Alberto's race bike - finito

Cut off the the sport's mother country European flat trackers have to mutate to survive. It's hard to get hold of used race bikes, so they make their own.
Alberto Narduzzi built a framer from scratch to compete in Europe. We showed the work in progress earlier this month. These photos, again by Raf of Street Tracker blogspot, were taken at the recent Verona Show. Alberto sold a couple of bikes off the back of it. That's his black speedway bike in the background too. Not bad for a professional photographer, eh?
Pay special attention to the big headstock tube (for adjustability?) and the clear side numbers boards. Bravo, Alberto.
Surely there's going to be some short track back in Italy. GI

Treviso Style, Italy

Ben's just taught me how to make montages in Photoshop, so you're going to be sick of them soon. Anyway, as I was saying, a fantastic 24 hours in Italy. Photographer and all-round bike nut Alberto Narduzzi offered to put me up at his place. It's always better to do that than stay in a hotel - even if you've never even spoken to the person. I didn't realise how cool it would be. Alberto's house (above) is like something out of Elle Decoration, but with added motorcycles. Alberto turned up to meet me at the airport on a beaten-up old BMW 100/7 (loads of cool Italian guys have beaten-up old BMWs). He took me to his house, brought out the cheese and beer, let me snoop through his books and stuff. Then, as he had a meeting, gave me the keys to BMW to investigate nearby Treviso. It's a deathtrap, but still kind of him. God knows how he did 8000km in this past August on it. And it took him to the Isle of Man TT and back earlier in the year.
When we met up again we visited an underground car park that is the lair of Mr Borgini, a former racer and now a classic bike mechanic. Incredible what you find in underground car parks.
Then we went for drinks in a fantastic bar, met Raffaele from the Streettracker blogspot and went for a meal in a restaurant not changed since the 1970s. Fantastico! Thanks Alberto. GI

Alberto's Bikes

This Rotax framer and GM speedway bike belong to, and were photographed by, Alberto Narduzzi in Italy. That's him, with his other-half Elena, on a recent visit to Alan Bellham's Speedway Service in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England. Alberto couldn't believe the place. You can see it too, in issue 5 of Sideburn. Out soon.
Click the Alberto Narduzzi label below to se what a cool cat he is. GI

Alberto's Puch

Alberto Narduzzi is from the Chippy Wood school of full-bore photographers. Alberto has a KTM in his living room and competes on race circuits on a 1960s Honda, he's also building a GM speedway bike and a Rotax dirt track framer and rides this beauty in enduros. It's a 1978 Puch 250 GS. Viva Alberto! GI
Action photos from HVA430

Alberto's Framer

Another Euro made framer on the go. This time from our amico Alberto Narduzzi. It, along with the Ouroboros Zaeta, Marco Belli and others will be at the Verona show this weekend. Looks like Luca Talamona's helping out there too.

I think some sites are saying we're going. We're not. GI

This, from Alberto, for our Italian friends. I can't read a word of it...

'Non ci sarà nulla che vi farà impazzire perchè assomiglia a qualcosa che avete già vissuto e già perduto, ma qualche cosa di nuovo per gli appassionati ci sarà!
Moto bellissime, piloti carismatici e veri, costruttori di special mitici e le mie prime due motorette!!. Un pò timide e un pò cafone...
Venerdì prossimo ci possiamo incontrare al Padiglione 6 Stand 13 AB al Motor Expo Bike di Verona assieme a Graziano Rossi, Paolo Chiaia, Marco Belli, Roberto Totti, Luca Talamona, Federico Sartor per vivere da vicino l'amore per il traverso nel nostro piccolo ma intenso stand!'

More Fine Art Collection

More info on the Fine Art Collection at Pitti Uomo, that our friend Alberto Narduzzi is organising. It's going to be at Motor Expo Verona too, I think. Above is artwork of the stand and some of Alberto's photos that will be on display. Below is a TM-powered framer the shoe company Alberto Fasciani is having built for the display. This follows the Chanel cafe racer. What next Jimmy Choo WR45 racer? G

Fine Art Dirt Collection

Our friend Alberto Narduzzi sent us this invite, but we can't make it. Pitti Uomo is, I think, a huge fashion show in Italy that has exhibitors showing their ranges (inc streetwear) to buyers. Alberto, Mr Martini and Roberto Totti (along with great Italian bike mag Riders) has some sort of bike and photo exhibition there with Italian shoemaker Alberto Fasciani.

'So?' you're thinking. Well, if you're in the business of promoting race series', getting bikes into the consciousness of people with marketing budgets has got to be a good thing. The Mefo guys had Dickies as a sponsor and the ORS got Red Bull on board. All of European flat track is run by enthusiasts, no one makes a bean, so if things like this gives the race and event organisers an 'in' then it's got to be good.

So, if you're interested in going email the contacts on the invite. G

Fine Art Tracker finished

When I saw photos of Alberto Narduzzi's Fine Art tracker I thought 'There's a hell of a lot of air between the top of that TM and the bottom of the tank.' When the photos came through it made sense (from a design point of view, not sure about how it will handle). The shock arrangement looks interesting too.

This is set up day at the Pitti Uomo fashion show thing Alberto is showing bikes and photography at. It looks smart. Alberto's GM speedway bike is below. G

Alberto's Framer

Can't get enough of this Italian-built bike. And now Italian dirt track is back Alberto can race it.

UPDATE: More photos - all taken by Raffaele at StreetTracker. Grazie!

Verona Show 2010 - pt.1

Remember the Verona Show from last January? Well, it seems the germs we left have turned into something. Raffaele at Street Tracker blogspot sent these shots through. The Spy bikes are Luca Talamona's. The SV1000 was originally built in England (when it was blue). Luca bought it from UK racer Glyn, who despite being one of the UK's best, never got to grips with it. Luca will ride it in the Euro series. Luca's Rotax is in, I think, a Circle F chassis. I don't know a lot about this company. Can anyone fill us in?

The speedway bike is Alberto Narduzzi's. What a neat set-up. More on Alberto's framer Rotax soon.
Thanks for the photos Rafa. GI

Narduzzi and Indian Girl

This is my new, but very good friend Alberto Narduzzi. He's building his own Rotax framer, over in Italy, and a GM speedway bike. Dirt track seems to be getting a foothold in Italy again. For his dirt track debut Alberto wore his Indian Girl hooded sweat. We have a small number of these hooded sweats and long-sleeve T-shirts left. Once they're gone, they're gone. He is on Marco Belli's Kawasaki 450 DTX bike. Looking good first time out, with the steel shoe he bought at Alan Bellham's when he visited me a few months ago. I hope Marco and his mates can get enough interest to have a few rounds over there. GI

Photo: RP at Streetracker Blogspot

Fantic Stroker

We mentioned the new Fantic Two-stroke a while ago. Alberto Narduzzi sent this shot of it through. We're not really into modern MX bikes, but that expansion chamber is something else and Fantic are good guys.. Thanks Alberto. G

Equilibrio Precario

Shortly after having made his opinion clear regarding Moto Guzzis, we asked Jesse James if there was any bike modification he was unwilling to perform despite the desires of the paying customer?
"Yeah, I could never paint a bike yellow. Yellow is for faggots."

Well you couldn't get much more red-blooded than Italian marque Zaeta. (from Left to Right) Massimo Rizzo, Paolo Chiaia, Graziano Rossi (Valentino Rossi's Dad), Marco Belli. And their Ouroboros makes a lemon look green. Gary went to Treviso to bend it on their test track. Read the full story in SB#5. Out soon-ish. BP
Photos Raffaele Paolucciand and Alberto Narduzzi.

Maybe Jesse was referring to large meat balls?

Purely Fortunate Chance

From Giuseppe in Italy.

I was in a pub in Helsinki, Finland when I found a copy of Sideburn 14, by a purely fortunate chance! It was very interesting to see the pictures of the story, "Inferno Fangoso" and I recognized immediately the track (Giavera del Montello, North East of Italy) and the time: it was April 1972. And I was there too! 
And the guy with the Maico 25cc N.5 was Alberto Angiolini, one of the best Italian motocross rider at that time. You can find attached two more pictures (black and white by my brother) of the event. 
Best regards, Giuseppe Gasparini

Belli to race Zaeta at UK indoor bonanza

Just heard from Marco Belli, confirming he will be racing the Ouroboros Zaeta at the Indoor Short Track at Essex on December 27. It's the new project's first competitive outing.
Boastie thinks the Indoor Bonanza is going to sell out, so buy your tickets now if you want to go. GI

Photo: Alberto Narduzzi

Pedalcycho Tour de France

From our man Chris Watson who will illustrate another story for us in SB#6. BP

'Its been the most exciting Tour in years [finishes Sunday], leaders all very close!
Schleck attacked Contador, Schleck's chain fell off, Alberto Contador attacked Schleck - here for details
Lance Armstrong fell and lost minutes so has given up hope of winning, World Champ Cadel Evans was in yellow for a day - but in the mountains he nearly had to quit in pain as it turned out he'd fractured his elbow in a heavy fall the day before.
Cavendish's lead out man Mark Renshaw was sent home for foul play - Renshaw did a track style headbutting to a rival who was dangerously trying to elbow him off his line - fair enough but then Renshaw dangerously blocked Tyler Farrar who was coming thru on Cav's wheel.'
Ai chihuahua! CW

Ouroboros Zaeta

The Zaeta with a Confederate Hellcat and Wraith

The basis is a J&M frame. More details to follow.

Graziano can really ride. No surprises, having won 250 GPs. And he loves to ride.

Graziano's steel toe caps. The concept is to slide left and right, hence two steel shoes. But Graziano trails his foot, not a lot of good if the front goes. Also, it's not pure dirt track, it has a front brake too. I didn't even think about using it.

Rally car helmet and 3M safety goggles.

The Giavera track building

Sideburn fan Peter from Hungary (in Rossi lid) waits his turn to test the bike.

I had 24 hours in Treviso, Italy late last week and had an amazing time, visting places and having a test ride on the Ouroboros Zaeta project - more details soon. Huge thanks to Alberto Narduzzi, Raffaele P, Marco, Paulo and all involved with the Ouroboros Zaeta project. I'll keep feeding stuff up from the flying visit over the next few days. GI

GI and GR