There are motorcycles that are cool, and then there are motorcycles that change everything. The Honda CB750, unveiled in 1969, was one of those rare machines that flipped the industry on its head. It was fast, reliable, affordable, and bristling with technology riders had only dreamed about. But among all the CB750s built over the next decade, one small, early batch stands apart — the mysterious, highly coveted “sandcast” CB750s.

The year was 1970. Motorcycle culture was exploding all over the country, the muscle car era was in full swing, and Americans were more interested in racing than ever before. Intrepid rider Dick Mann, and the reluctantly constructed, factory-backed Honda team stood on the precipice of racing glory, but a tough 200 miles stood between the team and the big “W” that would legitimize Honda as a force to be reckoned with in the world of motorcycle road racing.