Good Loser

Chess was not my forte at school, but as other kids were getting wooed by the mysterious power of Sinclair ZX Spectrum and kicking back on Pac-Man, the old game still intrigued me. As a teenager, I was not impressed with Trivial Pursuit, and to this day, chess is the only board game that doesn't bore me. Now an adult, and a Dad, I am very happy that my 7 year-old boy seems to have taken to it pretty quickly - once I'd tricked him away from his Nintendo 3DS. So fast so, I had to promptly stop being so courteous. Now I have to do my best to defend the crown. He's extremely proud to out-manoeuvre me. But his attention span does wane if the game drags on, so we play at a quite care-free, suicide mission pace. It's not unusual that he throws me on my back, Taekwando style, after just a few minutes. Yesterday, unusually, the battle continued valiantly to the last few faithful pieces. And unbelievably to both of us, I managed to put him in check-mate with my last Pawns - or Shrimps as he calls them. He's not a good looser. But that's something I can teach him, I'm a very experienced loser. BP

Be Prepared

Insisting that children salute adults is pushing discipline too far in my opinion. Even dressing them up in uniform seems suspect, so it's odd that I seem have nostalgia for Baden Powell, founder of the world-wide scout movement. I'm an ex-soldier of both the Cubs and Scouts. My tree climbing, whittling, map reading, woggle weaving and knot tiring skill I owe to regimented Thursday afternoons. The other day at my Mum's house, I came across my old belt. It's now been put back into service (without the saluting), with 34", extra long girth, blank belt from German eBay - the Germans love dressing up in leather and have specialist traders in all related products. BP

Vote Tutti Frutti

The general election campaign in Britain is hotting up. I've voted Red, Yellow, and Green in the past. But the Greens are proposing to slash copyright laws and the tyres of big motorbikes, so they just lost my possible vote. My 6 year old son wants to run for Primeminister, and has some sweeping changes in his manifesto including 'ice-cream for breakfast'. As the big day approaches, and rival (grown-ups) parties start mud slinging each other, His philosophy is making more and more sense. BP

Kenny and Skip

Researching the Skip Aksland archive for Sideburn #18, as well as going through his own old album snaps, I came across this one online (on a German website I think), but I couldn't find the source, and so sadly no hires that we could reprint. Left to right: Fred Moberg, Kenny Roberts, Bud Aksland (Skip's older brother who worked as his mechanic for many years), Skip Aksland, Terry Sage (tuner), after winning an Astro Dome short track race 1970. Below, the opening page to the SB#18 story.
Skip also battled with our Barry on the road racing circuit.
Skip shadowed Kenny like a good Jedi, replicating his every move. BP

(Left bottom) Yamaha TZ750, San Jose Mile, 1975 "My rookie year. Me, Kenny, Randy Cleek, Stevie Baker and Rick Hocking rode these monsters at three mile races: Indy, Syracuse and San Jose. I made the main event at all three races. Kenny made the bike famous when he won on it at Indy by chasing down Jay Springsteen and Corky Keener on the last lap."

UPDATE:
I just asked Skip:
"How did you hook up with Kenny in the first place?
- you look really young in this [top] photo!
How come Kenny took you under his wing?"

"Ben, my bother Bud owned a Suzuki shop in Manteca Ca. In the late '60 and sponsored Kenny in his amateur years. We rode together just about everyday at my Dads ranch. When Kenny turned professional he hired Bud to be his mechanic. I'm 13 or 14 years old in this photo. Terry Sage (far right) would later become my mechanic - my best years as a professional. This photo was taken by my mother driving home from Houston, somewhere in Texas or New Mexico. Kenny had just won the Junior Shorttrack National.
Skip"

Oh To Be 6

To have one's life revolve around skateboards, Darth Vader and collecting football cards. What bliss. BP

Bitten By The Dirty Bug

Since their skid about at Perris, Bill Biltwell and co have made a unanimous discussion to get dirt track bikes and go (more) crazy...BP

Ben,
Thanks for your info help! I just nabbed this XT on VFT  [always has interesting pedigree for sale], about five hours away for $2k. Gonna go pick it up Saturday. I can do tail section and glass tank right away and then grow into some more mods like better fork etc down the road. This at least gets me on the track.
The small ad claims: 'high performance engine, dual oil-feed, new Mikuni carb. Race-ready. Won the Sacramento Mile Vintage Class a few years ago'

And Otto just scored this CB450 out in Pennsylvania!

Micro Me

'Mini Micro' racing BMX (so with with 18" wheels) are hard to come by second hand, but I eventually found one via the friendly community forum BMXTalk.

A 2006 Proline model, it's go go greased lightning with 110psi slicks and 120mm crank (I never remembered how filthy some of the lyrics in Travolta's song were). This one even came with an extra gear set and longer crank arms for supercharging. My little man's striped-down Islabikes Cnoc 16 is a great little street bike, but not built for speed. He came Last, Last, Last in his motos, and kept his chin up for 4th in his final at his first race. This should put the weasel amongst the pigeons. BP

Brandon Robinson Wins at Daytona

We spotted a rising star in Brandon back in 2008 when Peter Boast invited him to race in England. He featured in Sideburn #1. He has just claimed his maiden National victory.

Brandon Robinson riding a Burnett Farms Kawasaki KX450F/TJ tasted the sweet taste of victory for the first time in his young career tonight during the second round of action at the DAYTONA Flat Track. The Pennsylvanian acquired the lead on the second lap of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles main event and never let up on the throttle from then on.
"My entire team just worked extremely hard to make this happen for me and I can't be more thankful for their support," said Robinson. "We got the setup as close to perfect as possible and everything went as smooth as we could have asked for all night. I got out front early in the main event, put in a hard 25 laps and it all paid off. My team and I have had an awesome week in general and it feels incredible to win here."
After recording an impressive fifth place finish last night, complacency obviously wasn't an issue for Robinson tonight as he was hungry for better results and he certainly delivered. After taking the early lead from Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Chaplin Kawasaki/Kawasaki KX450F) on the very first lap, Robinson's main competitor of the night was Brad Baker (Honda CRF450R/Specialty Fabrication Incorporation). After fending off Baker's valiant attempts late in the race to overtake the lead, Robinson managed to get loose on the final lap and take the checkered flag by 1.262 seconds.
Robinson now sits atop the AMA Pro Grand National Expert Championship point standings and will carry that momentum into Stockton, Calif. when the stars of the series head out west for their next event.
results: 1st - Robinson, 2nd - Baker, 3rd - Smith, 4th - Johnson, 5th - Rush
AMA Pro Racing News

Saxby Gold Diggers

Boastie, Tim, daddy and Tom Neave, and Big Trappie with their hoard from the last race of the STUK season at Rye House. BP

One For the Kids

Mini Ducati 750SS based on a Honda Monkey Bike. Via Spanish John. BP

"Just a little piece of history repeating..."

"Gentlemen of SB,
inspired by his day at Dirt Quake, Caspar, my oldest boy wanted some dirt bike action under his belt. By bonkers happenstance soon after whilst unpacking one of those chaotically random boxes that only ever happen whilst moving house, I find my 35 year old JT BMX race pants! Months pass, we clear the back of the new garden with an eye on making a dirt track & the plan completes itself with a sudden invite from Co Built Anthony to take a pit bike off him for pocket money... With Masonic ceremony, Caspar for the first time puts on my JT's, last worn 30 years ago, and we stride into the garden to pop his motorcycle cherry! I'm holding back the tears.
Grrhh, the bikes just that little bit too tall, just that little bit too heavy, in 6 months it will be perfect. In the meantime someone's got to have some fun..." Dr

Jamie Self-Harm

My attempt at a Steve McQueen fence jump.
I was racing mr XR600 in the British Dirt Track Championship at Swindon and had to avoid a rider throttling off for a yellow flag incident ahead and ended up laying it down into the fence! Thought I'd got away with it but after pushing the bike off my foot it was kinda flopping about in the wrong direction so I just layed back down and waited for the medic! The paramedics and promoters were awesome and looked after me really well, got a titanium alloy nail in my right shin now and getting about ok. The bike was fine.
If I had decent boots instead of cheap speedway boots with no armour I reckon I'd have walked away.. Live and learn.
Anyway, thought you'd enjoy the animation my brother made of the crash pics!
Jamie #29


UPDATE: Jamie needs to buy himself a Broke Bone Patch. Good well soon Jamie. Chicks dig scars. G

Speedy Gonzales race prep

Took my two littluns to their first BMX race meet a couple of months ago at the Patchway track, Bristol. The youngest competing was 3 1/2, the oldest 42. There was a good all-welcoming family vibe, but the club secretary I'd befriended a few weeks prior wasn't about to let ike; 3 3/4, out on his pink plastic wheeled, white solid 12" foam tyres hand-me-down (or his German runner-bike he's much faster on). Nor Pippa on her 10kg pink fairy princes Tescos bike. The super light Redline Micro junior racing BMX (with 20" skiny wheels) I bought for her on eBay turned up 30 minutes before the start of the first race so that was just as ridiculous a proposition.
Fast forward several months, and P is sort of getting the hang of the very high crank. Ike is now on the Tescos heavyweight, but flying. His 4th birthday is approaching and I decided he deserves an up-grade and a break from his sisters hand-me-downs. Micro-Mini BMXs (with 18" wheels) are hard to come by second hand, and to be fair I think he's still a bit too wee for the racing.
Struck lucky on Gumtree with this mint Islabikes Cnoc 16". It's a beautifully made aluminium framed bike (only 7.5kg), and it looks like it's only ever been used in-doors. I've taken off the mudguards, front brake, and cut 5cm off the width of the bars.

My O'level art skills and some dried out old Humbrol Airfix paints were awoken. BP

UPDATE:"Helmet? Oh I've got a helmet!"

Brits at Springfield

Every year, for the last five or six, some of the best riders in Britain have dug deep, saved up, used favours and connections and flown over to the US to race one or two flat track meets. It started with just the UK's Mr Flat Track, Peter Boast, then Tim Greig, also Marco Belli from Italy. Then last year a new, younger crop of riders went and impressed - Tim Neave, Ben Baker and Tom Woolley. They returned, noticeably quicker. This year Tim Neave (Sideburn 10 cover star), Alan Birtwistle and young Ollie Brindley flew to America to race at Springfield and they all made their finals.Ollie went better than that and won his final in the TT. The thing is, you couldn't hope to meet nicer lads. Well done to the Brits and anyone who helped them get out there - especially the trip's manager, Tim Coles. G

SB#10 Cover Star

Sideburn #10 is finally at the printers. Up to just a few days before our deadline, we had still not shot the planned cover which was a bit nail biting. But it all came together including the weather down on the Neave farm. Tim Neave is not your average hoodie wearing yoof. Put him on a flat tracker - even one he's never ridden before - a '50s style rigid at that, and he's more elegant that Robin Cousins on ice - check out the poise of his be-trainered foot tickling the surface of the dust. The definition of Panache.
Of course we dressed him more sensibly for the actual shoot, than the RSD retro Bell jet helmet, and tracky-bums worn for the test run shown here. Not. BP

Chris Watson Street Tracker T

Chris Watson originally made this illustration for the Reilly Rocket SB#8 launch party poster, and we immediately thought it would make a great kids T. But turns out the Gildan Youth cut is not dissimilar to the adult ones it's just shorter. So if you are proud of your navel / your tight Bruce Lee stomach, just choose a size up from your regular adult size Gildan and strike a pose like the lovely Giaele here. We sold it to both guys and gals at Verona. BP

STUK American Trip report

The Short track UK Team left Heathrow, London on 10th August to compete in some of the oldest and most famous flattrack meetings in the USA. Boastie lead the team of some of the best young riders in the country - Tom Woolley, Ben Baker and Tim Neave, along with the crew of Tom's grandad Melv, Ben's dad Kenny boy and Tim's Uncle Tim Coles who took all the pics.

We landed at St Louis and drove to Jefferson City, Missoure where we hooked up with Travis Smith (former spanner man for Jake Johnson, Chris Carr and Kopp), who runs DBM Motorsport and was supplying our bikes. Travis was flat out working on sprint cars when we rolled up at 11pm, some bikes were in bits, with engines out, heads off etc., and knowing we were testing the next day it seemed a lot of work but Travis worked through the night to get the engines together. The next day we all set to to put all the bikes together, then loaded up. Travis then informed us his local test track was 2 hours away, so by the time we got to the 5/8 ths banked stockcar track it was 10 pm. The owner met us at the gate, switched on the floodlights and said 'There you go boys, have skid, take long as you want' and they didn't even charge us a dollar!!

Our first meeting was at Colby, Kansas which was an 8 hour drive and we rolled up just in time for sign on. As we got into the pits Chris Carr was there to greet us shouting'hey you limeys can park near me'. Over the next two weeks Chris was awesome, he spent so much time coming over helping us with advice on riding and bike set up, plus showing us how to chew tobacco, cooking fresh fish for us all, and besides that he had all the races except one at Kansas. We all entered the pro 450 Class. The track was banked like Daytona, even the straights had steep banking. We all made it to the final, me and Ben were a bit off the pace in the final, Tom was on the back of a freight train but Tim was the star rider and finished 7th in the final.

Next day it was a 2 hour trip to Norton Kansas, a 1/2 mile dark clay track that was an old stock car track, lined with armco all the way round with the odd straw bale. We were all going much quicker than we were used to but it still blue groved up. Again, we all made the final, Tom had a fantastic ride and got 5th, I was 10th, Ben 11th and Tim had header pipe crack and had to retire. There was some sad news that one of the vintage competitors crashed and died at track, which we didn't find out till after the meeting.

Next day we went to Weeknee race way and watched some Sprintcar racing, then on to Stockton Kansas,where they've been racing Flattrack at the Fair grounds since the 30's and the tradition was for all the riders to ride through the town on their bikes which was pretty cool. Chris Carr lead the parade behind a police car, while the rest of us popped wheelies behind.
We entered 2 pro class, open and 450. The Stockton track had a hard concrete wall at the start and finish but for the rest of the track there was nothing - just a bank to fly over if you got it wrong! It was a fast track with long straights and we all struggled a little bit with the pace over the two days. We made all the Finals filling the last 4 spots in final, but it still was great fun and we learnt a lot.

Next we had 2 days off from racing but we had an 8 hour drive back to Jefferson, a day working on the bikes, then a 6 hour drive to Peoria,IL Shorttrack, so not much rest was had. This time there was a lot stronger field and the Experts had their own Class and we rode in the pro 450. The track was banked like Colby but smaller and a bit rougher surface but you could ride anywhere high or low. We found it tough going only Tim made the Final where he finished 17th.

The next we were at Galesburg,IL, a little track standing on top of a mound, in the middle of a field, with gripiest dirt I've ever ridden, it was more like we ride back home. In practice Ben got it all wrong going into turn one and dissappeared over the edge, he must have flown 30ft through the air but managed to stay on! We were all a lot quicker here, we got to the Semi's and we were all in Semi 2. I got the holeshot, only to be passed by a girl (well a fast girl) Shyna Texter. By the end of the race Tim passed me for 3rd, I was 4th, Tom 5th, Ben 7th but only the winner got to the Final.

Next morning we were up at 6am to get to the famous Peoria TT track. Tom was the only rider representing UK and only had 4 laps to try to get used to track before qualifing, then he had 2x 4 laps to get into the top 32 out 42 riders - a pretty tall order as all the other riders had raced here two months ago. Tom missed the cut at 39th fastest but we were still proud of him, he was just 0.8 second off making the show. 30,000 fans watched the meeting (wish we could get same at kings lynn). Henry Wiles won again, I think thats his fourth time now but he's still got few more wins to get yet to beat Chris's 9 wins. It was Chris 's last time at Peoria and they gave him a great send off.
We said our goodbyes to new and old friends we've met and headed back to St Louis to catch our plane back to Blitey, having had a great time.

Where do we start with thank yous?
Travis Smith (for sorting bikes and transport),Chris Carr and family for spending so much time with us ,Frank Harding and his Team at the Kansas races, All our sponsors including Jacopo Monti, Marshall Kinrade and every one who sponsored our push bike ride at Amman, we all appreciate your help with our trip of a lifetime.

Pete Boast

Great White Back Up Plan

#29 Jamie Full Lock has been in self incarcerated solitary confinement as part of a perverse pre-race sadomasochistic regime. The Novice class is no longer a summer afternoon jolly, it's a battlefield (all be it with some It's a Knockout contestants. So my latest back-up is to have a shoal of helium filled sharks follow those flaying legs. After the teeth have sunk into the anemic flesh, all will explode to a chorus of high pitched hysterics. The left-overs will be donated to Science. BP

'Our favourite magazine'

From Simone in Milan. Grazie. New issue coming soon.

Two aspiring flat trackers from 40 years ago

Brilliant photo and story from Roger (who contributed other great photos and stories for Sideburn 7)

This professional photo just came to me from long ago and is of me (#41) and lifelong friend John (#9), taken in his basement in December of 1971. To get there, we had to squeeze through the kitchen and down some steps, but that's another story.
The bikes, purchased new earlier that year, are 100cc Kawasaki G31M Centurians, sold only in 1970 and 71. They actually came with a dyno tag of sorts hanging on the handlebars listing peak horsepower, and mine said 18.7 and 10,250rpm. At 8000rpm I think it made about 8, so you can imagine the peaky powerband. Missing from both bikes are the green fenders, but otherwise they're stock.

I only actually raced it a few times, because of a fatal flaw. The round disc on the side of the case is actually a supplemental air filter held in place by a rubber ring, with the open carb mouth residing directly inside. During practice at a scrambles, I laid it over on the right side and it sucked in some racetrack. Of course I did the wrong thing and attempted to run it, and it promptly seized. I knew it was not a good thing when John and broke the cylinder free of the cases and instead of seeing the rod, all we saw was air. The top of the rod was still with the piston, now one with the chrome-lined cylinder. The lower end was even worse.
So I had it fixed and eventually sold it.

Of course now the rare Kawasaki would be worth a lot of money too. But it was my first racebike and John and I sure had some fun while we had them...

Roger Falasco