxam’s accounts there are inaccuracies - it is generally assumed that this is the way it went down and the game we know and love today originated at Rugby School in 1823 all thanks to one, William Webb Ellis.

See the full range of new vintage Rugby T shirts in our online store here

For our Spring 2010 collection we’ve been working on getting the base garments just right - the best fabric, washes, finishes and fit. Fit is often a subjective issue as we all like to wear our Ts in a slightly different way - some of us prefer a looser, casual fit while others prefer things a little more fitted. The guide below highlights our main garments, all their best features and offers info on sizing and some guidance on fit to help you pick the right one for you. As always if you have any questions on onfire product, or you’re not sure which size to go for please call us on 01283 537722 and we’ll be happy to discuss this and make some suggestions. If you prefer you can email us at sales@onfire.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.

This year we are aiming to release new product variations throughout the seasons so that we’re always offering something new and fresh. To see the latest batch of prints available on the garments below simply click on them and you’ll be whisked off to the correct part of our online store.

To keep up with the very latest product releases and offers why not sign up for our weekly email here or keep checking this blog for news on forthcoming onfire stuff. For news and onfire related chatter and gossip point your browser to our facebook page.

Just released as part of our new range of retro race T prints this Lake Elsinore Grand Prix shirt salutes one of the most famous dirt races of all time. Immortalised in Bruce Browns classic 1971 film ‘On Any Sunday’ Elsinore was for many the pinnacle of 60s/70s dirt racing. During its heyday it attracted hundreds of entrants, some fuelled by a desire to win, many more simply by the thrill of competing in the event.

The 3rd  Lake Elsinore Grand Prix saw Hollywood actor and dirtbike fanatic Steve McQueen enter on a 405cc Husky lining up alongside 500 competitors ! McQueen entered the race under the pseudonym Harvey Mushman but anyone doubting the stars competitive streak should check out these post race comments;

“When you’re runnin’ in the top ten, as I was, you’re really honkin’ on pretty good an’ what happens is that with so many bikes choppin’ up the dirt the holes in the course get worse…deeper with each lap. I was comin’ out of a wassh under a bridge with thjis road dip ahead and I just kinda took one of those big jumps when you’re surev you’re gonna make it but you don’t…and I didn’t. My bike nosed into the dip, which was lkike deep - and I went ass-over the bars into the crowd. Didn’t hurt anybody but me. My left foot was busted in six places”

McQueen/Mushman didn’t duck out there and actually finished the race in the top ten.

See footage of the Elsinore Grand Prix from the best bike movie ever made here

Buy your Elsinore Vintage Grand Prix T here

In 1984 Doug Domokos did what many of us spent our childhoods dreaming of when he  travelled 145 miles on one wheel at Talladega Speedway in Alabama. Domokos entered the Guinness Book of Records that year for the longest wheelie and in the process earned himself the title ‘Wheelie King’ as well as a reputation as one of the premier motorcycle riders of his era. Doug began charging around on dirtbikes when he was 15, the beginning of a love affair with bikes that would last his whole life. Domokos found work as a mechanic in Michigan and would ‘test’ the bikes he had worked on by wheelie-ing up and down the streets. As word of his skills spread Hollywood came calling and Doug made a number of appearances on the big screen in films like Cannonball Run, On Any Sunday 2 and Megaforce. A real showman who was born to ride Doug sadly passed away in November 2000 but to his legion of fans he remains the original “Wheelie King”

Check out Domokos in action here

Pick up an Onfire Vintage Wheelie King T here

Check out these latest shots from onfire rider and British SUP legend Chris ‘Guts’ Griffiths and keep an eye for some new SUP tee designs in our soon to be unleashed spring collection.

For more SUP action from guts check here and here

This months copy of superbike magazine features one of our vintage race tees. Click here to see our full range of soft wash, luxury vintage Tees

Just in - the first new kit for 2010 is a  bunch of  retro race inspired vintage t shirts. Check them out today and start working out how you can add them all to your wardrobe as soon as..