BLOG | sideburn

Ray Tauscher: Portland's World Champ

Jan 12

Ray Tauscher: Portland's World Champ

Ray Tauscher (Tauser in the international press) is America's forgotten world champion. In the years between the wars he left his home in Portland, OR, to race speedway in Australia and Europe winning the major races, including a world championship. Portland filmmakers Ned and Michael Thanhouser heard the story of the late racer, found recently discovered footage they say is of Ray at his height, and gained permission from his surviving family to scour his scrapbooks to form

Redcar Dirt Track & Speedway Snaps

Oct 2, 2020

Redcar Dirt Track & Speedway Snaps

Because every DTRA race event has been cancelled this year, and I couldn't/didn't want to travel out of the country to race, this year's dirt track riding had been limited to a couple of practice days at Greenfield. When the DTRA's Amman Valley round was cancelled at the last minute (due to you know what) a few UK riders committed to going to Krowdrace at Parchim in East Germany. I was told about the chance to race a lot closer to home, at a small meeting shared with a speedw

Rye House '46

Jul 1, 2020

Rye House '46

'Normal peace-time jobs seem a bit slow...' Dirt track/speedway from 1946, immediately post-war. Lots of handsome JAP speedway iron and girder forks being ridden by former military despatch riders. This news 'feature' was filmed to be shown in British cinemas among the news and other entertainment features of the week and before a feature film. Next to no one would have a TV set, so this was the only way to see 'moving' news. The action takes place at Rye House, a track nort

1982, Monkey Masks and Raleigh Burners

Apr 16, 2020

1982, Monkey Masks and Raleigh Burners

This is an email from Sideburn reader and our mate, Russ that I've turned into a blog post. You'll see why. GI I got my stack of Sideburn back issues. It's been a long day but I've just sat down for a read of the mags. For some atmosphere I've put on my DVD of the 1982 World Individual Speedway championship. Did you ever watch it? I think I mentioned it years ago, it's great. If you didn't see it let me know and I'll tell you why you should. In fact I'll tell you anyway! Earl

The $181,000 Speedway Bike

Jan 26, 2020

The $181,000 Speedway Bike

Yes, this rare Harley speedway bikes fetched over $180 grand at the recent Mecum Auction in Las Vegas. This is what the Mecum site said about this 1935 Harley-Davidson Works CAC Joe Patreli was quite possibly the best American motorcycle racer in the first half of the 1900s. Petrali was setting records on the board tracks, dirt tracks and hill climbs. In addition to setting a one-mile land speed record of 136.183 MPH on a specially built and streamlined Harley-Davidson in Mar

1

2