Blueprint Work In Progress

Work has begun on the next Sideburn schematic blueprint. Using photos of Alastair's immaculate Trackmaster BSA for reference and a folder full of period snaps Mick Ofield will almost literally build the drawing nut by bolt.

My fancy carbonfibre Gitzo tripod that could splay its legs as wide and low as you like went AWOL, and my Manfrotto can't go as low unless I hang it up-side-down, so I improvised with a length of 4b'2 balanced on an old Dymag formula 1 wheel (the magnesium Spitfire undercarriage wheels Alastair also had kicking about were too small for the job). BP

XR750 Blueprint

We've been running (and commissioning) Mick Ofield's amazing technical drawings since issue 13. The Wood Norton, Bultaco Astro (SB14), Champion Yamaha TZ700 (SB15) and the XR750 (SB16).

Now we've made the XR750 into a limited edition Giclee art print. Here's the technical bumpf from print nerd Ben 'High quality Giclée printed with an Epson Pro 11880 on Somerset Enhanced Velvet 330gsm paper with archival quality Ultra Chrome K3 pigment inks.'

The folds, replicating the original blueprint style, are printed on.

The size is 40x30cm, designed to fit in a cheap (Ikea) frame and still look great.

£20 plus post. Go to the Sideburn webshop if you'd like one, or to buy a magazine to see and read the stories behind the bikes. G

The Swedes are at it too...

From Per in Sweden

'This is our Swedish answer to the Russian unimoto. Ducati 750SS/ 140 km/h'

Russian Uni-Moto Ice Racing

News from Sochi, the craziest and most uplifting thing we've seen this year, is the Russian bid to introduce and new Winter Olympics sport for the 2016 Winter Olympic Games (to be held in Maidstone, Kent, UK). Uni-Moto Ice Drag Racing. It's no more ridiculous than some of the current official 'sports', so we think it has a strong chance of success. Especially with the rampant bribing the Russian authorities are willing to indulge in.

We'd seen a few photos drifting around the net, but thanks to Grant Robinson for alerting us to the source - Russian photographer Dimitry Ruzov.

This, from the nation that was first to put a man in space (and got him back safely). See what delights a nation can come up with when they're not involved in some superpower cock-measuring contest? G

 

The One Motorcycle Show, 2014

The One Motorcycle Show in Portland only finished yesterday (a bit early due to Arctic conditions) and already this great little film's out.

The See See Motorcycles team behind the One Motorcycle Show are our partners in making Dirt Quake USA happen on May 31- Jun 1 at the famous and historic GNC track in Castle Rock, WA.

Now See See have that show out of the way, there will be lots more news about Dirt Quake USA to follow. G

Gripping Stuff

...well not exactly. BP

North Wales, 1978

Dirt Quake II survivor, Graham B from the North West (the Wirral, not Portland) sent this in...

Reading an old copy of Sideburn (SB11) about Capt Simon's Sherpa in the Falkland Islands, I had the same model, a quality bike!

This is me in about 1978. I used to do a bit of trials in North Wales. 
Cheers
Graham

The Go-Go Cage!

You all know Sir Johnny Alpha, Sideburn's resident DJ and fez-bedecked vinyl hipster, but maybe you've never made it to one of the legendary Go-Go Cage nights at Liverpool's Cabin Club. Well roll back the rug and get ready to frug* because the Go-Go Cage is coming
to you.

In a fit of utterly characteristic largesse, Sir Johnny, Carl Combover and Andy Hoodoo have uploaded a killer mix of 30 hip-shakers, mastered from original 45s, many as rare as a chopped Brough, ripped from the commemorative CD that was available for one night only at the recent Eighth Birthday Freakout. Ultra-treble twang, howling keyboards, filthy bass, seedy soul and more... from the likes of Takeshi Terauchi and The Bunnies, The Dave Clark Five, Nick Waterhouse, Andre Williams, John Lee Hooker, Era Of Sound, Jacques Dutronc, Ray Baretto...
Listen to the stream, or download direct. MP
*Sideburn magazine and The Go-Go Cage cannot be held responsible for hip dislocations, broken furniture or burnt toast.

Irony

Make a bag of crisps part of your 'five a day' healthy lifestyle. Britain, Britain, Britain. BP

Roland Sands Designs News

Here is our favourite piece of man-candy, Roland Sands showing and going on his latest Sportster build. See more at the Roland Sands Designs Blog.
The RSD flagship store (below) now stocks Sideburn, too. It's open six days, closed Sunday, and located at 10571 Los Alamitos Blvd, Los Alamitos, CA 90720. G