Sideburn 34: Out Now

We venture into the deserts of California, Mexico and South Africa to test the mettle of our contributors. Old bikes are ridden not hidden, and inappropriate machinery is raced through 1000 miles of wilderness  proving the adage that it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

SB34 also features McQueen's very own Huskie; a new regular column from Death Spray Custom, an interview with the toughest woman in flat track; follows a group of female high school students building a budget race bike and serves up an LSD-fueled report from Wheels and Waves El Rollo race. Yes, really.

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COVER: Hayden Roberts and his Triumph TR6 desert sled
BIKES: Triumph TR6 desert sled; Harley Sportster 883 Baja racer; Steve McQueen's On Any Sunday Husqvarna 400 Cross; High School project Honda CB160 flat tracker; Survivor Customs CCM Rotax racers;
PEOPLE: Sandriana Shipman; John Harrison; Chuck Joyner
INTERVIEW: Johnny Lewis
HOW TO: Build Your Own Flat Track
BLUEPRINT: Jawa 500 DT Type 890
SHOP: Rebels Alliance
EVENTS: X Games; Wheels and Waves; Sons of Speed banked oval racing; Vancouver Flat Track, Pemberton, BC;
ADVENTURE: 1000 miles through Baja on a Sportster; deep into South Africa on Royal Enfield 500s;
PAGES: 116

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BUY SIDEBURN 34

Sideburn 30

Another milestone reached. Issue 30! And our regular readers tell us it keeps getting better. That's the idea. This another fat 116-page issue squeezed, like blood from a stone, out of Sideburn's Lincolnshire HQ.

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COVER STAR: Manon Hache; Co-Built Rotax and Chris Piascick art
BIKES: Bottpower XR1R Pikes Peak special; budget Yamaha FZ-07 framer; monoshock H-D Sportster; Wedge BMW 310; Honda 650 Mablethorpe Sand Racer
EVENTS: Travis at Pikes Peak; The Springfield Mile; Pendine Speed Trials; DirtQuake VI
HOW TO: Use your brake to go faster by Johnny Lewis
PEOPLE: Marco Belli; Sean Flynn and Dana Stone
PORTFOLIO: The photography of Kristina Fender
MOVIE: Godspeed! You Black Emperor
ADVENTURE: Across frozen Mongolia on Enfield 500 combinations
PAGES: 116

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Joy at Johnny Lewis's 10 Training Camp

Earlier this year, Joy Lewis and her friends attended Johnny Lewis' (no relation) JL10 Dirt Track School in Florida and wrote this report for us. 

Above: Johnny and his son Maxsen, Joy, Shelby, Tammi

This spring I had the chance to spend a weekend with Johnny Lewis, his beautiful family and a couple friends at the Marion County Speedway in Florida. The training originally came up as a girl camp through @caferacerxxx but after being bombarded with interest my group was bumped to a later weekend. To be honest the draw for me wasn’t that it was catered to girls – whatever that means – I ride and race with mostly boys, so as far as I can tell the only perk to a girls-only camp is that we can all slumber party in the same hotel room and no one’s spouse gets pissy.

The three of us attending had various levels of experience and Johnny was able to identify immediately what our individual areas of focus needed to be. Having raced flat track for only a year in a handful of races on a shitty bike, I had a lot to learn and a few habits to break.

Mr JL10, Johnny Lewis

After covering body positioning, braking, and the cadence of corners, we started the bikes and hopped on the mini-track Johnny had made in the parking lot. To make things more crowded we were joined by the ridiculously talented and rad Oliver Brindley #24, who rallied around on a mini bike pushing our elbows up and our knees in. It seemed to only take that first session of laps for Johnny to have each of us figured out but rather than give us the answers, he makes you self-evaluate and come to whatever you’re doing wrong on your own. We spent most of day one running solo drills where we would ride one corner over and over and after every round we had to tell Johnny what we did wrong – he gave us tips for fixing it and it was onto the next. Every so often we’d stop to do donuts on the mini bike or some ridiculous exercise and then jump back into a drill and without fail something would click. Obviously the guy is good at what he does but what I was most impressed with was Johnny’s ability to completely break down flat tracking into bite-sized pieces and then figure out which we were choking on.

Tammi getting the 'look through the corner' chat

Day two we spent a good chunk of the day taking turns ‘racing’ against Johnny and Oliver. I learned that one of my weaknesses was chasing whoever was in front of me – apparently a common mistake racers make and one that rarely gets you to the top of the podium.  

Our day concluded on the big track with two-up hot laps on Johnny’s race bike (so maybe there were perks to being a girl because I can’t imagine many grown men sitting front seat holding onto a crossbar going sideways into a corner.) 

 Shelby figuring out weight transfer during direction change

I was lucky to go home to a month of back-to-back races where I could put it all together. I definitely had Johnny in my head while racing, reminding me to find my own line. All the time spent on that makeshift track focusing on weight transfer through corners paid off on the real track and I was able to feel more in control of the bike during the slide. all of this to say my time at Johnny’s was game-changing – and while I still refuse to ride a modern bike, I’m getting around a bit better on my shit bike.

Joy

A month later on my shit bike with everything clicking - photo: Scott Toepfer

Click to find out more about the 10 Training

DTRA x Sideburn Johnny Lewis Day: Tomorrow

Johnny has landed.

Spectators are welcome to watch the riding and chat with the DTRA riders, a good idea if you're thinking of getting involved either as a racer or volunteer for the DTRA.
Riding from 10.30 to 3.30pm.

There are a few standing places for people to watch the presentation and Q&A with this top US flat tracker (Ducati team rider, Troy Bayliss team-mate, former Supermoto champ, Daytona Short Track GNC winner) in the Adrian Flux Arena bar from 7pm. £5 entry. G

Johnny Lewis DTRA Day

The UK dirt track scene continues to go from strength to strength. First with Short Track UK, now with the DTRA, the UK amateur race series has hosted some of the best and most exciting racers. Chris Carr (twice), Sammy Halbert, Brandon Robinson, David Aldana, Kevin Schwantz (plus UK stars Neil Hodgson, Guy Martin, Steve Plater)...

Joining that list this year is Ducati Scrambler team rider, national number 10, Johnny Lewis. DTRA members will be coached by Johnny, on an informal basis, then he'll be the host of the annual prize-giving and do a Q and A, answering questions from the audience. These are just some of the benefits of being involved in a small club, with big ideas, like the DTRA. Thanks to all this year's sponsors for supporting the DTRA.

This is what DTRA big cheese Anthony says...

DTRA and Sideburn Magazine have arranged for National #10 Johnny Lewis to attend an end of season Practice and prize presentation on Saturday 10th October. 

The practice day will be open to club members who pre register by filling in the form below. (No Form = No Ride) 
Johnny Lewis practice day

The cost is £40 per rider payable in cash on the day. (includes access to the presentation) Riding is 10.30 until 3.30pm. 

The DTRA presentation will take place at 7pm with Awards for all classes down to fifth place. (full championship results will be published later this week) 
There will also be a Q and A with Johnny. Entry to the presentation will be £5 (Riders Free)

Troy Bayliss's Mile Missile

This is the first shot (or computer-generated mock-up) we've seen of Troy Bayliss's Lloyd Brothers Ducati and it looks great. I wonder what all the hipster-haters* are going to think of this Scrambler-sponsored Mile weapon with a true legend on board? They won't know whether they should love it or hate it, but they'll wait for someone to tell them.

The former World Superbike champion is scheduled to race the five GNC miles this year, the first being Springfield at the end of May. And he's team mates with long-time friend of the mag, Johnny Lewis.

We featured the original Lloyd Brothers Ducati, from which this bike is a development, back in Sideburn 4, in 2009, jut saying. G

Troy Bayliss Race Calendar –AMA Pro Flat Track 2015 Series

 24 May - Springfield Mile (Round 3)
30 May - Sacramento Mile (Round 4)
4 July - Du Quoin Mile (Round 7)
11 July - Indy Mile (Round 8)
6 September - Springfield Mile II (Round 13)

* that's haters of hipsters, not hipsters who are haters

JL10 to ride KTM Twin in 2014

Exciting news in this press release...

With a new year and a new season just around the corner, the Waters Autobody/Project K Racing team supported by KTM & GE Capital announces their partnership with National #10 Johnny Lewis. 
Lewis, a former Factory KTM Supermoto racer with 8 career podiums and a win in the AMA Pro Supermoto Unlimited class, has joined the Leo Vince supported team on the KTM powered 990 V-twin for the AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Championship in 2014. 

Lewis has opted to not re-sign with the Latus Motors Racing Triumph program for a second season, where the season’s best result came at Virgina’s Colonial Downs Mega Mile with a second place Dash for Cash finish and an 8th place finish in the main event after coasting to the finish line with engine issues. The 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Daytona winner is excited to help Project K Racing owner Dave Waters further develop the KTM 990 and hopes to bring it to the next step with a first-ever podium finish in the AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Championship next season.

If you want to read to more about the Project K KTM V-twin there is a big feature in Sideburn 12 (that we've sold out, but some of our loyal dealers might have. If you want to find one, leave a comment telling where you are).
Johnny Lewis, one of the most erudite and amusing riders in the GNC, is interviewed in Sideburn 9.

And this all means talk that Shayna Texter will ride the Latus Triumph twin, a team managed by former champion Joe Kopp, is more than a rumour. Though, I'm unsure if this in in the top Experts class or the 'support' Basic twins class. The Inslide Line stated Joe Kopp is going to ride the Triumph twin at some rounds, too. This is likely to help the young rider with set-up. G

Triumph Promo

Featuring the #91 Bonneville Performance twin of Mikey Martin. Read all about this bike in Sideburn 11.

UPDATE: BP posted this film, so I didn't have chance to write about it, so I'm leaving it as an update.
I love that they include the section of the Bonneville streamliner both crashing and setting on fire. Breaking records and racing isn't fairytale, camp fire horseshit. If breaking speed records was easy no one would give damn. Great video, very brave for a very, very conservative company and not a beard in sight! G (bearded) I

Mees wins at the Mega Mile

Reigning champion Jared Mees made hay while the sun shined at the Colonial Downs, 1.25-mile Mega Mile - the first time the GNC has visited the Virginia oval. Mees broke his leg earlier in the year, but the rain-offs played into his hands and he's right in the hunt, especially as... 

Mile specialist Bryan Smith had mechanical problems while leading the Main, pulled to the side of the track, then fought back to 12th. And...

Series leader Brad Baker broke down too... This was the first time, out of nine GNC starts this season, Baker finished outside the to 5. All these back to back races are obviously hard on the machinery.

Jake Johnson found his mojo with the Lloyd Brothers Ducati. He was 7th in the main on the 749cc framer.

 Johnson's teammate, Henry Wiles, came second in the Main and took a chunk of points out of Brad Baker's lead. He's looking good with four races to go.

 

Kenny Coolbeth, #2, is having a quiet year, by his very high standards. He came 5th, between up and comers #14 Briar Bauman and #95 JD Beach.

 Matt Wiedman on the Scott Kawasaki, 10th in the main, and, in those leathers, styling like it's 1995.

Johnny Lewis finally showed the potential of the Latus Triumph. Here is being pushed off by his team boss, Joe Kopp (in sunglasses) - who is interviewed in Sideburn 14. Lewis was top Triumph, coming 8th. Mikey Martin also made the main, coming in 16th in the 19-man main.

There were only 7 XR750s in the main. There were more 650 Kawasakis, a total of 8. Plus two Ducatis and two Triumphs.
The Harley still came out on top this time.

#44 Brandon Robinson in the hunt.

 Trying hard and looking like a Troy Lee cartoon,  Jake Constantine.

Smith, #42, won the six-rider Dash for Cash, from #10 Lewis. JD Beach, Nicole Cheza, Jake Johnson and Jared Mees also made the four-lapper for the top qualifiers.

Cody Johncox won the 10-lap Pro Singles race, beating Shayna Texter by EIGHT THOUSANDS of a second.

1. Mees, 2. Wiles, 3. Robinson
1. H-D, 2. Ducati, 3. Kawasaki

Next AMA GNC Flat Track is the Springfield double-header this weekend.
All photos courtesy of AMA Pro Racing.

Sammy wins Stockton Half-Mile

After missing the first two races at Daytona after an off-season knee operation, Sideburn favourite Sammy Halbert, #7, had a hell of a comeback by winning the Stockton half-mile after a race-long battle with Brad Baker, #12, Halbert hadn't ridden a bike for months, before a quick spin around his garden, without a helmet, the day before setting off for California. 

It was the first GNC twins race of the year and the first time to get the big bikes out in a National race this year.

Another Sideburn fave, Johnny Lewis made the main on his brand new Latus Triumph Bonneville. He came 13 in the main, and was the second Triumph, behind Mikey Martin on the Bonneville Performance Triumph (the bike we featured in Sideburn 11).

Sammy Halbert and Jake Johnson in practice. Jake was on the Harley, not the Kawasaki twin the Zanotti team has been developing.

Brandon Robinson, 44 Kawasaki, showed his class after his debut win at Daytona by coming in sixth. Jeffrey Carver Jr, 23, recently stepped up from the Pro Single Class, came 9th.

Pro Singles action. The class is known for close racing, but Wyatt Mguire rode away from the field to win by 4.6secs over the length of the 16-lap race, from Shayna Texter (who we featured in Sideburn 5).

The fine details of Jake's XR750 are described by team owner Dave Zanotti in depth in Sideburn 11.

Kenny Coolbeth and Kayl Kolkman, 7th and 14th respectively

Bryan Smith, 42, was uncharacteristically outside the top ten, in 12th.

Nichole Cheza failed to make the main.

Jake Johnson rides the rear brake to keep the bike settled keeping the throttle open further than some of the other riders. Technique.

Number one plate this year? Sammy's traditional adversaries Jake Johnson and Jared Mees, came fourth and 16th... G

All photos: AMA Pro Racing.

Johnny Lewis on a Triumph!

Johnny Lewis featured in Sideburn 9 when he was riding a Kawasaki in the GNC and got some great results on it. He missed most of last season, through a lack of sponsorship and taking up other opportunities, but as this short video shows, he's back in the twins championship.
Articulate, humorous and f-fast, Johnny's got it all. Now Triumph have two real talents on their twin. Thanks to Roger for the link.

Read about Mikey Martin's Bonneville Performance Triumph Twin GNC racer in Sideburn 11. G

NOTE: Both the back issues mentioned can be bought as part of the £13 combo deal.

Slammin' Sammy wins at Lima

Sammy Halbert. He told us how to win a fistfight in a phonebox for Sideburn 6.
No one* likes him, he don't care.

 Launch pad.

The Dash for Cash - for the six fastest qualifiers of the day. L-R: Lewis, Smith,  Carver Jr, Johnson, Wiles, Halbert

The Dash for Cash podium: 1. Wiles on the Lloyd Brothers Ducati: 2, Johnson; 3, Lewis.

Jake Johnson and Johnny Lewis. We have a great story on Jake's Zanotti XR750 in Sideburn 11, coming soon. We also have a superb profile of Johnny Lewis and his Kawasaki 650 in Sideburn 9, out now.

Henry Wiles reminding people, us included, that he's not just a TT specialist. He came second in the Main on the Lloyd Brothers Ducati. We had a story on this bike in SB4, but we've sold out. These facts might be related.

 I hope Dainese are throwing Sammy some petrol money.

 Johnson and Wiles.

1. Halbert; 2. Wiles; 3. Johnson. Sammy's on the top step and he's still shorter than the other two. 

Mees was 4th, Lewis 5th.

* No one he races against, anyway. We like him.
Photos: AMA Pro Racing