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.

These Things Scare Me

I've ridden fast on fast bikes, including 200mph on the clock on a turbo Hayabusa on a German autobahn, but these things are in a league of their own. I cannot imagine ever wanting to ride one. Just watching this clip puts the fear of god in me. G

Sultans of Sprint

Our old friend Sonic Seb, owner/builder/rider of the Sprintbeemer, has created a new European race series that is aiming to inject fun and style into sprint racing. The organisers say:

The Sultans of Sprint challenge is gathering motorcycle freaks from all over Europe to race their custom sprint bikes powered by air-cooled twin cylinder engines. Not focused only on speed, performance and power the Sultans of Sprint challenge will also reward the contenders for their style, creativity and craziness. The participating bikes are 100% custom built by the best custom workshops and enthusiasts. The bikes are powered by air- or oil-cooled, four-stroke engines up to 1400cc. 

The Sultans of Sprint is a class of its own … a race for turbocharged flying carpets built and raced by creative gearheads.

The next race is at Glemseck, the one after at the Intermot Show, Cologne. 

Find out more at sultansofsprint.com

Supercharged A65 UXB

Another bike from Westonzoyland Sprint. Tim Howell's fantastic 680cc BSA. I Particularly like the extra head bolts to stop the bomb exploding, and the very rudimentary looking π shaped manifold. I guess if the fuel mix is being foie gras'd in the gullet, then it doesn't need the gently flowed inlet bore that a regularly aspirated carburettor has??? BP

BMW Kneeler

This silver ingot was one of the many nutty bikes at the Westonzoyland sprint I went to a few weeks back. Held on a former WWII airfield, organised by the NSA. A great event. Young lasses and very, very old blokes alike, beating the crap out of equally modern and ancient machinery. Unlike the roped-off Pendine sands vintage hot rod sprint, the laid back set up in Somerset allows for an eyebrow contorting sense of speed. And the pits are very much open so you are welcome to chat with the crazies who are daring enough to keep this sport alive. BP

This R100/7 (I think?) was designed as a hill-climber so the third wheel steers too, to enable quicker cornering on mountain circuits. A basic linkage runs over the chair.

Race With The Devil

The fact this is brilliant is reason enough, but it's also a reflection of the healthy hot rod scene in the States in the mid 1950s, and showcases the great guitar of Cliff Gallup with two class breaks. Lyrics provided, because Gene, who'd have turned 80 this year, really turns on his Virginia slur. First released in 1956. MP

RACE WITH THE DEVIL (Davis, Vincent, 1956, Capitol 3530)

Well, I've led an evil life, so they say
But I'll out-run the Devil on judgement day

[Chorus]
I say, move hot rod, move man
Move hot rod, move man
A-move hot rod, move me on down the line

Well, me and the Devil sittin' at the stoplight
He started rollin', I was out of sight

[Chorus]

I was going pretty fast, looked behind
Here comes the Devil doin' ninety-nine

[Chorus] Let's drag now

I thought I was smart, the race was won
And here comes the Devil doin' hundred-and-one

[Chorus] Let's drag again

I was going pretty fast, looked behind
Here comes the Devil doin' ninety-nine

[Chorus]

Well, I've led an evil life, so they say
But I'll out-run the Devil on judgement day

[Chorus]

Greenfilms W&W film trailer

Can't beat new-age radio-controlled helicopter shots.

Hurst Racing Tires

HURST RACING TIRES Directed by Ray Gordon www.raygordon.com from ray gordon on Vimeo.

Great video for a small company in Oregon. It was filmed by Ray Gordon, who supplied the shots for the Thor Drake story in Sideburn 11.

You all remember Thor is coming all the way from Portland to race at Dirt Quake II, right? G

GMC Suburban

Spotted this gorgeous Suburban out and about. The cherry on the cake is the wooden nudge plank on the front, from its use as a dragster pusher. Love the small nipple Moon discs too. BP

CFH X Sideburn Sticker

Every new order from the Sideburn webshop gets a FREE sticker. It's a lucky dip of what ever our current artist in residence has come up with. They are made in a single limited batch, and when they're gone we get another artist to make a new design. This is the latest from our favorite alchemist Maxwell CFH Paternoster. Smokin'. BP

Staging next to Big Sid

From Patrick Z in Wisconsin. The last time we caught up with him was after Bonneville

Thought you might get a kick out of the Trackmaster Triumph down in Maxton, NC staging next to Big Sid's Vincent. I'm currently building up a stainless frame for some small displacement motor, leaning towards a Bridgestone 175 power plant. 
Thanks for the killer mag, looking forward to checking out #12 - Pz

Worlds Fastest Monster

Bringing our Pinterest collection of desirables, to 260, Mark Bjorklund's Ducati S4RS just smashed a long-standing 1000cc (un-faired, modified frame, normal petrol) world record at Bonneville. Full info and pics here.

And this is his previous bike, a Ⓕ framed 600 Rotax, before it got full streamline treatment. Full build on Jockey Journal. BP

Vintage Drags: This weekend

From the good guys and gals at Lowbrow Customs. G

Nostalgia strip

Beautiful, eh? George Brown's Vincent-powered 180+mph Super Nero, photographed at Debden airfield in Essex, England in 1968. More of this high-octane nostalgia at Geoff James' blog, Confessions of an Ageing Motorcyclist. MP

Eine Kleine Hamburger BSA A10

From Jorg at Single and Twin, Germany

Hi Gary, 
Time for a change! I'm about to change my BSA A10 Dragster into a Flat tracker. I have built it some years ago as a low-budget-once-a-year-fun-bike. First thing to change was the handlebar, which was attached instead of clip-on's, next thing will be the rear axle, which still holds gear change, footrests and rear brake pedal. Then a new front tyre will be fitted and off she goes! 
I still have a 80's Husqvarna swinging arm in it, this might have to go as well, but I want to try it first as is and then decide if it is too long or if it is rideable. Hope to participate in one of your events in the future! 
Cheers from Hamburg Jorg

Co-Built #6 on EXIF

Co-Built was asked by EXIF for an exclusive report on the now complete #6 bike - Drogo's Rotax, that has had step-by-step build up-dates here on the Sideblog. As Drogo was tied up working, word was sent out locally that a body-double was needed. BP

Rollerburn Drag Race

Sponsored by our good friends at Kriega.

Bikes supplied by our good friends at Co-Built.

Well Heeled

Same Bike New Dent

Last year I dug out this snap. Tosh at 23 Bricks spotted the same bike and bus at the North Weald sprint last month. And according to the leathers we have a confirmation of Scottie's info as 'John' being the rider. Are these 'Atlantic Series' road race leathers as worn by the American factory team (inc Dave Aldana)? We need a feature on this bike. BP

Job Lot

Picked up this lot at a back-street autojumble in Bristol on Sunday for a measly 4 quid.Alf Hagon smoking his record breaking JAP sprinter - 1/24 scale MADE IN HONG KONG plastic.Same bike, same rider, but 1/35 scale Britains die-cast metal. (The seller also had a pristine one in a box with a white plastic nose-cone fairing, but I'm no obsessed collector).Bastard love child of the same bike?! this time a 1/72 Whizz Wheels. This one was also later badge engineered as a Spiderman bike (I had it as a key-fob for my XS650 chop).Funky 2-stroke Bultaco - don't know what model it's based on, 1/35 French Majorette I think (they used to sell these in petrol stations in France and Spain)1/35 die-cast Britains Speedway riders x2. The detailing is brilliant.1/72 Christmas cracker quality Oriental plastic JAP - a rip-off of the bigger Britains bikes above. Love vintage bikes with 70's mag wheels. Matt black on chrome even better. A real life-size one of these would pretty much be my ultimate bike.1/72 Matchbox die-cast metal. I had this set as a kid but it got nicked in the playground, so I was over-joyed to find this. I cant remember what the hauler was - or if it even came with one? Mystery 1/30 Suzuki? MX stroker. The modeling is all out of proportion but it handles well in kitchen table enduros. I'd love to see how it does in carrot cake. BP

UP DATE:And just when I though buying some dinky toys was going to be the highlight of a grey Sunday, Conrad turns up from London followed by various very important beards from opposite ends of the country, some old friends, others of whom I've met in blogland but never in the flesh. Closed Mondays Gavin, Tommy 9/16ths the Mook, Huggy, Tosh, and Greasy Kulture Guy. (and not shown), Eat The Rich Pete Stansfield, and Steve Stokers (his own blog) (+ speed shop blog), who builds very tidy Triumphs and was at the Verona show in January. 23 Bricks' Jimmy and Renshaw. Good to meet you all.
Luckily I just happened to be wearing my Carhart overalls so I was allowed to tag along with the vintage canvas posse for the day, eat curry and drink cider. BP