John Harrison 104R: UPDATE

I mistakenly called John 'Andrew' in a blog post last week, after meeting him at Rye House, and got this email...

Amazed to be included in today's blog (and Sunday's instagram) but really ...Andrew?!? 

I'm gratified that you and others realised I'm trying to keep the whole look as early '70s as possible. It's pathetic really, but I'm simply acting out my 'On Any Sunday' fantasies at last, 44 years after being mesmerized in The Regal, Eastleigh. Now if I can just find some old race boots that lace right up the shin. 

Due to pre-race nerves and chronic inarticulacy I fear I didn't express myself adequately when I blurted out that The World of Sideburn is a huge part of my life. What I should have expressed perhaps, is how checking your blog and instagram are part of my daily routine, and just how much I enjoy gems like the rubber boned sisters and Sam n' Dave's early 70's sartorial wonder etc as well as all the mo'sickle related stuff and things like your wonderfully understated Mablethorpe film. 

 I just wish I'd had the balls to join in years ago, when I first discovered Sideburn, and found that I wasn't the only Limey who got flat track. 

I was speaking in truth when I said that I wouldn't have been at Rye House and racing if it wasn't for Sideburn, but I expect you hear that a lot. I thank you deeply and sincerely for making it possible for an old fart like me feel enabled to have a go. Just don't call me Andrew please. I don't have anything against the name, I like several Andrews /Andys, but it's just not me. 

 To show there's no hard feelings, and because I'm unlikely to ever to be able to afford to use it to get to a DTRA meeting here's a pic of my other old kit, which I think you'll get. 
Cheers, John Harrison #104r

UPDATE: John sent a follow-up email of him racing his 1958 Dodge Coronet at a local hillclimb. It's impressive.

Read more about John's car at akinamedia.jp

40X Scottie Parker

Look at Scottie Parker, 40X, in - I'm pretty sure - his first year as an expert, 1979 .

How much does he want that holeshot?

His body language is the same as a football hooligan slamming through the front doors of a rival firm's pub, at 2.15 on a match day afternoon and shouting, 'Come on then! Who wants some?' G

Nuts to Butts 1

This has done the rounds, but it's good (even if I'm too much of a leftie to like the term 'riding bitch' when used non-ironically. I'm so right on I even had to point that out.). G

250 London Range Launched

Sideburn supporter 250 London have launched their own MX clothing range. This is the story in their own words.

250London is the brainchild of menswear designer, Adam Waite. An ex-Motocross racer, Adam also owns a successful London based Menswear store www.adamwaite.co.uk, and has had a passion for Motocross since he was a kid, when he used to ride his bike around the Welsh countryside. He's always been inspired by the good old days of Nylon and Malcolm Smith and JT Racing, the scream of the 2 stroke engines and the smell of the pre-mix fuel. A time when the clothes were fitted, colours were vibrant neons and pinks, bright blues and oranges, men had mullets, trucker caps and oodles of facial hair! 

With 250London, Adam is curating a cool selection of Vintage style Motocross accessories and wares. The main objective, alongside this, was to recreate the original race gear of the 70's & 80's! Think Nylon and Airtex jerseys, using the brave and bold colours of those decades, all under the 250London brand. 

For those old guys, ex racers, and style-conscious riders, who want 'the look' without having to buy second hand kit on auction sites, we've now produced our own collection, as an alternative and something a bit more unique. 

Have a look on the 250 London STORE at our brand new range of 250London Race Tops + Pants as well as Tee Shirts and Caps.

New Uniform

Alright, there have been 14 heavyweight motorsickle blog posts since our last detour 'off-topic' so I don't feel I'm pushing my luck with this gem.

I'm not one for uniforms, club colours or overtly trying to fit in with the crowd (though I guess I am magnetised towards those of a similar mindset, so I'm going to look a bit like my mates, I suppose), HOWEVER, as soon as I saw this 1969 recording I wanted to demand that Ben and I wear identical watermelon red shirts with Concorde collars and banana-coloured ball-huggers whenever we're together on official Sideburn business.

Additionally, if I had it my way, our attachés, (deputy editor Mick P; Entertainments officer Dave Skooter Farm; poet Travis and subscriptions mistress Deb) would also be made to wear Irish green tuxedos and white turtlenecks AT. ALL. TIMES.

Who's with me? G

L'Alpine Classique

More people having fun, and looking super-stylish, up a mountain.
The motorcycle is a Belgian FN -
Via A Piece of Chic.
Photos: Vianney Tisseau & Rémi Dargegen for www.classicdriver.com. G

The Bar-Kays' Guide to Men's Style

Let's get this party started! I saw this amazing photos in an old Mojo magazine that was kicking around. I knew of the Bar-Kays and they're fantastic party tune, Soul Finger, but not what they looked like.
If the photo above hasn't loaded, imagine a group of seven tough looking fellas, six black, one white. The white guy looks like a young Acker Bilk. All seven are wearing cerise casual suits, bright white socks and brilliant white slip-ons. They also have white neckerchiefs, a look favoured by Fred from Scooby Doo. No one is smiling. One of the fellas is wearing what look like Cazals.
They look a potentially surly bunch. In different attire, and in this period of history, you could image they were a sexually ambiguous, hardcore civil rights protest group. Not so much the Black Panthers, more the... Pink Panthers.
They are, in this shot at least, without doubt,the finest looking band ever. The get-up in the video below is a whole different kettle of fish, though. G

James Brown Dance Lessons

Christmas party season is upon us.
Watch James Brown and get practising. He gives both dance and style tips in this great clip. I'm going to watch it every hour, on the hour, until I can do the Soul Train. G

Ricky Graham

Many people's choice for the greatest of all time.
Thanks to Roger F for forwarding this photo from, he reckons, 1981-82.
Ricky Graham was three-time AMA GNC champ. He died in a house fire in 1998. G

Photographer unknown.

Next Big Thing

Looking to ditch all this heritage wear, bare metal petrol tanks, air-cooled BMWs and facial hair? We hear you.
Yellow GSX-Rs and shaved-in patterns are a few years off, and it'll be oh so 'carefully curated' but it's coming.
Mark our words...

Radical Ducati

Random web find. No info. Early 70s 750SS? The engine has been inclined forward - to lower the centre of gravity? And the lower casing has the side of it's 'chin' shaved flat for extra clearance in the corners. BP

Cocksure

We sometimes get 'foreigners' leaving blog post comments here, that they don't understand our peculiar use of the English language - or even getting thrown (confused) buy* just single words that have ambiguous meaning. Google Translate probably has a lot to answer for (is to blame for international miscommunication). Now I have a foreign wife and I'm teaching my young kids to read and write, I'm even more aware of the bizarre irregularities in the English language. The use/meaning of words changes with time and cultural/social climate too. When I was at school the word 'spunk' meant bravado - I can remember our Latin teacher using it. Today it means something else and Latin is no longer taught in schools (is there a connection there?).
Today's word in question is 'cocksure'. I'm not sure of its origin - male fighting chickens? My Collins Gem English Dictionary (printed in 2004) lists it as: '(adjective) overconfident, arrogant'. To me there has to me some male swagger in there - I wouldn't say overconfident, but definitely large balls (testicles) clanging - like Marco Melandri here.... BP *UPDATE:
Beste Adriaan,
I really didn't get your 'buy, bye, or by?' comment, and was too busy to scratch my head over it for any length of time. Now my editor has pointed out more specifically that it was a typo. Like my Dutch wife, you are evidently better at spelling English than me. BP

DGR 2014

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride has exploded. Well, not literally, but there are clearly a load of folk doing it this year. And it all happens this Sunday.

This weekend, there are 255 charity rides (raising money for prostate cancer research) in 57 countries. And Triumph are corporate sponsors of the whole thing.

Baybutt of the Corpses From Hell reminded us he's organised one in Sheffield (UK). You can sponsor him here.

For details on your nearest ride, go to Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. G

New Stockist: Adam Waite Tailoring, London

Motorcycle-loving, London tailors, Adam Waite, now stock Sideburn.
Find them at:

2 Bedford Corner
South Parade
Chiswick
W4 1LD
0207 458 4478

One-Off Wednesday

UPDATE: SOLD OUT. THANKS
Found by our night-shift supervisor in the Sideburn warehouse (pictured below), this rare beast is the last in captivity.
Produced for Sideburn by A Piece of Chic in Lyon, France, the tyre track is printed on 100% silk.
They were sent to discerning customers all over the northern hemisphere.
£70 plus postage.

Get the very last one here. 

Whites

No info on the origins of this photo, but his wardrobe is definitely cutting the mustard. BP

Vintage Girls

Another worthy photo book from acclaimed 'revivalist' and founder of Men's File Magazine, Nick Clements. His period correct tableaux style is sexy in a very classy polite way. Shot on location in England, France, Romania and the States. His obvious attention to detail is painstaking, but the final result seems effortless. Wether in film noire setting or holiday snap-shot, you feel as the viewer, intimately close to the subject matter.

This boxed edition also comes with a handy Roy Rogers denim pocket wallet. 196 dreamy 10x8" pages. BP

more background info and sample photos on the Men's File blog.
to buy a copy email: sales@thecurator.co.uk

Jesse Janisch

Former national number GNC rider having fun on Lake Michigan earlier this year. I was there while he was riding. He knows what he's doing. Check the front wheel. G

L'Etoffe Des Heros

Lovely video from our friends at silk scarf makers, A Piece of Chic in Lyon. G

Frank Gillespie Stylist

Frank Gillespie riding Gaskill built, Sachs-KTM engined, Penton 360? 1974? Santa Fe? BP