For the last couple of years I have chosen my favourite photos and artwork featured in Sideburn's four issues of that period. For 2022 I wanted to extend it to best design in the magazine, and had our art editor, Andy Garside choose the ten. We've both commented on each spread.
Gary Inman, editor
'Being asked to pick my favourite spreads I designed this year is like choosing my favourite child… If I had about 200 kids, and some were quite obviously better/prettier/more creative than others. Anyway, here, in no particular order, are ten of my faves from 2022.'
Andy Garside, art editor
The magazines from this year are issues 48 to 51. We offer each issue for sale individually or you can buy 48-49-50 as a three-issue bundle. Buy Sideburn magazine. Thanks.
If you haven't seen the posts already, take a look at the Best SB Photos of 2022, and the Best SB Artwork of 2022.
1. 18+81
Odd crops, I love ‘em. AG
A story about two Wisconsin racers, Chuck Dickenson and Loyal Prach. Chuck was 81, and Loyal 18 years old at the time, but both competed at the same events. Great shots by Ed Subias showed the similarities and differences of the two racers. Nice typography too. GI
2. Lime. Light
Bold colours and mono images… a marriage made in heaven. AG
I never asked Andy, but I assumed the circle was a play on the Japanese flag, but it could also be a spotlight. The headline played on the colour of Kawasakis and the low mass of this featherweight 250. GI
3. T-Bone
Sometimes it’s just about the photo… and this one is a corker, ready made with its own ‘odd crop’. Spoiler alert: the rider survived. The bike didn’t. AG
Incredible photo sequence by Dave Hoenig of Flat Trak Fotos, made into a four-page feature, with great digging from dep ed Mick to find the racer, Kyle Long, and get the story behind the crash, and his recovery. GI
4. New Gold Dream
This one is 100% inspired by the heading. Dreamlike and golden font treatment. AG
The headline is a Simple Minds song title that stuck in my mind because it was the name of a custom Lambretta from about 35 years ago. The bike was built by Holy Freedom, it was crashed an half-demolished within 30 minutes of our photo shoot starting. Not ideal, but Raffaele Paolucci still delivered some good shots. GI
5. Gladiator
A complete brute of a bike that looked like it should be caught on CCTV. And who doesn’t love a bit of digi-glitch too. AG
If we can help it, we always want action photos of our feature bikes, but it doesn't always happen. Andy gave some quite ordinary statics of a Hot Dock's insane Buell a David Cronenberg-esque Videodrome 1980s dystopian feel. And who doesn't love a bit of David Cronenberg-esque Videodrome 1980s dystopian feel? GI
6. Cheetah's Japan Column
Feature written in Japanese? No problem. The shapes on those letters… gorgeous! AG
Cheetah is a Japanese custom builder and one of the enthusiasts helping rev up the Japanese flat track scene. He has written a column about the Japanese scene for a few years now. At first we just published it in Japanese, now we compromise and translate it into English too. I know, spoon-feeding the masses. GI
7. Chamcy
A cheeky nod to my early career obsession with David Carson here… butting the text right up to the photo. Back in the 90s I would have (and did on occasion) run that text right off the page. AG
Deputy ed Mick emails to ask if the text is supposed to be right up against the photo. Andy and I snigger behind the old square's back. Oh, Mick you are sooooo conventional. GI
8. Talk The Torque
A photo that handed the idea on a plate to me. Those strong lines on the road and that gorgeous sunset… What else was I going to do with that? AG
Kully Millage, who built this wild Ironhead street tracker, sent Sideburn some really nice shots, but they'd be shot the internet or social media. They were too closely cropped. I sent back a few pointers and we got some beauties back from Logan Pickner. The headline refers to the torque arm suspension Kully built into the titanium frame. I think I might have used the headline before in the previous 50 issues. It was a while before I noticed the shadows the headline was throwing on the blacktop. GI
9. Unique
More bold colours with mono images, and more bold fonts. I could do this all day, everyday. AG
The story is as much about Nick Armstrong as it is about the bike he built and races in American Flat Track, and the opening spread makes that clear. And what about that about that lip rug? GI
10. Happy Happy Joy Joy
Based on a 1960s film poster I saw in a dream once. Maybe. Either way, it’s all about FUN! AG
The Sand Flea, our first custom bike for a three or four years. I had this photoshoot in mind before I even bought the bike. Shot on a beach in Lincolnshire, by Charlie Davidson and starring George and Amy from Greenfield Dirt Track. The headline is a catchphrase from 1990s cartoon Ren & Stimpy. GI
See other Best Of selections