Bobby Boogaloo Schwartz

Where are you today Mr Boogaloo? BP

Dick Hammer

You're not going to mess with someone called Dick Hammer are you?
Unless maybe if you're a eunuch. BP

Fifty Years of Kicks

I'm sure we've posted this before, but its great.
This will be Co-Built's Anthony and Geoff still healthily rabbiting away in a few years time. BP

Survivor Customs: Part 2

Another lovely little film made by Drifter Visuals of Mike at Survivor Customs, showing some of the made-do-and-mend skills being used to build his budget DTRA Vintage racer. G

Danny Lyon Photography Exhibition

From Sideburn's well of print knowledge guru Mark Wilson:
The new show at the Atlas Gallery (who hosted the McQueen exhibition a while back) is legendary Magnum photographer Danny Lyon's seminal series The Bikeriders from 1968 and ties in with the original book being re-issued.

The show opened last week and runs to 16th August. A few iPhone snaps attached. Some nice bikes showed up for the private view on Wednesday.

All the classics are there of the dirt track racers in the Midwest (that shot of the guy with 88 on his back is one of my all time favourite images) and the iconographic images from when he was running with the Outlaws MC.

Well worth a visit if you're in west London. Danny Lyon is now in his 70s and still bucking the system by all accounts. For those who can, original photographic prints start at £2,500 - but Ben also has a few signed copies of the new book left for £40 (Get in very quick!).

Atlas is at 49 Dorset Street, Marylebone, London W1U 7NF. Open Mon-Fri 10 - 6 and Saturday 10 - 5.

Whites

No info on the origins of this photo, but his wardrobe is definitely cutting the mustard. BP

50

Hi Ben,
29 years after my last National race i rocked up to our local track. [My kids] Kira and Jason are keeping the flame well lit with wins. Here goes Dad!
I got a couple of 2nds and a 4th over all. 50 is the next 20 I reckon.
Let the good times roll! Capt Highside

(Alloy framed) OM Floval Flyer 24" cruiser.

UPDATE: You might think Capt Highside (one of Skooter Farm's dirt track racers, now in semi-retirement) is channeling some boyhood dreams, wearing that Raleigh team kit, but he lived the dream and was actually one of the first team riders in UK BMX. See his photo below.

Super X on ice

Americano-Norse insanity, 1930s-style. 

Get the story from American Motorcycles Norway. MP 

Up the Wolves

I'm back on the northern fringes of the English Black Country at the moment. The house where I grew up, and where my parents still live, is on the Wolverhampton Road, about seven miles from Wolverhampton itself. Over the past century or more, the English West Midlands has been home to more bike builders than any other British region, though almost every marque is now defunct. Sunbeam, of Wolverhampton, is just one of those.

The DT90 dirt track model was introduced in 1928 and featured the TT-winning 493cc Model 90 OHV engine, though fitted with single-port head instead of the twin-port on the road racers and road models. The Druid-style girder forks came in for a load of criticism from testers and racers, so for the following year (below) they were swapped for the Webb-type popular with dirt trackers. Wheels are a giddying 28in. MP

Ducati Single Flat Tracker

Ducat flat tracker for sale on US eBAY in the Mid-West, but you're going to have to be quick, the sale ends today. Thanks to Jan-Willem Dutch Brother for the tip-off. G

Satnav My Arse

Now that's what I call a road-book. Nottingham to London on A-roads and B-roads riding a BSA Bantam, by Dave Bevan.
(via Eat The Rich (you don't want to get lost there, I do and there aren't even any roundabouts)). BP

Tucson Raceway

Planet Sputnik

Looking for 1950s glamour or swinging 1960s chic? Retro haven Planet Sputnik is your one-stop vintage location, vehicle, prop, wardrobe and people hire agency for photographic, film and television work – and all within easy reach of London. Check out planet-sputnik.com to see what we can do for you.

Vinyl & Film

Come to the Emporium and participate in some postmodern commerce. We're putting together a bazaar to celebrate all things analog. Bring your beloved gear—your 35mm, your 7", your tubes, and your Super 8's.Cruise the stalls and take it. Listen to live vinyl DJs and real, tube amplified rock 'n roll. Shop a little. Eat a little. Enjoy a lot.July 7th, 2012 at Deus Venice - 1001 Venice Blvd., Venice, California 90291

The trusty Nikon F3. My first love. She stood by me even though I knocked her about. BP

Dirt Quake Prizes

Everyone was a winner. If you looked the quagmire in the eye and said "Hell Yeah Bring It On" got on your bike and wobbled round - or fishtailed like horny salmon headed up (a muddy) stream, you're a winner. We did also give Co-Built-made Sideburn trophies and a special DQ Davida helmet to:
Milo for cleaning up in the Chopper Class on his hand-shift 45

(bike photo CFH)Guy in Inappropriate Road Bike Class for rodeoing his rubber cow BMW to victory

(bike photo Capt Simon)

Roberto Ungaro who came over especially from Italy and styled it on the Spillo in Street Tracker Class - I can imagine some people having first seen this bike in Riders Magazine, thinking what a ludicrous and poncy vehicle - this thing bloody shifts and would stab you in the belly for even thinking of looking at its girlfriend.

(bike photo Capt Simon)

Then, also in the Inappropriate Road Bike Class, Amanda, a worthy Davida spot prize just for having a go on her Virago.

Dirt Quake Heroes One And All. BP

Metro x Springer's MX250 x Scott Parker

From Don at Metro Racing.

Here's a picture of Jay Springsteen's factory HD MX250 that he lent me for Scott Parker to ride at our 2 day AMA Vintage National event at the Square Deal Riders in Harpursville,NY on June 29th&30th. What is the connection with Parker to this bike you say. It is the very bike that Scotty won his first short track national on. Jay was feeling ill and lent the bike to Scotty. It will be awesome to see Scotty on this bike again.

Hot Dock Panhead Road Racer

This bike made me say a quiet 'Wow' when I came across it. So, it seems to me, though I'm no old Harley expert, that this is a Panhead in a rigid frame (no shit), with springer forks that are the same age as the engine, but more modern road race drum brakes. It's a CJ-style XR tank and an XR seat, painted in WWII Luftwaffe colours. Borrani-style rims wear modern-ish rubber and look great. And that is a monstrous flatslide carb. I think this bike was built by Hot Dock, who we first came across back in 2008 (Hot Dock 8V racer). It threw its primary belt off at the Tsubuku track. I can't imagine what it's like to hustle around a twisty circuit with those straight bars, low seat and high mid controls, but it looks killer. G
Found at Shinsuke Takizawa Blog

Neo Gothic

Ancillaries that were once rocking horse shit oddities, are now mass-produced catalogue parts. At the click of a mouse you too can buy a previously unobtanium mudguard / tank / seat / light. Faux vintage spray-on rust - what next? The previous genuine antique NSU Max rear light my XS used to sport got shaken to death, so I need a replacement (not obligatory for Dirt Quake chopper racing, but I plan to put this bike back on the road after the event). Current contenders are a Brat Style pussycat light ( eBay is over-run with repros) or this B&Q semi-detached Munsters special. BP

Scott Parker Star Guest

Ride Academy Metro Give-Away

From Don at Metro Racing...

METRO RACING ANNOUNCES VINTAGE DIRT TRACK WEEKEND PLANS
Ride Academy Holds School at Square Deal Raceway to kick off AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Weekend

The last weekend in June at Square Deal Raceway in Harpursville, NY is traditionally when vintage flat track racers come to race and this year is no different. The AMA Vintage Dirt Track National, also known as the Larry Weiss Memorial, will be held Friday, June 29th & Saturday, June 30, 2012.

To get the weekend started, the staff at Ride Academy have agreed to hold one of their highly acclaimed flat track schools on Wednesday, June 27th and Thursday, June 28th. All of the instructors at the Ride Academy (including Johnny Lewis, above) have raced the quarter mile track at Square Deal and have been looking forward to an opportunity to doing a school there. And while the school is being offered to vintage riders who can learn some secrets of speed and agility at the school and take their knowledge to the track the following two days, any one at any level can attend to experience two days with the champions from the Ride Academy.

As a bonus, Metro Racing, has stepped up to give away one spot in the Ride Academy school that weekend. Metro's VP, Don Miller says, "We're excited that Ride Academy chose to come to Square Deal and do a school. Classes have been packed for their schools in the past and we're sure it will be capacity for this date too. So we're happy to be able to offer a free pass to one lucky person to attend. Face value is $500, but the stuff these guys will teach you is absolutely priceless."

The entry form is below. The winner will be picked by one of the Ride Academy team during the opening round of the AMA Pro Flat Track Race at the Daytona Speedway on March 15.

To reserve one of the remaining 19 spots in the school, contact the Ride Academy.

UPDATE: From Don to make it clear... The school will be on the 27th&28th. The instructors, GNC riders, will beat feet out to Lima, after the school lets out in time for the National. Our AMA National Double header is June 29th&30th. As for the last 7-8 years, it's been on the same weekend as Lima.