This is England

The BikeShed Event.mov from Tim van Someren on Vimeo.
A glimpse of last weekend's London Bike Shed Event for those who couldn't make it and a reminder of a great show for those who did. We're very happy to have been involved in it. G

Johnny keep a-rollin'

'What you got on that train, boy?'
'I got Bo Diddley, I got Jerry Lee, I got Plommons, I got R&B, punk, freakbeat. Man, I got...'
'Yes, yes, thank you Mr Alpha, I think we get the picture. Mind how you go now, there's a badger on the line at Tamworth and a temporary 40mph limit just this side of Wigan North Western.'

All aboard the Killer Diller Locomotive Special, curated by Sideburn favourite, Sir Johnny Alpha. An hour and 24 minutes of pure aural pleasure. No buffet car. Toilets out of order. MP

Retrospective Scooters Book

This brand new book takes its name from a back street North London classic Vespa specialist. It's the work of photographer Paul Hart who shot the shop, its vintage Vespas and also the scooters the photographer himself bought from Retrospective over a six-year period. 

Paul explains the book was shot all on film, not digital, which always makes much more difference to the photographer (and other photographers) than the reader. Instagram's instant effects have dulled us to the joys of cross-processing. Nevertheless it's a lovely coffee table book for anyone with a soft spot for Piaggio's wasp. 

The 120-page book is a chunky large format softback and is limited to 130 copies. It'll sell out, guaranteeing its cult status. 

It was designed by David Hardy of (Team S Equipe and Enjoy the Ride) and the short passages are in English, Italian and German. I've been picking it up and putting it down all day. I've found it pretty inspirational (even though I'm a Lambretta man). 

Go to Vespamore to buy yours. G

GT Cruiser

The mongrel spirit of Drakey lives on in my shopper-chopper-bar-hopper-do-whopper. BPPS. He's not dead, just living on the other side of the planet (and spending his weekends tending his Kiwi fruit instead of racing his gnarly Rotax deathtrap).

*SOLD* Cheap UK Flat Track Bike for Sale

Alloy tanked CCM running on 19s. Suzuki DRZ400 engine.
Ready to race. £1000 or near offer. Eligible for the Rookie and Restricted/Pro class (not Thunderbike).
I don't know the history of the bike, but it raced at the weekend and you're unlikely to find a ready to race bike on 19s any cheaper.
It won't have a V5 so you can't convert it back to a road bike.
Call or text Ronald on 07533 506062. G

DTRA Round 4, Tir Prince, Wales

This race is on a super-fast, two-thirds of a mile horse racing oval near Rhyl in North Wales. This is proper On Any Sunday action.
It's a Friday night race with racing starting at about 7pm. The DTRA needs marshals for this race. You'd need to be there for 5-ish to get a briefing and cover the practice.
Times and gate prices will be confirmed on the blog.

Sideburn's ongoing sponsorship of the UK Dirt Track Riders Association sees us commissioning different artists to produce a poster for each of the races. Please share this poster on any of your own social media.

Round 1 was Ryan Quickfall
Round 2, Essy May
Round 3 is Dirt Quake by Adi Gilbert
Round 4 is by Adam Nickel, interviewed below.

ADAM NICKEL

Where do you live? 
Brisbane, Australia.

What bike do you own? 
A 1955 Triumph Thunderbird.

What's your dream bike? 
I wouldn't mind owning a DAH Harley race bike.

Who is your motorcycle hero? 
Burt Munro, though watching Malcolm Smith in the Elsinore Grand Prix in On Any Sunday gives me goosebumps.

If you were to start racing flat track what bike would you choose to compete on?
I love the KR flattrack bikes

What was the inspiration for your DTRA poster?
Early 60s graphic design, specifically rock posters from around era.

Finish this sentence: I love my motorcycle... 
...but I think it hates me.

www.adamnickel.com

Corpses from Hell x Ruby Helmets

Ruby X Corpses From Hell from Richard Baybutt on Vimeo.

Absolutely brilliant video by Richard and Maxwell at Corpses from Hell (also featuring a bit of DTRA racer Ross Herrod) for Ruby Helmets.
Part of it is filmed in Sideburn stockists, The Mud Crab Diner, Sheffield.
Watch it, it'll make your day. G

DSC X Alpinestars X Bell X Ross Herrod

Ross 'King' Herrod's ex-Captain Highside Rotax short tracker now has DSC twinkly livery. DSC has also reeled in Alpinestars and Bell into the equation. Seen for the first time at the Bike Shed show on Saturday and raced in anger on the Sunday at Rye House. BP

The Bike Shed Event

 

Thanks to The Bike Shed for including us in their inaugural show. It was very impressive.
And thanks to Gary Margerum for these photos. G

Out in Front

Just recovering from a great motorcycle weekend in England. Thanks to The Bike Shed crew for their Event (more on that when we get chance) and the Dirt Track Riders Association and all their volunteers for a super-smooth race meet at Rye House.

With nearly 30 riders in the Thunderbike class I didn't qualify for the 12-man A Final, but I was on the front row for the B, got the holeshot, led every lap and managed to break from the pack (see below).

I'd always rather qualify for the A with no chance of a podium, but it is nice to win a race every now and then. 

Thanks to Simon F for the photos. G