Carpetburn

Travis from the excellent 747Rider blog asked about carpet shoes in the Vegas post below. I first heard about them when I interviewed Craig Randall about his incredible life for Sideburn #3. This brilliant shot of Craig in his carpet shoe is taken from his old photo album on page 77 of that issue.Then I remembered a post from the Timomium Cow Palace flat track that illustrated carpet shoes just dandy.Photo: Tim White

UPDATE:
continuing our fetish in the same arena, but examples of plastic stacks instead of fluffy ones...
Out-takes from Gary's The Great Indoors II story in SB#2.
kneeslider screwed to Timberland boots
White nylon - the same stuff as used for chain-guides on MX bikes. This was actually off-cuts from uPVC double-glazed windows.Best not use transparent plastic, you'll just look like a total slut. BP

Looney Tunes

Spotted by Tim White at Barber a few weeks ago. Any more info anyone? BP

Jake Johnson: new GNC Champion

Jake Johnson won yesterday's Mile race at Yavapai to clinch both the twins and GNC combined titles (from Kopp, Mees, Halbert and Coolbeth). Congratulations to him and the Zanotti team. More later.
We put the beautiful Tim White shot of Jake on the cover of issue 5 and interviewed him about his technique. Coincidentally, Jake was #14 when the photo was taken, but had become #5 by the time he was on issue 5. Now he'll carry the overall number 1. GI

More Barbara Fritchie

Gentlemen
It wasn't one of my better outings but here are a few photos from Sunday: blog and gallery. Tim White

Dusted

Ass Kicker Shayna Texter shot by Tim White for SB#5...BP:
Tim I kept meaning to email you and say how much I particularly love this shot. There's so much going on. It's so competitive.
There is an optical illusion, in that Joe is bigger (in reality and in the shot) and it looks like he's ahead, but then you notice Shayna (tiny in reality and tucked down small in the shot), her throttle hand is in front, she is definitely ahead - and holding a steady line, whereas Joe has a weave on - was he ahead and got cut up by Shayna steaming through? or is he trying to go around the outside? What was the scenario?
I also like the shallow depth of field that still has the grit spit up pin sharp.
That diagonal white stripe is great graphically too - is it the start / finish line?
And to top it all, some nice blank space for the text, pefect for our Sideburn layout!

TW:
Ben, Thanks very much! The photo is from an AMA semi-pro event called the Barbara Fritchie Classic, in Frederick, MD, which is only about 30 miles from my house. It's not part of the Grand National Championship but often a number of the GNC riders will enter.
That shot is the first in a small series (see attached). Shayna was passing Joe at the Start/Finish, and looking at her right wrist you can clearly see how she powered deeper into the corner. The 4th photo is from the succeeding lap, and shows how much ground Shayna gained after making the pass.

Ass Kickers

Gash. When the word is used in a derogatory manner towards a woman, it's probably one of the most vulgar. But if it's simply referring to a gruesome knee scar belonging to a Lady that is about kick your ass on a dusty oval, the steel shoe is right royally on the other foot. You better be afraid, and sorry that when you saw her hanging around in the pits you assumed she was 'just someone's girlfriend'.

Flat track racing is one of the only professional sports that doesn't segregate the sexes. Nichole Cheza and Shayna Texter, realise they are a pair of cats in amongst the dogs, but they ain't no pussies. Full feature SB#5. Photos Adam Wright and Tim White. BP

The Sammy and Jake Show!

Sammy on it.


Night 1 podium, 1 - S Halbert 2- H Wiles 3 - J Johnson


Wiles Style


Coolbeth gunning for number 1


We told you to keep an eye on him. Sideburn fan Slammin' Sammy Halbert (#7) won the first night of Daytona's short track. It was held on the new oval within the Speedway itself, not the Municipal Stadium as in previous years. The short track number 1 plate holder Henry Wiles was 2nd, Jake Johnson (#5) 3rd and Sammy's brother Jethro (#69) a good 4th. The next night didn't go so well for Sammy as he came in 17th, don't know why. Jersey Jake Johnson won night two from Coolbeth and GNC number 1 Mees (running #21 in the singles class for this year). Jethro came in a solid 5th.
More from Sammy when we get it.
(Photos: AMA Pro Racing)

This seems as good a time as any to say that Jake Johnson is on the cover of issue 5. Tim White took the excellent photo. Can't wait to get it back from the printers. We're not actively taking orders yet, because we have a special offer up our sleeves. More details soon.

Lucky number 7

We were pretty pleased to get this email from Sammy Halbert yesterday morning, but we had to keep it quiet a little while

I just saw your blog post and the article, looks pretty cool. Is there any way I could get one of those?

Also some exciting news, Mike Kidd {AMA race director] just informed me today that they are going to let me run a single digit number next year for winning the overall grand national championship since they are now going back to awarding the overall (singles and twins) champion with the number one plate. I am supposed to keep it quite until the official press release comes out so when I get that I will forward it your way... I am gonna run the lucky #7.

Thanks, Sam

Ace photographer Tim White (who supplied the cover shot for Sideburn #3 and for the upcoming Sideburn #5) told us that the singles and twins are being reunited for one overall Grand National Champion for 2010. If they'd have done it before last season Sammy would've been number 1 this year. He heard it at the excellent Rider Files. That's also been confirmed. All sounds good to us. GI

Kopp on the Duke

Former Grand National Champion, and one of the handful of current riders to have won the grand slam of nationals, Smokin Joe Kopp, will ride the Lloyd Brothers Motorsport Ducati (that features in Sideburn 4). What a turn-up this is. Larry Pegram raced last year, and he made the main, but couldn't commit to a season because he's concentrating on AMA Superbike. Pegram plans to race Indy and Springfield while Kopp says

'Equipment wise, I have the best of both worlds. I will be riding Ducatis on all the mile tracks and will be able to choose between the Ducati and my XR750 on the half-mile tracks depending on how testing goes. I really think that we are going to surprise a lot of people this year with the Ducati. This is exactly the type of challenge that I feel I needed and I am really looking forward to proving that we can win on this bike right out of the box. I think with my feedback and experience and my crew's knowledge that we can further development of this bike very quickly and have fun doing it.'

The team also got a big boost in the form of Agip sponsorship.
Let's hope the Ducati riders turn out to support them. G
Photo: Tim White for Sideburn

How Long Is A Piece Of String?

Our fans have been patient - or just got bored of banging on our door, and gone home. "When the blazes is SB#4 going to be ready?!" Well we can now answer the proverbial question with: '7.35cm', and the second with: 'it's at the printers!' Ye Gads, I can hardly believe it myself. We've now stretched to 100 filth-filled pages - it's amazing you don't have to be over 21 to buy it. Teasers to follow until the big day; starting with Larry Pegram's GNC GT1000 Ducati. Photography sharper than a chilli-laced tequila, by Tim White. Can't see much of it? I know, it's a teaser, buy the magazine! BP

Get well soon Brandon

Photographer Tim White got in touch to ask...

Are you aware of the huge crash Brandon Robinson had at Indy? He's still in hospital in Indy with hip fractures. I saw the whole thing--truly frightening. First lap, first corner, he got caught up in a multi-bike crash and ended up bouncing off the top of the airfence and flew over the catch fencing, landing outside the track and hitting a light pole. Very violent, very scary. Other than not walking for the next several months, I think he's going to be okay.
Tim White

We'd heard a little, but not the whole details. Brandon came to race in the UK when he was still an amateur, and he blew us away with his skill. We knew he'd be good, but not that he'd qualify for his National number at the very first attempt. Brandon featured in Sideburn 1. Get well soon. Thanks to Tim for sending this photo of Brandon in happier times.

Friends in high places

Look who's stocking Sideburn. Chris Carr, legend.
Photo: Tim White

Chesapeake Bay

From Tim White, the photographer who shot SB3's cover...

'My day job took me this week to a rather posh inn on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. The place had a very nautical theme so imagine my surprise when I happened to spot this hanging over the lounge.
It's signed by Bartell; a bit of googling turned up a George Bartell who painted a number of auto racing scenes in the '60's. Maybe it's the same guy. I'll keep digging.' -- Tim White

Springfield Mile results.

Just scanning the AMA Pro Racing results of the Springfield Mile made interesting reading. Bryan Smith #42 won from Coolbeth and Carr. SB3 cover star Jared Mees was fourth. Further down, Sideburn discovery Brandon Robinson made the main and finished 12th.
The Wood BMW, being ridden by national number 51, Steve Murray didn't make the main. Only one non- XR750 did and that was the Ducati of Larry Pegram. Wow, what a comeback. And this is just a week after getting two top fives in the AMA Superbike championship at Infineon (Sears Point). I don't know loads about Pegram, but it seems like he's got the skills of an old style GNC all-rounder.
One other name stood out among the results. Coming in last in the main (still a monumental achievement for those not fully up to speed with how flat track heats work), was Steve Bonsey. Bonsey is a Roberts protege. He raced in 125 GPs, but for whatever reason (and I don't know them), never really cut it. So he's back in dirt track. And he's running Kenny's amateur number (or at least pre-National number) of 80Y.


In the pro singles, one rung down from GNC, 25A Shanya Texter came in third in the 12-lap final.GI
Smith photo: Tim White
Texter photos: JG Photo Werx via Shayna Texter. An before anyone writes in, these photos aren't from this weekend.

The Wait is OVER!

Sideburn 3 has landed!
Here is photographer and Sideburn contributor Fly enjoying a cheeky Grolsch and a hot off the press SB3 outside Sideburn HQ. We've been feeding you tasters, but for a fuller (but not complete) list of what's going in and to order, click here.
It couldn't be simpler. If you have a Paypal account, just send money to dirt@sideburnmagazine.com
Or send a cheque.
Subscribers issues, and pre-orders, are parceled up will go out tomorrow. So don't panic.

If you want to get one of the last 40 issues of Sideburn 1 we have left, plus 2 and 3 and a laser cut sticker, you can subscribe and have your THREE ISSUE subscription start with issue 1. It's a no brainer. Think what a great day you'll have when those beauties land on the doormat. Subscription details

Brandon at Lima

Brandon Robinson(from Sideburn 1).
I think Tim White shot it. Right, Tim?

Tim White shoots no shite

Tim White got in contact with Sideburn back in the early days, oh y'know, back in the Spring of 08. Damn, is it that long ago? Anyway, he's an up and comer on the bikesport shooting scene. And we're going to use some of his stuff in SB3. He's set up a slideshow portfolio of some of his work. These are some of our favourites. 44A is Brandon Robinson from Sideburn 1. We said he was going to be good. He's made the main in his first and second ever Nationals, and won the Expert Twins championship. Oh, and check out the licence plate on the bus.

Live from the Timonium Cow Palace

Carpet shoe

Dress for the ride, not the crash

Oxford shirt, chinos, silk tie, tidy moustache. Sir, you are a gentleman and a example to us all.

High, wide and handsome


From ace shooter, Tim White

'Hosted by the Baltimore County Trail Riders Association (www.bctra.org), the Timonium indoor short track races are a must-do every December. With AMA sanction the group puts on 13 races in an evening on the cement floor of the Maryland State Fairground cow palace, with classes for everyone from kids on 50cc shafties to "adults" on 100cc thumpers and the crazed on 450cc MX bikes. Bring warm clothes, ear plugs, and maybe a respirator.'

We heart framers

So does Tim White, the great up and coming photographer who took this shot.
Tim says 'Aside from the performance advantages, I know the racers like 'em for the ease of maintenance and tuning. I like 'em cuz they look cool as hell. Oh well...'
Expect some more of Tim's work in SB3. Yes, we've started work on it. God help us.

Pin sharp

The lens on Tim White's camera is crafted from pure Aztec crystal blessed by the sun God himself. Every picture is pin sharp, you can even smell the smoldering shingle.
Here child prodigy Brandon Robinson #44A - featured in SB#1, when he was an amateur - pips Cory Texter #65A at the Frederick County Fairgrounds in Maryland.
Why bother making a 5 hour round trip to watch the races when you can just log-on to Tim Whites site http://tswphoto.smugmug.com & enjoy the action up-close from the comfort of your own home?