At over 60-years-old, both of these machines - a 1954 Velocette Venom and 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster - should be tucked away safely in museums.

But we know machines like this were built to be used, so we put them against each other in perhaps the most gentlemanly drag race ever.

Head to www.motorcyclenews.com for the full video and read all the results and analysis from the 10 head-to-head races in MCN's big acceleration special, on shelves now.

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