Running Adjustments

Correct me if I'm wrong, I think this is 1932, Jimmy Simpson fettling his 500 Norton International Model 30 - judging from the architecture and the Shell sign, in Sweden or Norway???

My multi-adjustable Laverda Jota bars (then fitted to my Guzzi) once came loose ridding the big dipper of Paddock Hill, Brands Hatch. While still on the move my index finger had to double up as a 10mm Allen key. BP

More from the Lowbrow Holeshot

I was at the Western Reserve races you just featured. The hog ran in the streetbike class (of 2 bikes) and he actually ran it pretty hard, dragging floorboards! We all thought it was a good laugh, but were concered in that he almost was a candidate for the ambulance several times each time out and that would delay the already long program until a new ambulance arrived.
I was riding a little TTR125 #4F in the pitbike class and am looking for a proper cheap bike for next year. Good fun.
The #41 in the yellow gear who goes like hell is Ricky Marshall, and that's a National #41. He's not a national campaigner over funding now, but still goes like a raped ape... Roger

Photos courtesy of Rick and Mxfreakspix.com

I don't have any tattoos...

But if I was going to get one, this is the top of the list. G

Honda FTR223 for sale in England

It's a late model with the single front downtube, not the duplex frame. Thanks to Tom for the tip-off. On eBay

An Age of Superheroes

This book is so good I have to hide it or I don't get anything done. Mat Oxley is my favourite writer (working in the subject motorcycles). He's been covering GPs, at the tracks, since the 1980s, as a rider he nearly won the Suzuka 8-hour, and did win a TT (250 production class), and he's even written for Sideburn.

For this book he interviewed Schwantz, Rainey, Lawson, Doohan and Gardner - the Superheroes who wrestled the most vicious road racing bikes in history. He also raided the archives of the best GP photographers of the era. The interviews form captions for the incredible photos. I pick it up, idly, then force myself to put it back down 35 minutes later having not done any work. It contains more than those five superheroes, though. There are amazing images of Randy Mamola, Kenny Roberts, De Radigues, Cadalora, plus the bikes, girls, team kit...
Put it on your Christmas list. And our mate Kar Lee did some illustrations for it too.
Amazon are selling it cheap. GI

Aidan Collins: UK Short Track Champion

Aidan Collins clinched the UK Short Track title in style when he won a brilliant final at Rye House on Saturday. Aidan's from a fast family, his dad Les - who comes to every race with him - was nearly World Speedway Champion, his uncle Peter was 1976 World Champion.
Stylish rider and a nice fella, he had some backing from the HM Plant Honda team and repaid them. Congratulations. G
Photo: Tom Whiting

Lowbrow Holeshot report

From Steve...

Went to the Lowbrow Holeshot last weekend at the Western Reserve Motorcycle Club. Man, what a setup this club has: 1/4 mile short track and some dirt trails up in north-eastern Ohio. Surrounded by farms so I guess the neighbors don't mind a little noise.
I went to look at the grids and was amazed to see 30 races. Three-Zero. Quads, young tykes (4 year olds look awfully cute on minis), 50cc class, modern dirt-bike, vintage, money-paying, etc. They even had a speedway class (smell that Castrol-R), which you never see in the States. The money classes were super competetive (and had the largest grids) and them boys know how to ride. Some guy on a HD Fat Boy in the Streetbike class showed his skills too (he only crashed once but got right back on).

The Lowbrow folks had a table selling shirts, hoodies and mags. I saw a few people walk away clutching issues of Sideburn. The party they had afterwards was low key drinking and what not. Low key until the burnouts began that is. At one point the club guys backed their diesel pickups onto the concrete picnic area to show the folks how to really do it.
Luckily a lot of the early crowd was of the Lite-beer drinking variety. Once the party really got started the kegs [of Hobgoblin Strong Dark Ale] disappeared fast. I was def. appreciative of a quality ale being a beer-snob myself; I thought I was destined for Bud or something.
Definitely a night to remember.
Steve

What!? No one thought it was a good idea to take a photo of a hero dirt tracking a Fat Boy?

100 Reasons To Buy SB#6

Xena V2

Sideburn's Project FT500 (and SB6 cover bike) is protected by voodoo and a Xena X2 disc lock. Thanks Dan. Here's the info. G

SoldSecure Gold standard theft protection
Measuring only 85x56x65mm, and weighing just 679g.
Constructed from high-grade stainless steel, it repels drill and hammer attacks, and is also 100% corrosion resistant. Its unique V shape provides a high strength-to-weight ratio, and effectively doubles the work for any potential thief because both sides must be overcome to open it. Both the body and lock barrel of the X2 are ice-spray proof too.
Available in yellow or stainless steel finishes priced at £21.00 and £24.01 respectively.
For further details Motohaus.

Kate's Cottage

Going through folders of thousands of dusty old negatives looking for some bygone shots (many of which have never been printed) that have only now been requested for commercial use, found this one I shot up on the mountain, on the Isle of Man in 1992. Love the old English couple in his 'n' hers period sun hats (he had 'D' for Dunlop logos, she the be'goggled riders heads of the original MCN logo), and patio chairs. The Dutchies with their matching nationalistic ones. Every few minutes the country idly would be shattered by a bike screaming past toward Creg-Ny-Baa, with a "WAAaap WAAaaap" on the over-run as they changed down for the corner. The heads of those in the picture would momentary flick from left to right, and they'd sometimes lean toward one another to shout some comment in the ear of their partner before returning to these still poses. I wish I'd caught it on movie film.Another one from the same trip. A beefcake Jota at one of the German dominated Italian meets. This shot was run in Fast Classics magazine way back when. BP