Shayna by Yve

Shayna Texter on the Castrol Latus Triumph at Lima by Yve Assad.

See a portfolio of Yve's flat track work in Sideburn 17.
We featured Shayna back in issue 5, but that's sold out. G

Pomona Half-Mile

The final race of the season. The decider. Mees, Smith and Johnson can all win it, going into this race. Smith had already won the Dash for Cash (for the top six qualifiers) by this point... G

Bonneville Performance Blueprint

There's a new giclee blueprint in the webshop. We commission these schematic drawings from Mick Ofield. Ben photographed this bike at Springfield earlier this year. It is Mikey Martin's Bonneville Performance Triumph Thruxton, the fastest Triumph flat tracker in the world.

These prints are 40x30cm (a size chosen so this blueprint looks great in a cheap, off-the-shelf frame easily bought in Wilko's or Ikea).

The prints are made in England and sent out in a mailing tube with a few Sideburn posters and stickers. Get yours here.

We had Richard of Mule Motorcycles write the feature on this bike and you can read his expert insight in Sideburn 18. G

Pomona GNC Finale: Next Weekend

The 2014 Grand National Championship is going down to the wire next Saturday. Jared Mees is leading but Bryan Smith and, I think, Jake Johnson can still win the #1 plate.

Get your tickets here: flattrackfinals.com

Riders not in with a chance of the title will be going for the win, too. Sammy Halbert is on fire, winning the big money race at Willow Springs yesterday and the current number 1. Brad Baker won Pomona last year and the last weekend's Calistoga half-mile.

And, I'M GOING TO BE THERE.

I'll be in a black hooded sweat with Sideburn on the front.

I'll be at the big race at Perris the night before too. G

Calistoga Half-Mile Expert Main Full Race

Very exciting racing. If you're tight for time, the race starts around the 10-minute mark and lasts for 10 minutes.

#7 Sammy Halbert running well. Remember, he's coming to the UK as a guest of the DTRA for a Sideburn/DTRA night, then over to the International Dirt Track Festival in Spain to be the star instructor.

More details on the Sammy Halbert night very soon, but it's happening on on Saturday 18 October somewhere in the Midlands. G

Springfield Mile II

Man, what a race. Eight-rider freight trains. Race starts at the 10-min mark and finishes 16 minutes later. Watch it. G

Bryan Smith at the Mega Mile

AMA Pro Racing are serving up some great video content this year: full races and smaller features like track walks with the top  races.
This is an interesting short. I'd like to see Bryan Smith win the #1 plate this year.

An in-depth tech feature on SMith and his 2013 Crosley Kawasaki 650 twin is featured in SB15. G

Mega Mile Main Event

You'll really want to watch this - 1.25-mile, engine-killing oval - the Mega Mile at Colonial Downs.
There's a load of fannying around at the beginning, that's worth watching - engines overheating, Joe Kopp's dead engine (yes, Joe Kopp out of retirement again and made the main on a Triumph), racers playing mind games - then there's a red flag. It just reminds me how highly strung these riders are when it comes to the main. I love it.

The race itself is wild. Loads of different lines on this deep cushion track. Loads of different makes in the main too - H-D, KTM, Triumph, Kawasaki, Suzuki. G

Peoria TT Main

The first start is red-flagged, so if you're pushed for time the re-start is around 18:30. G

2014 Indy Mile Main

From this Friday night. The race is from around 9 mins to 24. Introducing the riders before, victory lap and podium after. G

That's What You Call a Rain-off

Dirt track tyres can't cope with waterlogged tracks, so there's always a risk a race may be rained off. It happens about once every ten races in the UK.

This is a photo of the track at Rapid City Speedway this week, where the GNC were supposed to race the Black Hills Half-Mile on Tuesday night as part of the huge Sturgis bike week event.

This followed a rain-off at Castle Rock the weekend before, but the organisers at the Washington track were able to postpone the event for one day and still hold the event.

After seeing this biblical storm, the whole paddock packed up and headed straight for Indy for TONIGHT'S Mile.
There's a GNC round every weekend till the end of August now.

Remember, the DTRA visit Amman Valley in Wales this weekend. Saturday looks fine. Sunday, not so good. G

Photo: AMA Pro Racing

Castle Rock TT Main Event

The best flat trackers in the world tackle the Castle Rock TT course in Washington state.
Just think, two months ago, 80 or so Dirt Quakers (and four shonky snowmobiles) started from that very same startline. It beggars belief. G

Smith wins fourth consecutive SacMile

Bryan Smith left it very late to announce which team he'd be racing for in 2014, after the Howerton team decided to call it a day, but it hasn't affected his performance. He's retained the same engine and the same form that saw him losing out on the number one plate (in the twins class) at the very last year of 2013. He's won three out of eight races so far and leads the title race at the halfway point. 

Jared Mees (#9) kept the pressure on with another podium finish. I wouldn't bet against him to win the title.

Above and below. Qualifying streamlining. #44 Brandon Robinson finished fourth in the main. #7 Sammy Halbert's comparatively so-so results continued. He came seventh, losing a place to Brad Baker on the run to the line. The race he was nailed on to win, Lima, ended early when his bike broke.
#16 Young gun Wyatt Maguire made the main, coming in 14th.

Coolbeth, #2, had another great start, but faded to finish in no man's land in fifth, away from the leading four, but more than four seconds ahead of sixth.
I'm really interested in Jake Johnson and the Lloyd's Brothers' Ramspur team. This year Jake has run an XR750, Ducati 1000 and, above, a Kawasaki 650. Plus he runs a Honda on the short tracks and TTs. Who else, at the very highest level, runs four different makes of bike in one season (all in the same team's colours)?

Next GNC race is the Castle Rock TT this Saturday. 

Photos courtesy of AMA Pro Racing.

Sacramento Mile 2014

The full main event. The video is nearly 50 minutes, but the actual race is much shorter. You can skip the interviews at the end if you're tight for time. G

When Thor Went to Elma

Last weekend, the GNC series visited Gray's Harbor, Washington for a half-mile race. Our good friend and fellow Dirt Quake USA organiser, Thor Drake of See See Motorcycles went along...

I packed up the ol’ Purple Hog with the bare escentals; tent, sleeping bag and Polaroid camera. No plan in place, just a destination, 130 miles north of Portland to Grays Harbor Racetrack in Elma, Washington for the half-mile AMA GNC dirt track race. My little lady was on a separate trip with her family, coincidentally on the way. I met Tori in a logger bar about halfway to Elma. I roll up on my old leaky Harley, she jumps out of a car, we both load up on the Harley and hit the road. I wonder if this made any sense to the bar keep? 

The sun was shining and was about 85 degrees out, almost perfect conditions for a nice little jaunt up the coast. Leaving the house I had some sense to pack a leather coat knowing full well that in the Pacific North West the weather can change at a moment's notice. Exactly what it did about 20 miles away from the track. In an almost comedic way a black cloud wrapped its arms around the general vicinity of Grays Harbor, living up to its name apparently?!

As we made our way up the hill a slow mist coated us in a chilly blanket. Tori and I arrived at the turn off to the track, I saw some familiar faces headed the other direction. This does not bode well, I think to myself. Still holding on to some lick of hope we pulled into the parking lot. A guy in a golf cart rolled up and said, “Race cancelled.” Just to be sure, as though it was some surprise, I asked again. You mean to tell me the race is cancelled? “Yup” 

Tori and I set up camp in the field next to the track. We cracked a cold one and strolled over to say Hi to group of old timers, Some you may recognise.
They told us it was going to be dry in the morning and with any luck they will be racing by 1:30. 

We woke up at the crack of 10 the next morning to the sound of the intercom followed by some unmistakable V-twin engines. A quick “pack em up” and we purchased our $35 general admission tickets. We watched some practice, the Pro Singles and the Big Twins bouncing around the banked corners. Sammy Halbert #7 throwing down the fastest lap. 

A brief intermission gave me a chance to stop by the pits and say Hi to Brad Baker and Sammy. For whatever dumb reason I alway get super nervous in the pits, and this time was no exception. I was stumbling for words and spilling my drink all over myself while trying to take pictures. 

The races started promptly at 1:30 The first race was the Pro Singles. Jarod Vanderkooi yaking the win. Behind him local nice guy, Davis Fisher, in 3rd. Ryan Wells. Davis always gets a little nervous when he has to talk on the intercom. Poor guy choked up pretty good but rode one hell of a great race.

The main event for the Pro Twins followed. Sammy was in pole position and jumped out to an early lead. Pacing the pack for the first half of the race. He was caught about mid-race by both Bryan Smith and Jared Mees. Smith led the race for the next 6 or so laps and was passed right at the end by Jared Mees. Sammy and Brad scrapped for 4th and 5th. The top riders all aboard the HD XR750s, with exception of Bryan on his Crosley Kawasaki. Man, I love flat track racing. 
Tori and I jumped back on the hog and split southbound for a warm shower and a home-cooked meal.
Thor Drake, Portland, 21 July 2014

GNC Flat Track in the Pacific North West

We know Dirt Quake USA turned on a lot of people to the joys of dirt track in the Pacific North West. Now's your chance to see how it's really done. This weekend, the GNC rolls into Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, Washington. This from the official press release...

For the first time in over 30 years AMA Pro Grand National Twins make their return to the Great Northwest! You can expect to see multiple brands on the track including Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Triumph, Aprillia, Ducati, and of course Harley-Davidson! In the 450cc Pro Singles Class you will add Yamaha and Honda to that list.

2013 AMA Pro Flat Track National Champion, Brad Baker, hails from Dryad, Wash. and looks to take the win in his home state. Baker says, "It would be amazing to win this race! I grew up not very far from Elma and won my first ever West Coast National Championship on a 50 there. So the track has a special place in my heart. It's just going to be super cool to race there, whether I win or lose." You can bet that Sammy Halbert is looking for that win in his home state just as much as Baker. Halbert, from Graham, explains, "I'm excited to race my Harley at a National in my home state for the first time ever. It'd be amazing to pull off the win in front of my family and friends. That's exactly what I need right now to get my season rolling."

More info at www.amaproracing.com

Hagerstown Half-Mille Full Race

Last Saturday's 25-lap main.

The race only lasts the first 12-minutes. Well worth watching. G

Springfield Mile: Full Main Event

Thanks again to Roger F for pointing us to the good stuff.
This is a recording of the livestream from the recent Springfield Mile with its multiple restarts. It's a bit jumpy on my laptop, but it's still worth watching. G

Springfield Mile Report

I like to try get the official AMA Pro Racing photos up earlier than this, but we've been on a road trip around the USA since Springfield and this is the first chance.
Sideburn was out at the track for the first twins race of the season and we were reminded what a great show the AMA organisation and racers put on.
Bryan Smith looked unbeatable all day and ended up winning the Dash and Main on his Crosley Kawasaki, that had a new chassis for this season.

Kenny Coolbeth came in second, racing the XR750 of the Zanotti team for the first time in a GNC round.

Mikey Martin made the main on the Bonneville Performance Triumph, but didn't make it to the end of the race that had numerous restarts.

The Pro Twins, support class for up and comers - formerly called Basic Twins, were out in force. Early in the day it looked like a lot of the riders on Kawasaki framers were having trouble with stability. JR Addison was spat of his at the end of the straight in practice in a terrible looking crash.
17F, Jarod Vanderkooi had no such problems, winning his class by 6.5 secs over a 12-mile race.

Steve Morehead came out to ride in a 'parade' race for the upcoming reboot of the On Any Sunday franchise that is being filmed by Bruce Brown's son, Dana.

Jake Johnson, #5, looked a threat early in the race, but faded as the restarts seemed to take their toll on his Lloyd Brothers Ramspur Ducati.

Shayna Texter was hotly tipped, having won mile races on her 450, but her Latus Triumph had an evil weave on the straights and she parked it before the end of her semi, so didn't make the Pro Twins 18-rider main.

Dash for Cash, for the six best qualifiers, Smith #42, won from Coolbeth and Johnson, with Mees, Robinson and Wiles coming in behind in the bonus -paying four-lapper.

 Can you spot us?

Pretty much sums up the race, but it was exciting, especially as Bonsey crashed twice, once after seeming to get gently nerfed by Brad Baker.

Next race is Knoxville Half-Mile in Iowa on June 15. Get there if you can. G

All photos courtesy of AMA Pro Racing

Daytona Short Track: Day 2

Kenny Coolbeth Jr wins day 2 at the Daytona GNC season opener. He had led the previous night before a red flag, but didn't restart as well. At one stage in night two he had a 2.5s lead.

Dash for Cash (for the six quickest Expert qualifiers). #5 Johnson; #80 Bonsey; #44 Robinson; #69 J Halbert; #7 S Halbert; #13 Constantine. 

It finished Johnson; Constantine; S Halbert.

Pro Singles class action. 67M Davis Fisher.

Veteran rider (born in 1964!) Dan Ingram made the main, coming 13th. Love everything about this photo: body language; leathers and full face lid. They have so much more character than generic MX pyjamas.

Stevie Bonsey had another good night. He's won on twins and this 3rd on a single shows he has the all-round ability to challenge for the title.

 2011 champ Jake Johnson came in second.

 Sammy Halbert and Kenny Coolbeth.

 Ingram and JR Schnabel.

1. Coolbeth. 2. Johnson. 3. Bonsey
Sammy Halbert came in 4th giving him a clear points lead going to the next round, the Springfield Mile in May AND SIDEBURN IS GOING TO BE THERE!

All photos courtesy of AMA Pro Racing.