Dirt Track Heroes at he National Motorcycle Museum

This looks amazing. But it's at the National Motorcycle Museum, Iowa and we're not. There are a couple of bikes and memorabilia from riders on show that we've featured in Sideburn.

Whether you call it flat track or dirt track racing, it’s a thrilling form of motorcycle competition unique to America. Now Allstate Motorcycle Dirt Track Heroes presented by J&P Cycles brings together nearly 30 race bikes, over 20 sets of leathers and countless photos, paintings and prints. It’s been assembled to build a great exhibition in tribute to the #1 Plate Grand National Champions, tuners and other dirt track greats and many of the motorcycles they raced. Triumph 650′s, the Harley WR’s, KR750′s and XR750′s, BSA Gold Stars, and some fine short trackers like the Bultaco Astro are all in the mix. Rare #1 leathers King Kenny wore, Aldana’s “skeleton” design as well as leathers Daytona 200 winner Don Emde also wore when he raced the TransAtlantic Match races decades ago. Paintings by Scott Jacobs, prints by Harry Miller as well as photos from Camel Pro photographer Bert Shepard help give action to the exhibit.

That Bike

Most people know the story about the infamous Castro Triumph with the intergalactic Fiberglas Works bodywork that got banned by the AMA, but SB#7 has the inside story from Metro Racing's Don Miller who restored the Redline framed bike to it's former glory. And I've bet you've never seen up it's megga end pipe. BP

Evil Kwacker

Tuner Erv Kanemoto fettles the 2-stroke triple that Don Castro rode in 1975. The rip from those pipes on-song must have been ear bleed inducing. BPphoto Bert Shepard

Frank Gillespie

Our friend Craig Randall (the fella whose photo album we raided for Sideburn 3) saw that Don Castro is interviewed for SB4. He says...

I used to hate it when Donny Castro lined up in a race with me. The result was a foregone conclusion. But one of our early contemporaries, Frank Gillespie, who was in On Any Sunday briefly, is in the picture from the same era. Beautiful Triumph.
Best, Craig

The Don

Don Castro joins our on-going legends series for SB#4, illustrated by James Chappell (who did Dick Mann in SB#3). BP

Castro's boots

Following on from our Red Wing boot post, Alastair McQ says
'Did you know they used to make the special (with crepe soles) boots worn by US Airborne troops in WW2? PPS The boots with red and white vertical stripe worn by Don Castro in the 'cool' photo were made by Ken Maely the hotshoe man, purpose built for flat tracking. The left boot had a flat, heelless sole. This unused pair went for a lot of $ on Ebay a little while back along with a Maely hotshoe - pity cos they were my size...'

Wigged out Triumph

We showed this bike a while ago. We didn't realise our mate Donzilla at Metro Racing owned it now.
Don Castro used to race it but the AMA banned it. Read more in a future Sideburn.

Don Castro 1975*

What is there not to love about this photo? Don Castro on one of the most bad-tempered flat trackers of all time, the 750 H2, and he's looking like one of the MC5. His boots are lace-ups, keep em nice an' tight. He's wearing his old Yam leathers. In the background is some Dodge Hauler. My wife's got a pink ringer T-shirt just like Don's. And look at the fella taking a drink of Tab from his cup. White jeans and a windcheater - a great look. I could look at this photo all day.

Just for people new to blogs, if you click a label at the bottom, like Don's name. It'll take you to all Sideburn's other posts relating to Don. Apologies for teaching any grandmothers to suck eggs.

* We think

This was taken from http://instanttractiondeluxe.blogspot.com.
We don't know where he got it from.

Just back from Beezumph

What a day. Beautiful weather, that was even more beautiful because it's rained for a fortnight. The most amazing track bikes and cafe racers; good mates like Boastie and Alastair McQ, Sideburn buddies like Col, Damian, Barrie, Manchester Steve and Adrian Baynes AND
Gene Romero
Don Emde
Dave Aldana
Don Castro
and
Mr Dick Bugsy Mann

I interviewed them all for future Sideburns but forgot to take a shot of me with them. Luckily Adrian B sent this. I'm the dork in the Sideburn T-shirt sat next to Burrito.
What a day.

Beezumph

Don Castro, Gene Romero, Dave Aldana, Don Emde...
All at the Beezumph rally, Cadwell Park, England this weekend.
Image from Metroracing.com They sell neat T0-shirts featuring Castro, Aldana, Lawwill...

Erv's Bike

Gary/Ben, in response to your latest sideblog post, haven't got a kwak triple for ya but have got another pic to help with the build! This is a period one from a paddock circa mid 70's showing Erv Kanemoto's work in all its glory.
Laters Tel, Norwich, England

Thanks Tel. Looks like Don Castro there (yes we can read).