Drogo Styling

Jammed throttle = mellow low-side crash into turn during heat one (which felt like a spontaneous well earned lie down), a bloody horrible high-side a heat later, then raced better than ever in the last heat
(but of course still came last!!!)  Dr

Drogo at Oxford GNC, who normally races in the Novice Class but there was none so he stepped up to Thunderbikes for the day

SouthSiders Scoot About

Every 5 minutes keys to bikes would be tossed in the air for someone else to take a spin around the grounds. Not too sure the regulars of Chateau Brindos were too happy with the noise. Or by the sight of Gary, mine and Kristina's pants in the swimming pool when it got toasty later on. BP

Wheels and Waves, Biarritz, pt. 2

So, we didn't know what to expect from Wheels and Waves in Biarritz. There are a lot of shows to go to in Europe and we can't do all of them, but lots of good people had said they were going to this, so we joined them. It was amazing. 

Thursday night was a party in a Biarritz Beach House, Friday was the art and bike show, Saturday was ride out and gig/meal and some surfing (not that we partook), Sunday was beach race and recovery. 

Unfortunately, we didn't know about the beach race, so we had to hightail it back to England for other commitments. Still we had a blast. 

I loved hanging out with Dice Matt, Lenny Bubble Visor and Laurent Bagnard, among many others, on Friday. They even had a great DJ and I got to play a few records with Matt. Here are my Saturday snaps. G

Mrs El Solitario and her new BMW.

Chilling out in summer dresses.

Admirer. We took Sideburn's FT500 and Royal Enfield and they went down well.

The Impossible Team. The Southsiders and El Solitario have got together to build bikes to take to Bonneville this year. The bikes look great. Follow the link to find out more.

Space Scooter

Sportster Racester. Big ol' carb.

El Solitario's incredible Balau BMW. I'd followed the build and wasn't sure of it, but in the flesh, and on the road, it's a great looking machine.

Spanish photographer Kristina Fender borrowed El Solitario's BMW

Dimitri Coste preparing his photo expo

Neat Norton. Loved the black Ruby and black visor.

Mrs Bell Moto 3

Jonathan from Death Traps MC had shipped his Shovelhead from California and was touring around Europe. He could ride this hand-shift hog like he was ringing a bell.

Photographer Sam Christmas on James's bike.

Relaxing by the lake (and the Dice van)

This chap, sorry forgot your name, came from Belgium with his other-half and new baby, his honda on the back of the car. He proved if you want to do something, you can do it.

Celine with a Sideburn bag. Get yours at the webshop.

Roses and rods. The location of Friday's art, car and bike show and auction was a Chateau/hotel/pornstar palace. Nice place to hang out from 9am till 11pm. We took a dip in the pool to the disgust of the paying hotel guests, and drank gin we'd bought at the Channel Tunnel.

 Sonic Seb. Great to see him again.

Dimitri's finished expo. I love how the girl on the top left is squinting at the real sun.

Convergence

We put up a post about Albion BMX magazine here. And for the latest issue's cover they have used Nico Ornamental Conifer who painted our Royal Enfield. Small world. G

BMX Hauler

'Check out my mate Chris' hare-brained way of getting his 20 to the trails!' Adi

Wheels and Waves, Biarritz pt.1

Just back from the Sarf of France. We bombed down in the van, bikes and all our stock in the back, 850 miles non-stop, had three great nights and two great days, then did the same back in one hit. Lots more photos coming from the Pan-European love-in. Big thanks to Vincent and the Southsiders for this unforgettable event. G
 Photo: Ben plus our Enfield and Nico from Ornamental Conifer

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

Mad Max

Looking back at this post reminded me of a piece I did a while back on the making of the first Mad Max film, shot in late 1977. I had the pleasure of interviewing the cinematographer David Eggby, responsible for the seat-of-the-pants footage that was much of the film's attraction. This pic shows how things have changed, not only in terms of camera sizes, but also what people were happy to do way back when. The bike is a Kawasaki Z1000, and here's what David Eggby had to say about it all:

"I've been a motorcyclist all my life and still ride today. [Shooting from the back of the Goose bike] I couldn't have a helmet on because you can't operate a camera, it gets in the way. Terry Gibson, who was riding, and I think the president of [Melbourne bike gang] the Vigilanties, dressed as the Goose. They put a seat belt strap around us and we went for it, and you can see on the speedo that it's cracking 180kph." MP

Tim Neave at Oxford - UPDATE

A good night's racing at Oxford Speedway last night was overshadowed by a heavy crash involving Sideburn #10 cover star and Suzuki team rider Tim Neave, pictured above during his recent Springfield success. Several riders were involved in the pile-up on the 15th lap of the GNUK final and damage to the safety fence meant that final placings were awarded on the results of the semi final, leaving defending champion Aidan Collins winner of the third round of the championship, having dominated the night's racing with five wins. More news on Tim and the others involved as we get it. MP

This just in from Tim:
Mick, I can't remember quite what happened... caught my bars in fence coming off turn 2, went down... can't remember anything else, was knocked out! Broken left collar bone and left radius. tear in spleen and hole in lung... drugged up now, but on the mend, thanks...
Thanks to Co-Built's Anthony Brown for the pic.

And this from Short Track UK, where you can read the full report:
...disaster struck on lap 6 when it seemed that Tim Neave found some drive which ran him wide into the safety fence with his bike bouncing back into the fast approaching pack. Eight riders just piled into each other as they were flat out on the back straight, resulting in many broken bikes and injured riders on the track. After a long delay most riders managed amazingly to get their feet but Tim Neave came outof it the worst...


UPDATE 2: And, as Jamie has said in the comments, Tim's twin brother Tom knacked himself up and broke bones too. I doubt it will slow either of them up. Get well soon Tom. We weren't ignoring you, just out of the country and hearing bits and pieces over the internet and text message.

Tribute Monster

'A Tribute to Sideburn' by Lexxx in Australia. He wrote
'I recently decided to get myself a copy of the mag and see how how I liked having it on my coffee table.'

 Thanks. G