It’s just arrived here so it should be hitting your doormats in the next couple of days….our latest (and greatest!) catalogue.
Packed with all our new onfire t shirts and hoods as well as a smattering of other great kit your wardrobe needs. If you not got one by easter weekend use the links below to sign up for one or if you can’t wait click through to see the new range online now
YES ! sign me up for an onfire catalogue
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
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
Onfire sponsored rider Johnny Rea picked up his first win in World Superbikes this weekend at Misano in Italy. A cracking performance by Rea in the second race of the day earned him the win in his debut season in WSB & its got us all excited about the prospect of another win at donington next weekend. For more info and comments from Johnny check out the HANNspree Ten Kate news pages here
This weekend sees round 2 of the British Stand Up Paddle Champs down at Gwithian Beach near St Ives, Cornwall. Why not head on down if you’re in the area - fingers crossed for some fine weather and onfire rider chris ‘guts’ griffiths repeating his victory of last year.
