The Americana

These are photos of Riccardo Chiosi's Gilera 300, The Americana. We published other photos of it back in Sideburn 15. I knew some of his bikes had been lost in a fire, but I wasn't sure if this had, but Riccardo confirmed it had... G

Yes, totally destroyed, nothing was saved. The Bultaco, and two other prototypes, various tools, materials... a lot of time and money. 

Better to have loved and lost... G

Photos: Riccardo Chiosi.

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

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

Dave Skooter Farm, Southport 1980

I was up in Wigan a while ago, visiting one of the best friends a fella could wish for, Dave Skooter Farm. We met at Static Records and I mentioned to Dave that I needed some new tyres for my boy's BMX, so we walked to the nearby, World famous Alan's BMX - possibly the oldest continually operating BMX shop in the world. As we walked up the stairs, Dave stopped by a mural and said, That's me.
The painting (below) was taken from a photo (above) taken in 1980-81 at Southport Skate Park.

Dave was one of the first 'team' riders in the whole of British BMX and, as a youth, his team even took him to California to race. California is still exotic to Brits now, but it was another world when Dave was a youth. All the vast majority of Brits knew about it was Hollywood and CHiPs.

Dave, above and below (in yellow), again at Southport in the very early-80s. Photos: Stefan Faulkner

33 years after Southport Dave is still up for hanging it out.
He's one of the Sideburn delegation coming out to Springfield and Dirt Quake USA.

He also came up with the concept of Sideburn 15 Cover 1 and rode the Honda Dax in the pool he himself designed and built in his own backyard. That's him, again in yellow, still in Vans.

The Dax belongs to his good mate, and fellow Brit BMX original - John 'Captain Highside' Lee, who also took these behind the scenes photos. Our very own Ben Part took the cover shot.

Anyway, it's Dave's birthday this weekend. Happy Birthday Dave. G

Get Sideburn 15 here. G

SLACKER: A short report

A long time ago we spoke to London artist Stevie Gee about doing a wide-ranging project together. We thought we'd build a bike, put it on the cover, make related stickers and T-shirts, and he'd create ton of artwork, then we'd make a show and invite everyone who wanted to come.
Last night saw the last box ticked.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen - CFM for building the bike; Sam Christmas for shooting the cover (and these photos); Vans for sponsoring the show so we could pay the extortionate rent on the East London space; Ruby for the helmets; Kraken for the rum cocktails; Brewdog for the Punk IPA; Dave T for DJing and everyone else who helped or came along.

The show and pop-up shop is open daily until Tuesday 10 December midday. There are prints and original artworks for sale, limited edition T-shirts, magazines, art books and other stocking filler stuff from just £3.50. Either Stevie or one of Sideburn will be there.

The address is on the flyer below. G

Sideburn 15: Available to pre-order

Sideburn 15 is nearly here. Yes, you heard right. It's now available for pre-order. If you pre-order it will be sent as soon as possible after it arrives with us on November 18th.
Choose from:
Cover 1: Dave Skooter Farm doing a vertical pool ride on a worn-out Honda Dax.
Cover 2: Sleaze Bandit on the Sideburn x Stevie Gee Kawasaki Z200

Or, for the cheaper rate of £8 for two, both covers (this is only for the collectors. The magazines are identical inside).

100 heavyweight pages of motorcycle inspiration.
ROAD CONTENT - Slacker -Stevie Gee's Kawasaki Z200; Chopper Dave's Turbo Harley Sportster; Rive Gauche Honda CX500; Honda Dax in a swimming pool; 1956 Gilera 300 street tracker.

RACE CONTENT - Bryan Smith and his Crosley Howerton Kawasaki 650; tech insight on Kenny Roberts' Yamaha TZ700; UK flat track special; Nicky Hayden Interview; Stacie B London's Bultaco; Death Spray Custom Rotax framer.

PLUS Race poetry; Skip Van Leeuwen's Trophy Queen.

Go to the Sideburn webshop to pre-order. G

Do-er

Dave Skooter Farm is a Do-er. Some of the ideas that are thrown around the Sideburn camp are a little crazy-peeps. In a normal environment, a delusional philosopher's 'genius' idea would be laughed off and they would be ordered to buy another round of drinks. Who'd have thought a motorized steak 'n' kidney pie would make a 'suitable' pace-car? Dave would. Dave did. And so Dirt Quake is blessed with the adoption of said vehicle.

A couple of months ago, when the best of the summer had already moved on, the idea surfaced of riding a motorbike in a skateboard bowl. Dave had built his own bowl in his back garden (its footprint is bigger than that of the bungalow itself), John Highside offered up a ropey old Honda Dax, and faster than you can say "Jack Robinson" I was on my way to Wigan with my camera. "Oh can you get a couple of leggy models too?". We were truly blessed with the weather. Gt Man (aka Greater Manchester) has never looked so So Cal.

Sideburn #15 coming soon. BP

SvL

We interview Skip van Leeuwen for Sideburn 15. Out soon.
Are those the coolest looking marshals (corner workers) you've ever seen? Ascot, 1967.
Photo: J. E. Brammer