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Biltwell 100: FYI

Feb 16

Biltwell 100: FYI

Succinct film from our friends in Temecula sharing details on their upcoming Biltwell 100 desert race. Race entries sold out in 48 hours (we secured one for our correspondent, Ed Subias), but Biltwell know how to throw a party and camping is actively encouraged, so is desert exploration (within the state laws, and off the race course). For more information go to biltwell100.com #Biltwell #California #desertracing #hooligan

Honda Private Test: Ascot '83

Dec 9, 2020

Honda Private Test: Ascot '83

This in from Dave Skooter Farm. This footage was only uploaded yesterday afternoon. It was originally filmed and uploaded by Masakazu Matsuzawa. I didn’t recognise the riders but somebody tagged Bubba Shobert and Doug Chandler and a coupla other folks confirmed it was them. With Bubba commenting himself. Sadly Ricky Graham is no longer with us. Within dirt track circles, Ascot is regarded as ‘Hallowed Ground’ and the photos you would typically see (usually shot at night under

Halloween Hillclimb

Half Mile: Dennis Kanegae

May 3, 2020

Half Mile: Dennis Kanegae

A blog post from Todd Marella... Lunch was a lockdown affair at work today, with no one in the immediate vicinity to impress with my homemade Birria, cucumber salad, and chocolate chip cookies. Alone in my windowless closet of an office, I typed 'vintage ascot motorcycle movies' into my search bar. The first result was 'Half Mile, a film about Dirt Track Privateer Dennis Kanegae from…' The recurring loop within YouTube’s trailer of a guy in ‘70s era black, white and red leath

Paul's AJS

Apr 23, 2020

Paul's AJS

We featured amateur racer, Paul Hartman's Racewear and his gorgeous Triumph Hooligan in Sideburn 38. Last week we discovered he'd built this AJS and asked him to give us some details. He certainly has a knack for building bikes with a nice stance. This is what he could tell us about his latest Brit. It's a 1948 AJS Model 18 with some evolution of '50s and '60s tricks. I wish I knew the whole story on this one, because I'm sure it would be good. It was owned by a fellow up in

The Funky Chicken

Apr 12, 2020

The Funky Chicken

Off-Topic Sunday. If you're new to the Sideburn blog and wondering what an off-topic Sunday post is, it's something way outside the regular motorcycling sphere that delights us or one of our semi-regular correspondents and helps fill in the blanks of where Sideburn is from, at and maybe heading. It's often music related, but not always. On with this Sunday's... This is Rufus Thomas performing his novelty hit at the Wattstax festival in Los Angeles, California in 1972. The fes

So Cal Hooligan Scene Report

Feb 6, 2020

So Cal Hooligan Scene Report

Sideburn contributor Ed Subias sent this great hooligan update. Last Saturday, 1st February, some of the Californian hooligan racers came together at a race that was more of a low key test and tune session than a competition. The hooligans were a support race during the AMA National Pairs Speedway Championship at Perris Raceway. Sounds a little strange at first but paring the speedway and hooligan clans made perfect sense to me. Both groups are full of interesting characters

My Favourite Things

May 15, 2019

My Favourite Things

MY FAVOURITE THINGS Framers on short tracks And Brindley on fire Smell of the hot dogs and fat, sticky tyres Scottie Toepfer and his photos of kings These are a few of my favourite things Black, yellow race shirt by Sideburn magazine Kolkman and Gauthier And B-Rob’s trophy queen A Honda RS that has worn piston rings These are a few of my favourite things Classic Trackmasters, thick oil in their frames Local track heroes beating the big names Ohlins and Race Tech and Penske re

SacMile: Postponed

May 15, 2019

SacMile: Postponed

A rain-filled weather forecast has caused the promoters of this Saturday's Sacramento Mile to postpone the race until 10 August. That means: A. The next Twins race is the Springfield Mile 1 at the end of May (with the singles racing the TT the day before). B. Teams will have four races in less than two weeks in August. 4th Buffalo Chip TT, 6th Black Hills HM; 10th SacMile; 17th Peoria TT. That is really going to benefit the bigger teams with resources, budgets and manpower to

Race Service, Los Angeles

May 3, 2019

Race Service, Los Angeles

Two nights in Los Angeles, one day riding the new Indian FTR 1200 S, and a free day to kill before flying home. My old mate Kirk was on night shifts so he could pick me up and the idea was to visit Nico, Ornamental Conifer, at his base within Race Service HQ. We were a bit late, so we didn't have as long as we hoped but it was still great to see the emigrant. Race Service is a motorsports media agency and 'content creator' that works with brands to generate social media adver

Big Money Framer National at Perris Short Track

Apr 18, 2019

Big Money Framer National at Perris Short Track

News in from the Southern California Flat Track Association. It's no secret that framer are the bikes that got us until this sport and the ones that excite us the most, so we love the sound of this. The race will take place at the Perris Short Track, across town from the longer Perris Fairgrounds track that hosts the AFT round the next day. If you're thinking of going to an AFT race, this double-header would be a good one. SCFTA PRESENTS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NATIONAL FRAMER

MotoBeach Classic 2018

Oct 17, 2018

MotoBeach Classic 2018

Just when we think the Roland Sands Designs team have reached their peak, they drop another fun bomb in the Bikini Atoll of 21st century motorbikes. In just a few days time comes the second edition of the MotoBeach Classic. We went to the first and it was a great location, literally on the beach, with bikes, racing, bands... That was at Bolsa Chica, the 2018 edition is at Huntington Beach. For this year there is a whole music festival line-ups worth of Orange County punk ban

Royal Enfield Continental GT: Riding

Sep 28, 2018

Royal Enfield Continental GT: Riding

After spending the last two days around the Santa Cruz/San Jose putting 290 miles of twisty forest and quick coastal roads on the two options of the new Royal Enfield 650 Twin I'm left feeling very impressed with them. Currently, only the US prices have been announced and I knew those before I rode either of them. The Interceptor, the sit up and beg Roadster that I'll write about in the next day or so, starts art $5799 (plus regional purchase taxes), the Continental GT cafe r

New Royal Enfield 650 Twins

Sep 26, 2018

New Royal Enfield 650 Twins

Quick update from Santa Cruz, California and the global launch of the Enfield Twins. Two bikes are being launched, a 'roadster' called the Interceptor and the cafe racer named the Continental GT 650. Above is the Interceptor with the original Enfield twin Interceptor in the background. I have yet to ride the bikes, I leave for the ride in an hour, but I've had the tech presentations and the razzmatazz. Both bikes share most of their components, only footrest, bars and bodywor

Two Views of Hanford Short Track

Sep 7, 2018

Two Views of Hanford Short Track

Our good friend Randy K of Western Flat Track (formerly CFTA) is promoting a race in Hanford, CA tonight and is hosting a round of the 2018 Superhooligans series. Randy runs a great amateur event and the RSD-promoted Superhooligan series is putting on some amazing events, so keep an eye out for both championships to see if they're happening in your vicinity. I thought it was interesting to view the two different approaches of the flat track event poster, each promoter thinkin

Calistoga, Arizona, Sacramento by OBR24

May 26, 2018

Calistoga, Arizona, Sacramento by OBR24

Latest update from 18-year-old UK racer living the pro flat track life in the American Flat Track Singles series. Calistoga: After Texas I covered the drive up to my uncle's in San Francisco pretty sharpish. We were looking at making some changes after a dreadful Texas half-mile. I also wanted to drop Karl off in time so he could see the city before heading home. Paul Harrison, another DTRA racer, was the next companion to work with me for the next three rounds. After prepar

Indian Score First AFT Sweep of the Year

May 9, 2018

Indian Score First AFT Sweep of the Year

It took until round 4 of the AFT Twins season for Indian to score their first 1-2-3 sweep of the year. I know, total disaster, heads are going to roll for this... Last season they did it by round two, and there were only three Indian FTR750s in that whole race. At Calistoga, last weekend, nine entered (there would have been ten, but Bryan Smith is injured, see previous post). It was an incredibly impressive night for Indian's racing bike. Here's why... Indian filled the top f

Salinas: This Weekend

Apr 17, 2018

Salinas: This Weekend

Our friends at Western Flat Track have a big race this weekend. It's a tribute/memorial race for one of their young riders who died racing (but not at one of their races, if I remember correctly). Poster says Pro purse of £5500, but the accompanying email said $7500. Register to race here. They're also doing a ride out to raise money for charity. Pro Purse: $7,500 A special thank you to the generous individuals and families who helped sponsor this purse: Andrew Luker Dakota G

SHNC at the Hippy Killer Hoedown

Apr 11, 2018

SHNC at the Hippy Killer Hoedown

I know, I know, there's been a lot of hooligan news lately, but that's just because the UK season has kicked off. Here are brief details of the US Roland Sands Designs/Indian Motorcycles Super Hooligan National Championship round 2. It's taking place on the big Perris track, the one that hosted the American Flat Track 2018 finale, not the Perris short track. This is a F-A-S-T track. We are excited to bring you Round 2 of the Super Hooligan National Championship Series (SHNC)

Western Flat Track Schedule

Feb 16, 2018

Western Flat Track Schedule

CFTA is now Western Flat Track and still headed by Sideburn contributor, Randy Kremlacek. This is their 2018 schedule. For more info and to enter, go to westernflattrack.com Feb. 18th: Big Time Speedway 1/8 mile cushion: This track is a racer favorite and a great way to kick off the new season (even if there is a hangover or two). Apr. 21st: Salinas, Zaden Florez Tribute Race, 1/2 Mile TT: We are honored to have been asked by the Florez Family to have this event as a tribu

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