Raid71

I first contacted Raid71 for the book I wrote and collated called Motorcycle Graphics.  Lenny Schuurmans brought me to his attention.

Raid71's work is clever and original and Sideburn commissioned him to create a Mad Max illustration (above) to accompany an essay by film director Alex Cox for Sideburn 17.

We wanted a new take on Dirt Quake posters for this year's event, our fourth UK DQ, and Raid71 was top of the list. This post is just to share some of the other work he's produced. Hope you like it. G

0mm off-set

Can any BMX heads please help me identify this flatland 1 1/8" head stem, American I presume? I think the 'H' stands for Hart? or Hurley? I'm flogging it on eBay. BP

Battle Royale

"Based on a cycle speedway format, Battle Royale will take place on an indoor 180m concrete oval within Circus Street Market [Brighton]. Two teams of three riders will battle it out over four laps. This is a team event so your 'gang' needs to cross the line before the others. First rider across the line gets the cheers from the crowd, but the last rider across the line decides the outcome of the battle. The team with all three riders across the line before the other team is declared the winner......All riders can ride different types of bikes." Looks like argie-bargy fun. Loving this Raleigh Bomber. Bonus points for the old Eveready dynamo lights. BP

Peaty's Bike Bonanza

Advanced warning of a mountainbike jumble in Bristol next month. I am a pedal head as much as a petrol head, and have been invited to have a stand. Beyond motorcycle tyre kickers, Sideburn seems to have drawn troops from BMX and skateboarding disciplines. The cross-over of inspiration is always heathy. There is not a lycra-only door policy. I will have a full range of Sideburn mags and limited stock of T-shirts. If there's anything you specifically want from our stock leave a message. BP

More info on the Peaty's webite

Can You Kick It?

Once upon a time I lived and slept in German army surplus boots, but these days I'm more liable to rock Birkenstocks, or sloppy Vans, mildly hip but very uncomfortable for my fragile instep when kicking a bike over (my XS in this case). A lot of greying BMXers are now (or have already) tuned to motorcycles and this is quite an overly trendy mod but I still like it.

1) select BMX pedal of preferred heritage - this GT one is rather heavy and bulky even after I drilled out the reflectors, and opened up the holes to match the other cut-outs on top.

2) prise out the plastic end cap to reveal the securing double-nut. Dissemble the pedal being careful not to loose any of the ball bearings.

3) Having cut off the end of the original kickstart with its rubber foot grip, weld the pedal bolt to the remainder. Be careful not to get any weld splatter on the bearing radius. NB if you were to weld with the pedal still complete you would fry the bearing grease and melt any plastic sealing rings.

4) Reassemble, packing your ball bearings with fresh grease. Taa-daar. BP

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

50

Hi Ben,
29 years after my last National race i rocked up to our local track. [My kids] Kira and Jason are keeping the flame well lit with wins. Here goes Dad!
I got a couple of 2nds and a 4th over all. 50 is the next 20 I reckon.
Let the good times roll! Capt Highside

(Alloy framed) OM Floval Flyer 24" cruiser.

UPDATE: You might think Capt Highside (one of Skooter Farm's dirt track racers, now in semi-retirement) is channeling some boyhood dreams, wearing that Raleigh team kit, but he lived the dream and was actually one of the first team riders in UK BMX. See his photo below.

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

March 13 is Dimitri Coste Day. Pt. 1

To celebrate the French cultural ambassador, here is the first of two posts about our favourite Gallic go-getter.

Dimitri gets to fly around the world racing old bikes because he often manages to piggyback a race onto his day job, as a professional photographer and videographer, working for companies in the motorcycle industry, watch firms, magazines and other clients. He has just launched a website, his first proper one. 

http://dimitri-coste.com 

Check out new stories by Dimitri in future issues of Sideburn (plus the story of the first time we met him in Sideburn 5 and when he raced Pike's Peak Hill Climb on his classic Triumph TR6C in Sideburn  10).  G

Tate Roskelley

Tate Roskelley kerb ride. Photo Bryce Packhame. Rad. BP

Big Day

ike lines up for his first ever Moto at the local BMX track, Patchway Bristol. A few jokes were made by rival Dads of his enormous AMA superbike style numberboard - and they weren't more impressed when I said it was made from a 20p charity shop place mat. It was miserably icey weather but more than 100 riders turned up.

Pippa, also first timing, borrowed a proper helmet complete with scene-correct stickers. BP