Tonight's Santa Rosa short track is on fanschoice.tv. I was out at Friday night's racing and the track is short and tight, which makes me* a little nervous as I'm racing one of Roland Sands' Indian Sport Scout Superhooligans in a field of fast and rabid hooligan regulars tonight. Big thanks to Indian Motorcycles and Roland Sands Designs for the opportunity. It'll be the first time I've ever sat on one these. What could possibly go wrong?
Practice/Qualifying: 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT) Afternoon Heats: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT) Opening Ceremonies: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT) Evening Heats: 9:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. PT) Super Hooligan Main: 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT)
Read about Travis's debut on the Indian Superhooligans at the US Superprestigio in SIDEBURN 24.
The short track meeting is organised by our friends at the CFTA, and is the curtain raiser to Sunday's AMA Pro season finale on the mile race, that will see Bryan Smith v Jared Mees, Kawasaki v Harley-Davidson for the 2016 title. Only 2pts separate them. It's a Sunday afternoon race and also live on fanschoice.tv
Practice/Qualifying: 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Pre-race Show: 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT)
Opening Ceremonies: 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT)
Heats: 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT)
GNC2 Main: 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT)
GNC1 Main: 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT)
* Sideburn ed, Gary Inman
The Big Bear Motorcycle Run was first held in the 1920s and involved a 100-mile ride that started with a 50-mile loop in the Mojave Desert and ended at Big Bear lake, 5000ft up in the mountains.
These shots, from the Life archives, where you can see lots more, were shot by Ralph Crane in 1961. That year, when around 1000 riders lined up, saw a series of cock-ups, beginning with a pre-meditated jump-start from one club, that rendered the results void. That, as far as I know, was the last of the classic Big Bear runs as the ever-growing entry prompted the authorities to shut it down.
Read more about the Big Bear, and other classic US desert races in issue 18 of Sideburn. MP
EDIT: As I finished writing this, I realised that issue 18 has sold out, which just emphasises why you need to get hold of your copies of Sideburn as soon as possible. Leave it and you'll miss out. However, eBay is your friend.
We're going to have a lot more input on this blog from staff poet and test rider, Travis Newbold.
Travis rode the Indian Hooligan at the Supersprestigio in Las Vegas last November. Read the report ins Sideburn 24.
Here's his report from the recent hooligan race in a music festival, the Lost Highway:
A few weeks ago I hopped on an airplane from Detroit to LAX with my leathers and helmet to ride the #47 Indian for Roland Sands again. I rented a minivan (it was actually pretty cool but minivans are still really not cool!). I hit up In 'N Out for a burger, Family Eollar for a blanket and after making it to the track I slept in the back with a fast food bag for a pillow. I awoke with the sun to an empty music arena. I walked the track and noted how slick and off camber it was and then did reverse donuts in the mini van. As people started to show up the temperature rose up into the hundreds. I knew the hill side grasstrack was going to give the Hooligan nutters some hell.
The first practice session was like watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger scene involving a rocket launcher. Sean from Suicide Machine dude crushed his helmet. He said if he could find another lid he thought he was good to race still. No.
I rode smooth but knew I would have to push to qualify for the main as only first place transferred to the main. In my heat I had a shit start and worked my way into 1st and then lost the front coming in. I used every bit of muscle I had to lift the giant scout back up and kept going. It paid as another crashed out and I ended up third. giving me a a transfer to the B main where first place would make the main.
I won the B Main but I was pushing so hard across the finish line that I wiped out. The big girl had my hot shoe pinned underneath of her. It was like being sat upon by a huge fat chick inside a sauna. I got out from under her and heaved her back up. I franticly reattached my hot shoe and with sweat dumping out my face I lined up for the main.
I wiped out once more causing a first corner red flag restart. I was totally exhausted. I made it to the last corner of the last lap and right before the finish line I just had to butt surf the grass once more. I think I ended up fifth and I will tell you cold beer never tasted so good. What a great crowd of racers Roland draws. The track was surprisingly great for racing and taught a lot of respect for soft rider inputs.
As the darkness came and temps dropped below 100 I hoofed it up the hill to a secret weird balcony like spot and watched good ol' Mike Ness and the rest of Social Distortion kick out some good old stuff from the early days. Living the good life. Until a security guard awoke me at 4:30 from my sweaty slumber. "Can't sleep here hon, venue is closed." Well back to the airport and on with the real world. Travis
Photos: Preston Burroughs
Aaron from Suicide Machine Co. Read about them in Sideburn 23.
RSD's Cameron Brewer on the Pickle Tracker Sportster
Andy Bell, Double denim and sleeveless hooligan wrestling.
Drummer with the Arctic Monkeys, collaborator with Iggy Pop, a man with fine taste in motorcycles, Matt Helders is all these things. We flew to Los Angeles to photograph the Brit's mean Mule-built Bonneville.
Every time Sideburn takes a trip to the US we try to visit a few different shops or garages. Earlier in the year we visited the new Brat Style outpost and Suicide Machine Co in Long Beach. This time, while we were out for the US Superprestigio/ Superhooligan and LA-Barstow-Vegas, we called at long-time supporter of Sideburn, Chopper Dave's in Hawaiian Gardens.
He was the first American to buy Sideburn issue 1; his race-ready street tracker featured in Sideburn 5; his Born Free turbo street tracker was in Sideburn 15.
In a entirely forgettable trading estate, and behind a plain door, without a sign or clue to what's inside was the scene above.
Some of the most influential Harleys of recent years were parked or in parts.
A whole swap meet of tanks on the stairs.
Dave casts a load of great-looking parts: filters; footpegs; car club plaques; ignition covers; belt buckles. See more at Chopper Dave's Casting Co.
Wax to be melted to start the shaping process of casting.
Great hauler with FTWCo's 'Support Your Local Racetrack' order
Dave!
Dave giving us directions to Roland Sands' place. His fingers read H-O-L-D F-A-S-T. When Dave chopped the end of his little finger off at work, he added C-H-O-P S-A-W.
Thanks for showing us around Dave. G
Our friends at Influx (the online (and occasionally on paper magazine of UK motor insurance specialists Adrian Flux), are creating some original, high quality content.
Ben and some of our friends turn up in this film that was shot in Perris, at an evening practice Deus Venice organised. It's one of three short films Influx harvested in California. All three start with dreadlocked, mid-Atlantic, Porsche collector, Magnus Walker, and he features in the second of the three films (but I've heard most of what he says in the film that was out a few years ago).
I also wrote about Bud Ekins and Cali-FOMO for their recent California-themed content ejaculation.
Go to Influx and have a snoop around. G
Great old clip, posted by Superbike Planet, of early-1970s indoor short track on concrete. Nixon, Mashburn and Brelsford are all interviewed. The track looks like ice, definitely no Coke syrup down to make that more tacky. I'm pretty sure it's 1971, or late 1970. A bit of digging showed that Jim Odom won it (the rider from the Trophy Queen page of Sideburn 10).
As the presenter explains, the series also went to the famous Madison Square Gardens for the NY round in January 1971. A reported 17,000 turned up, on a Monday night!, the iconic venue sold out and spectators were turned away, according to an AMA report from the time. I wonder how many will go to the first US Superprestigio in Vegas on November 20-21? Two who will be there are Ben and me. Travis the poet too! Whose coming?
Click the 'Carpet Shoes' label below for more post about indoor concrete short track, or the 'indoors' label for more indoor short track in general.
Thanks to Roger for bringing it to our attention. G
A pleasing dose of nostalgia as spotted on the Britbike forum. The pics are from the collection of the late Joe Ward, who from 1959-'64 was a field rep for the West Coast BSA importer, Hap Alzina, based in Oakland, California. They were posted by Joe's nephew and you can see more here. What's that frame on the A10 TT bike? MP
If you can't make it to Dirt Quake IV this weekend because, oh I don't know, you live in California or some other lame excuse, you should try support the California Flat Track Association.
The series is run by Sideburn contributor Randy Kremlacek. I've raced at one of his events, and they attract a great variety of riders and bikes. Plus they're very welcoming of new riders and novices, so get in touch and help grow the California grassroots, or get along and take inspiration from the wild race bikes.
This weekend they are promoting an indoor cushion short track!
I know it says quads welcome, but don't let that put you off. If you all start racing perhaps they can drop them (and whatever you say will not make me like quads).
Find out more at California Flat Track Association. G
Thanks to Andrew for sending us this beauty. We don't know anything about the history, but it looks like something to buy to take over to Perris, out to Hell on Wheels and down to Del Mar...
The chances to race a national mile track as an amateur are very limited, but now is your chance to
RACE THE SACRAMENTO MILE!
... and it happens the day after the GNC National. This is a dream set-up. Do a race school on Friday, watch the National on Saturday and race on Sunday.
You need an AMA licence, $40 or so.
Good leathers and modern Snell-approved helmet
You must pre-enter - through California Flat Track Association.
The season opener happens at Perris tomorrow night. Get out there to see a massive variety of machinery from brakes Indians to framers and DTX, plus some of the top US racers preparing for the GNC.
Race entries available on the day too, I think. G
Iron and Resin have been big supporters of Sideburn for a long time now and we're pleased they're stocking new and back issues of Sideburn in their new SF store.
Find it at 7 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94111
Roland Sands is promoting this race at Del Mar's short track (the race I saw there in 2000 turned me on to amateur flat track). Roland says...
Join IV League Flat Track and RSD as we bring Flat Track Racing back to DelMar. This is your chance to bring out the old iron and that rusty steel shoe and put them to good use. There’s a class for nearly everyone so go to the website and register now. Hooligan classes, quads, vintage, pro, beginner and classes for the youngsters. Southern California Flat Track by the Beach in Del Mar is back!
Mule doesn't just consistently build the world's best trackers and develop parts for you to fit to yours, he also races. And he's fast. Really fast.
I traded off the TT500 you rode at Perris and I’m racing the CRF450 I got in trade, plus I got my 125 bike. Here’s a couple shots on the CR125 (pictured in action). Also, the 450 (below) in work being set up. Cheers, Mule
I like Ken Block's YouTube sensational Gymkhanas. I watch them with my boy, but I wouldn't normally post them on the blog and wouldn't have done this new one if Mr Block wasn't wearing an Ornamental Conifer jacket!
Nico, Mr Ornamental Conifer, is now based in LA and concentrating more on art art than commercial art. So fewer jackets, fewer helmets, fewer petrol tanks, more framed work and objets d'art (painted bottles, slingshots)…
Read about the Royal Enfield Ornamental Conifer painted for us back in 2011 (after Sideburn was turned onto the then barely known painter by Death Spray Custom) in Sideburn 10.
I went over to the San Sebastien Film Festival in late-September to watch the premiere of On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter and Greasy Hands Preachers. These two motorcycle films were part of the Savage Cinema section of the Spanish festival: 'a section dedicated to adventure and action sports films'.
While I was there I also managed to see this great climbing film - Valley Uprising. Neither myself or Mrs I, who accompanied me, know a thing about climbing and it didn't matter, this is superb. It's a story of the development of climbing, told by different generations who concentrated on climbing one small area of Yosemite National Park.
While we're covering film, Sideburn has a feature on the making of the original On Any Sunday, in which we interviewed Bruce Brown, Mert Lawwill, Malcolm Smith and super fan, Eric Bostrom. It's in Sideburn 10. G
Sideburn's BP and GI have shown up on the Biltwell website. These photos were taken at Perris in California when we were on our summer US tour. Thanks to Julian and everyone from Deus Ex Machina for organising such a memorable night.
GI is on Hayden Hell On Wheels' wonderful Triumph twin desert sled.
BP is on Mule Motorcycles' Yam 500, that Mule sold because it was too slow (it didn't seem it to us). He's chasing Hayden.
We wore and raced in Biltwell Gringo lids on this trip and were very impressed with the quality and fit. They feel much, much better than the $160 price tag suggests. G
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