Dirt Quake Poland?

Was absolutely nothing to do with Sideburn.

Here's the thing. We want to encourage people to get out and race their bikes, but Dirt Quake is Sideburn's name. It is not a generic name. The generic name is flat track or dirt track.

When we organise a Dirt Quake, it's with a proper racing club, at a proper international race track (King's Lynn in the UK, Castle Rock in the USA), with a proper medical plan and ambulances on site and all the public liability insurance we need to be above board. Motorsport is potentially dangerous, we want to minimise the risks as much as we can, while still having fun. 100% of the feedback we get says we do that. The Dirt Quake name is a guarantee of quality, not a catch all for riding mopeds in a field.

Our events look like spur of the moment, seat of the pants fun, but there has been months of planning and expense.

We are happy to inspire people to organise their own races or events, big or small. That's perfect, we couldn't get something together in Poland even if we wanted to, but think up your own event name, please.

Thanks to Ross and the Bike Shed for the tip-off.

Fake Quake

Look, we're not angry, just disappointed.
We're happy that our Dirt Quake events in the UK and the USA are inspiring people to ride whatever they've got on dirt tracks.
It's great that people want to organise their own race events - we can't organise them all over the world.
BUT if you feel inspired at least think up your own catchy name.

This event is NOTHING to do with Sideburn and we're not going to be there.
We weren't asked or told about it until a reader emailed us.
It might be the best event ever (...) but it isn't going to be a DIRT QUAKE.

Please desist from using our names to promote your events.
Merci
Gary and Ben, England

Clearly A Forgery

Mick, this results in your final warning. G

Bad News from Italy

This turned up on Instagram today, a follower in Italy pleased with their new T-shirt purchase contacted us from the Roma Moto Days Show.
Even on the screen of a phone it looked familiar. Yes, it's the Adi Gilbert illustration for the Sideburn Dave Aldana night from 2011.

THIS T-SHIRT WAS PRINTED AND SOLD IN ITALY. CAN ANYONE TELL US WHO MADE IT OR GIVE US A FACEBOOK OR WEBSITE LINK TO THEM, PLEASE?

Before you think, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, here's the truth.

We ALWAYS pay the artist for the artwork, not just promise to raise their profile.

In the case of Dave Aldana we also paid towards bringing the legendary racer to the UK in an effort to raise the profile of the UK flat track scene.

When companies rip Sideburn off, they're ripping of two guys who make a magazine in their spare time, because this niche title doesn't pay enough to support us full-time (and never will). So we work on it when the kids go to bed.

This is the third time it's happened in four months.

People are stealing our designs and artists' work and it's pissing us right off. Please help us find these rip-off merchants. G