Worms To Catch

Long-term Sideburn supporter and regular columnist, Guy Martin has a new autobiographical book, Worms To Catch, out this week.

Wait a minute, you're thinking. Didn't he have an autobiography out a couple of years ago and a follow-up called When You Dead, You Dead?

Well yes, but Guy lives life four times quicker than everyone else and these autobiographies are long-form diaries of one of the most interesting, daredevil, hardcore lives being lived anywhere in the world. This one includes the behind-the-scenes stories of the Wall of Death record, Land Speed record attempts, Transit van at the Silver State Classic, the 2400-mile Tour Divide mountain bike race, Dirt Quake and much more.

The books are available at all good book shops, online and some British supermarkets are doing deals on them.

Not only that. The cover of this soon to be bestseller was shot by Sam Christmas and taken from the Sideburn 26 shoot of Guy's Rob North wall of death bike. Buy Sideburn 26, then buy Worms To Catch.

Guy's own Guy Martin Proper website is selling an exclusive version of Worms To Catch that is personally signed by the rider and had a cover illustrated by Ryan Quickfall. G

Sideburn 26: World Exclusive

Earlier this year Guy Martin established the record for highest speed on a wall of death riding a Krazy Horse-prepared Indian Scout at 70.3mph. He then went out on his own Rob North BSA Rocket triple and raised the record to 78mph and change, while being subjected to 7G.

You haven't read about the Rob North because it hasn't been featured in any magazines in the world. Until now. Guy only wanted the bike in one magazine, Sideburn.

It was shot in Grimsby for Sideburn by Sam Christmas. We also had Mick Ofield create a blueprint of Guy's bike and highly respected journalist Mick Duckworth write about the history of Rob North and his famous racing frames.

There is only one place to read these features - in the beautifully printed Sideburn 26.

Also, in the same issue, is our regular Ask Guy page, where the very British daredevil answers Sideburn readers' questions. If you want him to answer yours, send it in to dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com

Sideburn 18: Grab One

This issue sold out in record time, perhaps due to the shot of national treasure Guy Martin at Pikes Peak by Sam Christmas on the cover, but we've found a handful lurking in a corner of our enormous distribution depot that we can offer at the original price of just £5 plus postage.
These new old stock magazines are limited to one issue per person.

Go to sideburn.bigcartel.com then click MAGAZINES in the products section.

100 pages featuring:
Dirt Quake USA
Guy Martin's turbo assault on Pikes Peak
Skip Aksland interview and 1970s photo archive
Benderwerks Dirt Shovel on Lake Michigan
1960s AJS Desert Racing Memories
2014 Bonneville Performance GNC blueprint and story by Richard of Mule Motorcycles
XR750 on the Road! Tested by Isle of Man TT winner Mark Miller
XR750 on the Mile! Springfield Mile virgin races Harley V-twin
Inside Brat Style

Helmet Evolution featuring Nuke-Leah

This short video was made for Dirt Quake headline sponsor, the specialist motorcycle insurer Bikesure. It features the one and only Nuke-Leah Tokelove on her Death Spray Custom KTM 350. Nuke-Leah is the UK's top female racer, an inspiration to all and a lovely lass.

She is also featured in Sideburn 25, barn-burning in a lycra catsuit (see outtake photo below by Sam Christmas).

The video was shot at the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn, the world class speedway venue that will host Dirt Quake V this weekend.

Read all about Nuke-Leah in Sideburn 25 and see her kick ass on Friday night in the Dirt Quake DTRA races. G

Sam Christmas Photo Prints

We have five different limited edition prints of stunning Sam Christmas photos.

They are printed on professional archival silver based C-Type gloss prints, hand numbered and signed on the back by the photographer and posted in a mailing tube.

The prints come in three sizes;
M (40cm / 16" wide) - £60
L (60cm / 24" wide) - £90
XL (76cm / 30" wide) - £120

Postage charge: UK - £8. Everywhere else £10

NOTE: Photo prints will be sent directly from the photographer, even if you order with other items.

Get yours from sideburn.bigcartel.com

Sideburn 18 Unearthed

UPDATE: They've all sold. We'll announce more issues on the blog if they ever turn up.
This issue sold out remarkably quickly (something to do with Guy Martin shot by Sam Christmas being on the cover?).
I've just found two in the bottom of a box of something else.
They might be very, very slightly warehouse worn, but I can't spot anything wrong with them.

Go to sideburn.bigcartel.com to order if you want one. £5 plus post. G

Sideburn 18: Last one?

UPDATE: SOLD
It looks like we might have the last Sideburn 18 on the shelf.
The cover features Guy Martin at Pikes Peak by Sam Christmas.
There is a slim chance we'll find a handful more in our cavernous warehouse, when we have a tidy up, but it's not guaranteed, so to avoid disappointment, order this one now from sideburn.bigcartel.com. G

Eastbourne DTRA by Sam Christmas

Sam Christmas is semi-regularly updating his blog with his own killer images and mini-reports from the UK Dirt Track Riders Association races.
These photos were all taken by him at round 3, Eastbourne. Round 4 is on the Friday night of Dirt Quake, 17 July.
See more at samchristmas.co.uk
Click to find out more about the DTRA

(above) Stu preparing (or recovering. Or both)

Top UK woman racer Leah Tokelove. Hopefully more women will race next season.

Bram from Belgium in the Rookie class on his self-built Suzuki 600 (check his Baron73 blog)

Tim Neave (#1), Alan Birtwistle (obscured), Adam Allott (#29), Glyn Pockington (#71), Pete Boast (#54)

Peterborough DTRA by Sam Christmas

Photographer Sam Christmas is racing the bike above (what number is that supposed to be) and travelled to DTRA round 2 at the MCN Festival, Peterborough. He was with James from Kingdom of Kicks who was making his debut on a Triumph twin. They travelled up in this murder wagon.
These are all Sam's shots.

Alongside the DTRA, MCN and Peter Boast had organised a Transatlantic challenge where the USA raced a British team. Kevin Schwantz and Dave Aldana were joined by national #12 Jay Maloney (and a couple of ringers). They faced the best of British: Tim Neave (riding with a broken scaphoid); Ollie Brindley, Ade Collins and, guest captain, David Knight, the Manx extreme enduro legend.
The British won.

It was great to have David Aldana back in the UK. He's always fantastic entertainment. 65 and still quick.

 But not as quick as Neave and Brindley.

Me and my mechanic Max in his favourite Survivor Customs shirt. I had a good weekend, making both finals and finishing in higher results than where my three heats qualified me. A fifth and seventh. I think.

Olivier on the Ornamental Conifer painted WR that is our Sideburn 21 cover bike. Incredible machine.

The Vintage class has got very competitive all of a sudden.

The next DTRA round is at Eastbourne, Sunday 14 June. Free to spectate. G

Stevie Gee at Deus Harajuku in Japan!

The original Tequila Mockingbird and Sideburn collaborator, Stevie Gee is over in Japan right now, doing his thing. The show opens tomorrow. Details below...

Stevie Gee art exhibition SUPERDREAM launch party at #DeusExMachinaHarajuku from Thursday May 21 at 8:00PM. A first time visit to Japan by the UK artist known for his memorable Deus artwork. 

イギリスで活躍するDeusアーティスト、スティービー・ジーがDeus原宿店でのエキシビジョンのために初来日。 初日の5/21（木）にはローンチパーティも開催。

To commemorate the London-born artist's first Japanese show we spent a couple of days digging through the Sideburn vaults to find any remnants of the Sideburn 15 Stevie Gee cover that had crawled into a crevice in a vain attempt to save itself. We found a handful.
The cover by shot by Sam Christmas and features the Kawasaki Z200 built by Sideburn and CFM, and painted by Stevie Gee. The story is a beauty and the back cover of this memorable issue features fellow UK artist Essy May, who is now, officially, ripping up trees on the London art scene.
Move quickly to get yours at sideburn.bigcartel.com. G

DTRA Round 1: Leicester

This is, I think, my eighth season of UK short track racing and I was looking forward to this one more than any before. I'm not getting much better at it, while some other people are getting way better, but there is such a good crowd and atmosphere that I couldn't wait for Leicester.
That's me above in my new Icon Hypersport Stealth jacket and trousers. The jacket was lettered up by a family business in Wigan called Joyda.
Here's why I was so excited. G

(All photos: Sideburn, except the one above: Baron73)

REASON 1 - NEW RIDERS, NEW FRAMERS

The UK scene is growing like never before and there are a lot of cool bikes we've never seen before. I knew about a lot of them, but not this one. 55R is Angelo from Sinner Supply in Belgium, one of three chopper-riding Belgians who have either bought or built framers over the winter to compete. His mate 85R, David is on a self-built SR500. And there are more to come.

The last of the Belgians, who actually performed the best on the day, was Bram on his Suzuki 600. Bunch of great guys bringing even more colour and variety to the DTRA.

This is a small line-up of the DTRA's 30-strong Rookie class entry. How good do these bikes look? 77R is photographer Sam Christmas. 

REASON 2 - EXISTING RIDERS, NEW PAINT

NEW PAINT.  Existing racers getting new paint jobs. This is Leah's killer Death Spray Custom KTM.

And Ross's equally bitchin' Death Spray KTM/Rotax framer.

REASON 3 - THE VINTAGE CLASS

After a good, but steady start to the DTRA vintage class in 2014, the category has exploded and mutated. Nick Ashley has retired his Cheney Triumph for this Harley WLA. Nick designs for exclusive UK clothing company Private White VC. He races in them too.

This is Jack on his Dad's BSA Empire Star. This bike was flying until the final when it got tangled up and managed to run over poor Paul Harrison twice in the same incident. 

Another Paul looked the absolute business on his Enfield, white shirt and open-face lid. I hope he doesn't mind me saying he was so slow he couldn't catch a cold, because he was out there, doing it. Respect. And then he came off track and shoved a pie in his face to recuperate. Screw your energy drinks. Double respect!

REASON 4 - ANTHONY BROWN

If you don't know him, let me explain. He is the nicest man you'll ever meet. He organises the series, with help of a handful of other people, including Anna his other-half. He helps make Dirt Quake happen too. On Sunday he ran around like a headless chicken sorting everything, then jumped on Wilky's Triumph and won the final. Awesome! That's his dad with him, Dickie, another legend.

REASON 5 - THE VARIETY

We have hot shots like reigning champion Tim Neave - all Troy Lee'd up on the way to the playing a starring role in the most exciting final in UK history (and coming away with a broken scaphoid. Get well soon).

And, at the other end of the scale, we have Sid Snots like Milo with his pie plate on his back. 

We love them all!

REASON 6 - THE SPONSORS

The DTRA has some great sponsors including: Deus Ex Machina, DuckSmart, Nixon Watches, FTWCo, Barstow by 100% and House Industries who created the design and font for our official number plates. Oh, and Sideburn is a sponsor too.

REASON 7 - MY MECHANIC

Busy time, busy life, busy town, so it's good to spend a full boy's day out with my son. It's never the same when he can't make it. 

Next race is at Peterborough, a two-day and part of the MCN Festival of Motorcycling. There is going to be a special Transatlantic race that includes Kevin Schwantz and David Aldana and David Knight! G

Sunburn Desert Kit

The reason we're running our now sold out Sunburn trip to Morocco is because I went on the same trip with the same tour operator, MotoAventures, earlier this year.

On the last day I asked Sam Christmas to take a shot of some of the kit I used. This is a bit of a guide for anyone going on our trip or a similar one. All this stuff is recommended by me. Some of it's new (helmet and gloves). Other items I've used for years. G

1. Hydration system.
Not essential, because you can simply carry a bottle of water in a bag and take a glug when you stop for a breather or to take a photo, but a straw you can suck on makes things easier. I bought this when I was training to run a marathon and dug it out for this trip. I stored it inside my trusty Kriega rucksack, because I like to carry my notepad and other nick-nacks. Kriega do hydration packs and also retro fit bladders to fit into most of their existing rucksacks if you already have one.

2. Knox Cross Shirt body armour.
I can't remember how long I've had this, but it's years. I wear it when riding BMX and off-road motorcycles. This armoured shirt is one of a few British company Knox offer. Thumb loops are essential to keep the arm protection from moving as soon as you hit the deck, uncovering your unprotected corners. Not cheap at £199, but very good quality and shows no signs of wearing out despite a lot of abuse.
Also look at the Icon Stryker Rig.

3. Fox Knee Armour
Rather bulky, but cheap (at £22) and stayed in place. I wore a part of old Nick Ashley cotton trousers and a Fuel Motorcycles long-sleeve shirt over the top of my armour, because I'm not keen on the MX look and didn't have it anyway. MotoAventures have some clothing for rent if you need it.

4. Oakley goggles
£30. Had them about eight years. Nothing fancy. Were already a bit scuffed.

5. Dainese Huge Air gloves
These £52 gloves, aimed at the off-road market, didn’t bunch up, didn’t stick to sweaty hands, always easy to pull on and off. My hands blistered, but I’ve never used a glove that would’ve helped considering my death grip in the desert. There are cheaper options. MX shops have sales on at this time of year.

6. Long MX socks
I bought these Fly socks in Utah on a 8000-mile cross-country trip when my boots wear chafing. Since then I've used them every time I've raced. You can pick up socks like these at any MX shop for £10-15.

7. Palmsavers
Bought a day into my Morocco trip and, perhaps, a day too late. MotoAventures sell these for €10. Get yours as soon as you arrive. They act as an extra layer of protection to stop calluses across the top of your palms.

8. Knox Cross Shorts
Literally saved my ass when I crashed a BMW into a South African garden. All-day comfortable. I use these for BMX too. The armour is slotted into pockets and comes out so you can wash them. Now superseded by Guerilla shorts.

9. TCX 2.1 Boots
I asked a friend, who'd been on a MotoAventures desert trip before, if I could get away with Blundstones (that I'd worn on my Benelli trip through Africa) or brogue boots (that I'd worn for a 16-day off-road trip with MotoAventures in South Africa). I was told, definitely not. So I dug out these TCX 2.1 boots that I'd ended up with, but rarely worn.
On the first day I couldn't buckle them up or barely even walk in them. By the end of the trip I loved them. I haven't worn them since though.
A better compromise for road riders who don't ride off-road regularly, could be the Icon 1000 Elsinore or Prep boots.

10. AGV AX-8 EVO
£240 Brand new before the trip, the lightest helmet I’ve ever worn, at just 1150g. It is comfortable for eight-hour hard days, from day one. I love it.

Also take lip balm; glucose sweets or jelly babies or similar; camera or camera phone.
Wicking long underwear is recommended, to wear under armour, but I did without it.
Swimwear and light, casual shoes.
Travel light. The hotels are smart, but no one is judging you for wearing the same shirt for three nights.
Even though you camp out for one night you don't sleeping bags or anything.

If you missed out on Sideburn's Sunburn trip but still fancy going to Morocco for some desert kicks, the tour company we are working with are offering other tours in early 2015. Go to MotoAventures.com for more info. They're also exhibiting at the forthcoming NEC bike show in the UK. G

Photos: Sam Christmas

Guy at Pikes Peak

Guy Martin's Speed is on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm.
Keep an eye out for the Sideburn stickers on Guy's Turbo Suzuki. And his Sideburn woolie hat too.

Read Sideburn's own story from the editor, Gary Inman, who flew out to Pikes Peak to report on the event, in Sideburn 18.

Photo: Sam Christmas

Travis at Pikes Peak by Sam Christmas

This wolverine portrait pic was taken shortly after I watched the fellow run off the Finish line. And then receive CPR in the back of a flatbed plow truck. That was not the first time I have seen chest compressions at the races. It was the first of this summer but not the last. Racing is real. Deep and real.
Travis Newbold

via FTW Racing

Sideburn 18 for Pre-Order; New Wing Boot T-shirts: Snapbacks

Yes, Sideburn 18 is now available for pre-order.
Took a bit longer than we expected due to running two Dirt Quakes this year (Dirt Quake USA is featured in this issue).
Same great quality, same great price.

That is Guy Martin at Pikes Peak shot by Sam Christmas on the cover.

Now is a good time to re-subscribe or check your sub status too. Email us at dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com

We also have new Wing Boot T-shirts. This has been continually requested, so we reprinted the Royal Blue and yellow, plus added Navy Blue and Dark Brown. We still have odds and ends of grey and black but only small and XXL.
£15 plus post
We have Wing Boot rub-on stickers too.

We have these embroidered snapback caps too. Also £15 plus post.

Thanks for supporting this independent. G

UPDATE
All You Need Is Ride #3 Magazine too.