The Stansfield Effect

The latest instalment from Sideburn ambassador, John Harrison.

I first encountered Sideburn mate and perennial Dirt Quaker Pete Stansfield at the 2011 Hotrod Hayride, where he had ventured south to run his Triumph sprint/drag bike at the 1/8th mile Detonator Drags at Dunsfold in Surrey. He told me it was the first time the bike had been out since 1972.

I was racing my Harley 45 and drew Pete in my first race. Needless to say, he had blasted across the finish line before I completed my first (hand) gear change. The pic shows him warming the motor prior to changing to race plugs. I think he was running on methanol. I remember being impressed by his bib 'n' brace leathers and suffering severe tyre envy over that historic M&H slick. Yes that is a Dakota in the background and yes, the legend is true, it did race down the runway against Chief Detonator Langley Gifford in his 1940s period-correct '32 Roadster Hotrod, which was a lump-in-the-throat sight as they both thundered away into the late afternoon sun before the Dakota lifted off and banked hard right. Could it be the same plane that overflew Dirt Quake IV?

Pete also brought his sweet, hardtail pre-unit when it was in reverse-head incarnation. It has since seen Dirt Quake action, though in a different guise.

He raced Dirt Quake this year on a bone stock, low-mileage CCM flat tracker in the Street Scrambler class (I thought the stars on my leathers were neat, but Pete's were big 'n' GOLD)...

...while his daughter, Ellis, raced his stock ('cept for whitewall tyres) Suzuki B120 Loanaladyaracer.

The Desert of Death

If you're going to pedal 330 miles through the Taklaman Desert, known by the locals as the Desert of Death, without stopping for more than a pee and the odd snack, on a single speed, you might as well do it in a Dirt Quake T-shirt, right? Cheers Guy.

Free post on Dirt Quake shirts. Limited sizes. While stocks last. Get yours HERE.

We have a couple left in kids sizes too.

Watch the three-part Our Guy In China on 4OD (if you're in the UK).

Dirt Quake 2017

The date for Dirt Quake 2017 is 7-8 July (and perhaps something on Sunday 9th) at the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn.

Entries will open in April next year. Exact date to follow. G

Dust & Throttle: A film about Dirt Quake

DUST &THROTTLE from sam barker on Vimeo.

Very emotive film shot at the two days of Dirt Quake V by top photographer, Sam Barker. The action and characters are a mixture of Friday night DTRA and Saturday Dirt Quake.

Sam filmed and wrote the poem for the narrative. Lovely stuff. G

Dirt Quake V: Have You Ever Watched Ants?

Have you ever watched ants? I mean really watched ants?

The carpenter ant has been measured at a speed of 300 metres an hour. That's like me or you running at 50 miles an hour.

What do you think of that? If ants ever got wise to that.

When ants fight, they fight to the death. What would happen if ants stopped following and started racing?

Once again, big thanks to all our sponsors and all our helpers:
Bikesure
Harley-Davidson
Mutt Motorcycles
Krazy Horse
Motone
W and W Cycles
Guy Martin Proper
Davida
Bike Shed MC
plus the Dirt Track Riders Association

For more info go to dirtquake.co.uk

Film by Kinetoscope Productions with the help of Dave Skooter Farm, Wilky and Ged.

Thanks to Friday night's band, TV Crime, for the soundtrack. G

Dirt Quake Ladies Final

There's quite a bit before and after that you can skip through, but this is a good onboard taste of the 2016's Dirt Quake Davida Helmets Ladies final shot by first time racer Katrina James. If you don't skip through it, it's an example of exactly what it's like to compete in a six-lap amateur flat track race from leaving the pits to getting back in one piece.

'Hurricane' Katrina takes a brave, wide line on her Kawasaki ZXR400 (not the ideal dirt tracker, but totally proves Dirt Quake's ethos).

Up ahead is Vikki from the Bike Shed with Kiki coming up strong on El Solitario's Zaeta. Watching this makes me think, Who wouldn't want to compete in Dirt Quake? It reminds me why entries sold out in a week.

The top three in the Ladies class are being awarded special Davida DQV Classic Jet helmets. Like all Davida helmets, they're made in England and hand painted in the Birkenhead factory by the company's staff. These special editions use elements of Lennard Schuurman's Dirt Quake poster. Davida do things properly. G

El Solitario at Dirt Quake

David El Solitario rode from Spain to King's Lynn to compete in his third Dirt Quake. He rode and raced his very trick Zaeta, the bike named Pluto (more on that bike in a future Sideburn). He also loaned it to two lady racers in distress, one crashed it, one won on it, then he rode it home again.

He travelled with top photographer Gonzalo Arroya.

You can see their mahoosive report at El Solitario Dirt Quake. Thanks El Solitario! G

One-Off Wednesday

SOLD TO IAN S. COME BACK IN THE FUTURE FOR MORE ONE-OFF WEDNESDAYS.
The last remaining Sideburn Dirt Quake shirt designed by ODFU has been cornered in the warehouse and is awaiting its fate.
Navy blue with pale grey screenprint
Medium

£15 post is free in the UK. £5 anywhere else in the world.

Get it at One-off Wednesday.

Dirt Quake V by H-D UK

Really nice film made by Dirt Quake V and DTRA partner Harley-Davidson UK. G

Foggy at Dirt Quake

When I was a draughtsman, drawing engineering components for a living, I used to watch Carl Fogarty's every WSB race on Sky TV. Now the magazine we make puts on events that he competes in on a cool Triumph Bonneville.

Dirt Quake V was special for a lot of reasons. Thanks to everyone who made it so good, especially the spectators who lap up our daft ideas.

This photo of a flying Foggy was taken by Gergo Toth. Click his name to see his gallery of DQV images. G

Dirt Quake V: Done and Dusty

Thanks to everyone who made Dirt Quake V such great fun. Guy raced a Krazy Horse Swedish chopper with 22in over Tolle forks. Carl Fogarty raced a trick Triumph Bonneville. And both of them were beaten into second place by Sideburn readers.
It was non-stop fun and ran like clockwork. Thanks again everyone.

We are offering FREE SHIPPING  on all Dirt Quake V merch while stocks last. We have two adult T-shirts designs, a handful of kids shirts and sticker packs. Go to sideburn.bigcartel.com G
Photo: Andy Spellman

 

Dirt Quake USA: Iron And Resin Report

Our old mates at Iron and Resin had a friend in the Dirt Quake USA race. Erik Askin drove up from San Francisco (690 miles, 11 hours) to race. He returned home and wrote a piece that sums up the kind of spirit we have always tried to encourage at Dirt Quake. That's him above, racing Jackass star Danger Ehren. This is one passage of Erik's report...

One of the highlights of the weekend was sitting on the starting line for the 'street tracker' main. The sun setting in the late June sky, the stands packed with people, a Harley Sportster to my right, a crazy CB750 to my left, the track illuminated with glowing dust, and an announcer dressed as a clown. Just before the from-a-movie flag girl dropped the green, fireworks exploded above and I had the largest smile on my face. If you love motorcycles, this is an event you can't miss​.

Read the full story at the Iron and Resin blog.
Don't forget (and we're not going to let you), Dirt Quake V is this weekend. G

One of the killer IRBs from Dirt Quake USA. Photos: Eric Fields

Carl Fogarty coming to Dirt Quake

This absolute legend is coming to Dirt Quake as a guest of main sponsor, Bikesure.

I remember watching this race live. He was highsided to the moon and still won the day's second race.

It's going to be the best ever Dirt Quake and it's on 15-16 July at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Advance tickets, with the chance to win a Mutt Motorcycles custom 125 street tracker, are still available from http://adrianfluxarena.co.uk/dirtquake-5-ticket-sales/

Dirt Quake V: Schedule

We've had word from the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn that Dirt Quake V has pre-sold more tickets than any event in the stadium's history. It's hardly surprising when you see the line up and realise there's a chance to win a custom Mutt Motorcycle!

You still have chance to buy a £15 advance ticket.

FRIDAY 15 JULY
12:00 Campsite opens
17.00 Turnstiles open
18.00 DTRA racing starts. Classes for the evening are: Pro, Thunderbike, Vintage, Hooligan, Restricted
22.15 DTRA racing ends
22.30 Live band TV CRIME, Wall of Death and DJs
00:00 Bar closes

SATURDAY 16 JULY
10.00-11.45 Dirt Quake riders sign-on (racers will receive final instructions this weekend)
12.45 Rider’s meeting
13.00 Turnstiles open Dirt Quake practice
15.00 Dirt Quake main event opening ceremony
+ Dream Themes
+ Kids bicycle race
+ Wall of Death shows
+ More
18:15 Mutt Motorcycle Winner announced
18.30 Dirt Quake finals
19.15 Awards presentation
20.00 Wall of Death shows, DJ’s
22.00 Live Band The Fuzillis
00.00 Bar closes

SUNDAY 17 JULY
Hang around for stock car racing at the arena.
Tickets available separately
15:00 Campsite closes

Dirt Quake V: The Fuzillis

We have a few great bands lined up for Dirt Quake V. Friday night is TV Crime, punk/ power pop from Nottingham. Saturday, in the middle of the track, are Dirt Quake regulars, Dream Themes, supplying the soundtrack to the race action and for Saturday night we have these instr-o-mentals, The Fuzillis!
Plus The Fuzillis will be joined by a very special TV star live on stage.
AND we have the greatest DJs - Dave Taylor, Katy B and Sir Johnny Alpha - spinning delicious 7in vinyl ONLY on both Friday and Saturday night.

Remember, up there for thinking, down there for dancing.

Book a Dirt Quake ticket in advance and be in with a chance to win the Dirt Quake Mutt brand new Mutt Motorcycles custom 125 street tracker (below) G

Dirt Quake USA sticker packs

We have some Dirt Quake USA sticker packs designed by the most excellent Toria Jaymes of Stay Outside Studio.
5 vinyl stickers in a custom made package.
£4 plus postage.

Check out this sticker pack and others at patch, badge and sticker department of sideburn.bigcartel.com

Deep Space Deviants On Britain's Got Talent: TONIGHT

This frankly preposterous news, about Dirt Quake's clueless compere, has just reached us from Wigan...

It's a Swindle! 
Spanner-In-The-Works, Subvert-Semi-Finalists on BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT. 
Anybody that knows me and my close circle of friends will acknowledge what we stand for. Most importantly, pick up the phone and vote DEEP-SPACE DEVIANTS when the moment arrives... Thanks in advance for your support.

Dave Ros invades Britain's Got Talent

We have just picked up this barely believable transmission from a parallel universe...

'DAVE ROS, everybody’s favourite Rubber-Wheeled-Space-Alien Leader, is going to be on Britain's Got Talent TOMORROW night.'

If that doesn't get an almighty 'WTF!' out of you, I'm not sure what will. Dave Ros debuted at Dirt Quake II, then reappeared, like Haley's Comet, for III and the unforgettable DQ IV. Now he has infiltrated the biggest Saturday night TV show since Morecambe & Wise.

Also, Dave Ros and his band DEEP-SPACE DEVIANTS are playing what could very well be their last low-key gig at Dave Skooter Farm's birthday get together at the Bailiff Bar, Wigan on Wed 11 May. You'd be a total Sontaran to miss it.

Also on the bill is SEX-CRIME, Cecilia’s Synth-Punk band from Portland, Oregon, USA. G

Dirt Quake V Entries: SOLD OUT

Dirt Quake entries are now completely sold out and most classes have long reserve lists.
Inappropriate Road Bike and Street Trackers sold out before 11am on the day the entries opened, followed quickly by Chopper, Lady and then Harley-Davidson.

Thanks for all your enthusiasm and apologies to those we have had to disappoint. It seems some people bought bikes just to compete in Dirt Quake, but we dealt with entries in a strict first come, first served basis.

Spectator tickets are on sale now and anyone buying a £15 adult Saturday ticket will be entered a free draw to win a brand new custom Mutt Motorcycles street tracker.

Buy Dirt Quake tickets.

For more information go Dirt Quake V frequently asked questions.

Dirt Quake would not be nearly as good without these great sponsors.

Bikesure
Harley-Davidson
Mutt Motorcycles
Motone
W and W Cycles
Guy Martin Proper
Krazy Horse
Bike Shed Motorcycle Club

Entries for Dirt Quake USA will open 14 April.

Dirt Quake Entries

Entries opened today, April 1, and we had people entering at 00:00 hours. We're overwhelmed with entries and it looks like Inappropriate Road Bike and Street Tracker have sold out on day 1, with Chopper and Lady nearly full up.
There are some places left in the W&W-sponsored Harley class.
Every entry will get a reply, but some will be disappointed. We're working through the emails, logging them in order so first come, really is first served.

Spectators can buy tickets at Dirt Quake Tickets. Buy an adult ticket for Saturday and be entered into a free draw to win a £4000 custom Mutt motorycle. G