The Stansfield Effect

The latest instalment from Sideburn ambassador, John Harrison.

I first encountered Sideburn mate and perennial Dirt Quaker Pete Stansfield at the 2011 Hotrod Hayride, where he had ventured south to run his Triumph sprint/drag bike at the 1/8th mile Detonator Drags at Dunsfold in Surrey. He told me it was the first time the bike had been out since 1972.

I was racing my Harley 45 and drew Pete in my first race. Needless to say, he had blasted across the finish line before I completed my first (hand) gear change. The pic shows him warming the motor prior to changing to race plugs. I think he was running on methanol. I remember being impressed by his bib 'n' brace leathers and suffering severe tyre envy over that historic M&H slick. Yes that is a Dakota in the background and yes, the legend is true, it did race down the runway against Chief Detonator Langley Gifford in his 1940s period-correct '32 Roadster Hotrod, which was a lump-in-the-throat sight as they both thundered away into the late afternoon sun before the Dakota lifted off and banked hard right. Could it be the same plane that overflew Dirt Quake IV?

Pete also brought his sweet, hardtail pre-unit when it was in reverse-head incarnation. It has since seen Dirt Quake action, though in a different guise.

He raced Dirt Quake this year on a bone stock, low-mileage CCM flat tracker in the Street Scrambler class (I thought the stars on my leathers were neat, but Pete's were big 'n' GOLD)...

...while his daughter, Ellis, raced his stock ('cept for whitewall tyres) Suzuki B120 Loanaladyaracer.

48-hour film marathon with Deus Milano

If you're going the the EICMA bike show, or if you just happen to be in Milan over the next couple of days, get down to Deus Ex Machina where they'll be showing a marathon 48 hours of films on the theme of women riders, starting on Monday 7 November at 8.30pm. Free entry, come and go as you please. It's all happening at the Deus Leica Theatre, via Thaon di Revel 3, Milano.

Dirt Quake Ladies Final

There's quite a bit before and after that you can skip through, but this is a good onboard taste of the 2016's Dirt Quake Davida Helmets Ladies final shot by first time racer Katrina James. If you don't skip through it, it's an example of exactly what it's like to compete in a six-lap amateur flat track race from leaving the pits to getting back in one piece.

'Hurricane' Katrina takes a brave, wide line on her Kawasaki ZXR400 (not the ideal dirt tracker, but totally proves Dirt Quake's ethos).

Up ahead is Vikki from the Bike Shed with Kiki coming up strong on El Solitario's Zaeta. Watching this makes me think, Who wouldn't want to compete in Dirt Quake? It reminds me why entries sold out in a week.

The top three in the Ladies class are being awarded special Davida DQV Classic Jet helmets. Like all Davida helmets, they're made in England and hand painted in the Birkenhead factory by the company's staff. These special editions use elements of Lennard Schuurman's Dirt Quake poster. Davida do things properly. G

DTRA Ladies Dirt Camp

After the success of their 2015 Ladies day, the DTRA has organised another with changes, and this time it's at the new Greenfield track, in Lincolnshire, with camping as an option. Only a handful of places are left.

There are tons of details at www.dirttrackriders.co.uk, but here are the basics...

Options and costs:

2 day Dirt camp (20 places available)
Come and enjoy of weekend of riding and hanging out at Greenfield. What's included.
2 days of tuition and fun riding on bikes provided
Loan of steel shoes
Camping
A participants number board
Memory stick of photos
Cost £160

Sunday training 
A single day of basic training and fun (10 places available)
Tuition and fun riding on bikes provided
Loan of steel shoes
A participants number board
Memory stick of photos
Cost £80

What you need to bring along
Some riding gear if you have it.
We will have some spare if you don't.
Your own helmet and gloves
Some boots that cover your ankles preferable motorcycle boots
Your tent and all the stuff you need to camp.
Toilets on site but no showers!
Feel free to bring friends and family if you wish. We will have a gazebo and a seating area. Well behaved dogs are welcome on a lead.

Poster at by Toria Jaymes of Stay Outside Studio (who also did the Sideburn 24 cover)

Hoi Chi Minh Trail by C90

Criminally I don't make enough time to read books, so it's taken me over six months of dipping to get through this book but it's a good read. 'Ants' Bolingbroke-Kent is a well-traveled TV producer who had already explored Vietnam in preparation for more pampered adventure, but she decided to return on her ownsome to follow the route of the infamous Hoi Chi Minh trail (still littered with unexploded American bombs), which also crosses Laos and Cambodia. On a 1989 C90.

Four back-street engine re-builds later she made the 2000 miles unscathed. Most people she meets on the two month treck think she's mental for her choice of vehicle and lack of companion or logistical back-up, but she proves that her calm determination (and a bottle of stashed gin), will push her through and also makes her also more open to approach.

Wot no knobblies. BP

Chiffon Specialist

Inspired by the album cover of Love & Kisses 1979 disco hit, photographed by Scott Hensel, we are conjuring up a photoshoot with Jason’s equally glam Borile scrambler.

We are looking for an accomplished high-kicking model who is available for a day's shooting in Leicester, UK. (in lieu of a Los Angeles heat-wave, we will be indoors).

Do have golden Farrah Fawcett big hair?
Do you like the feel of chiffon blowing in the wind?

Please contact us if you think you are a contender. BP

Ryan Quickfall Tea Towel

When I was a kid, towelling sweat bands were considered must-have item wether you were good at tennis or work-outs or not, I doubt if tea towels will ever become as de rigeur but something we made on a whim but has sold surprisingly well.

The Jim Rice one (above), designed by Ryan Quickfall, sold out straight away.

This is the lovely Thekla of Spoke and Stringer getting busy with the latest number 1 tea towel, also designed by Ryan.
Available from the Sideburn webshop. BP

A Weekend with Nick Ashley

Lily Ashley sent us a film about sheep a while back which we really loved. Here's a new one about her sister Edie, and dad Nick racing at Dirt Quake IV on a Cheney Triumph (her) and a Harley WL45 (him). BP

Nerves

Superb photo of a nervous Davida team rider, Jasmine before her first motorcycle race. She was our flag girl last year and only passed her motorcycle test a few weeks before last weekend's Dirt Quake. She did great in the final too, just missing the podium.
Photo: Paul Bryant

Women Mud Wrestling - But Not As You Know It

DIRT QUAKE IV is this coming week end.
We take a tried and tested sport (motorcycle flat track racing), say "Bo Ya!" and turn it on its head, including the guest list. Favouring the green (as in clueless, not ecologically aware) and mad (as in good, not bad). And as we appreciate boys can get a little rowdy at parties - even if there is not excess alcohol, or speedboats, or kicker-ramps involved, we decided to give the ladies their own class. Ranging in age from 20 to 50. From CBT fresh to the worldly travelled. Bultaco, BSA, Suzuki, Velocette, and anything else in-between, all speeding around and around and around. And if that doesn't prove entertaining enough, we add a deluge of mud. BP

Perris Friendly

Thanks to Julian of Deus LA for organising a private soiree at Perris, for the usual suspects plus some new faces, as a warm-up to DQ USA II. BP

GI on Julian's Triumph

Rusty Butcher's Sportster

Troy Critchlow and his lady

Deus Andie, Jason, Chopper Dave

All colours and creeds welcome

Stacie Bultaco tune up

her Bultaco 250 Sherpa as featured in SB#15

Minibike muscle - read more about them in them in our current issue #21

Andrew Honda XL350 street tracker - behaving very well on German Heidenau K34 tyres (same as Dimitri Coste's BSA C15)

Smiling Jen

Even more smiling Jen