Guest post from John Harrison. When I built my Triumph as a street tracker twenty odd years ago, I imagined it as a half mile special from the early '70s, campaigned by the mechanic from some Triumph dealer in Anywhere, USA. A smalltown hero rider at his local County Fairgrounds oval, who benefitted from a bit of help from the shop owner in the way of whatever speed equipment they could get. In the UK, by necessity, we ride short tracks with the exception of one venue, visite

Guest blog from Sideburn DTRA vintage class racer John Harrison (#72 in the photo above). Round 2 of the DTRA's National Flat Track Championship took us to the popular Lincolnshire track at Greenfield, home of Pro & Hooligan class rider George Pickering and his family. A bumper entry of 30 riders was listed for the Sideburn supported Vintage Class, many returnees and lots of new faces and names. It appears that a few of Ferran Mas' Astros have found their way into the DTRA ra

This creature, the Picasso bug, landed in my consciousness last week. Also known as the Zulu Hud bug, it's a type of shield-backed bug, and a native of sub-tropical Africa, that grows to a maximum length of 8mm (0.31in). I'm posting it, because its shield would make a great paintjob. In fact, it reminded me of a bike we had in Sideburn 15, Stacie B London's Bultaco Sherpa short tracker. So, who is getting a Picasso big petrol tank first? #bultaco #insect

I never thought of myself as much of a 'practice' rider. Time is tight, lots to do: family, work (self-employment work-life balance/imbalance), so I make time for the races, but not always the practices. 2020 has been different. There have been no races, so I've craved the practices. At the couple of practice days I've attended I've had a bit of time to talk to people I don't always get time to speak with either because we're busy racing, or racing on different days, or pitte