Urban Downhill !

Paulo Chiaia of the Zaeta posted this awesome on-board vid of an urban downhill race. Just love the huuuuge jumps, the dog on the track and rider chuckling to himself when the crowd cheers...



 ...and it looks like this guy's going it in his pinstripe suit!

Anyone know where this is? Could be Chile?

Ace Cafe Flattracker Day

Woke to a dry, sunny day on Sunday.. Got down to the practice track for a blast, but it was water-logged so just bought some paint for the flattracker instead. Soon after I got home, it started raining. Took me a while to get my shit together and the BSA loaded in the van and I headed to London for the Ace Cafe Flattracker day.

Every time I drive near London, it reminds me why I moved away. Took me 2 hours to do the 65 miles there. If it wasn't pissin it down and so frikkin' cold  I would have ridden the old beast there. Would have had to carry fuel - I only get 40 miles to a tank! I was starving when I got there...

 Ace Cafe nosh

Pete is going to be bustin' some moves in the Thunderbikes this season on this classic Yam flattracker from the 70s

I was surprised at the great turnout: Pete had a ShorttrackUK stand, a SkooterFarm / Sideburn stand with Dave on the turntable, RedMax Steve was there as well as Anthony and Geoff's Co-Built... and a parking lot full of bikes. Apparently there were twice as many before the rain.

Cool old-skool caf racer 

The rain didn't let up and the folks were leaving so I didn't bother unload the BSA. This is the first time I've had anything other than a chinese mini-bike or trials bike in the back. It worked out good. Good to see so much interest and all the guys from flattrack racing there.

This one was coooool

Racebikes galore! There were more flattrack racers than streettrackers...

Co-Built with a new frame

Oh... and there was also an Evel Kenevel display... look out for a Kenevel inspired paint job on the flattracker soon!

Co-Built Visit

Visited Co-Built Anthony on the weekend to pickup a spindle for my cool new forks where Geoff's engine was being rebuilt.

The organization and cleanliness of Anthony's workshop makes my embarrassed about my half-hearted organization and sparse cleaning.

Spy shot:

...also spotted the Sideburn Enfield project. Nice forks!

Igor Tour

A few weekends ago, brother Igor went out to the mountains with his mates for a bit of trail riding Africa style...

Sometimes I miss the old country.

For Ant

Something for Ant in his new job with MZ Moto2...

Good luck dood!

Power Me Up!

Been putting in the hours on the bikes to get them ready for the season. 

It's really for the SV - with her total loss system I have to make sure she'll do a 90 minute Manx Grand Prix. So I've been sorting tasty Durbahn batteries with Anderson plugs (thanks Gary at SDC for the tip) and building in jumper hookups for cranking and charging those beeatches without having to get at the battery.

But while I was about it... thought I should give the flattracker the same treatment.

First Stripes

Got a pinstriping brush and some paint the other day and pulled my first stripes...

It's a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Alan Johnson says the way the learn pinstriping is to buy a gallon of paint and start practising. When the paint tin is empty, you'll know how to pinstripe. I've got a way to go yet!

Junction Crossin

Yesterday morning I went down to my local practice track. Rain the night before so it was mushy... but the weather was kind and we saw a bit of sunshine.

I went round and round... 'building' a flattrack. Trying not to use the rear brake to start the slide. I only achieved this a handful of times... got to get the knack of slinging the bike sideways.

After a while, I started getting inconsistent and big slides...

Checking out the track... I had worn through the top inch or two of dirt and bits of concrete and rouble underneath were exposed. Not great.

I still had a good workout... and was pretty stiff and sore this morning -my left butt cheek took a pounding over those bumps!

 I went back for a short session this morning to loosen up (the fourfiddy was still full of mud and on the trailer, all my kit was still in the van - so it would have been rude not to!)... but it was raining and pretty slick. It was still a good hack. My body needs to get fit!

Trials Down the Junction

On Sunday I found the practice track my neighbor had told me about. Well... it's not a track... just a piece of unused ground right on a junction of the M1 motorway.  It's fairly big... and flat. Apparently it's been used for years and there's been no trouble with the plod. Best part... it's only 6 miles from home!

Took the Beta down for my first ride in months. Just a light, introduction back onto the dirt. Skids and wheelies! There were a couple of other lads down there with dirtbikes learning to wheelie, a pitbike and a dad teaching his son to ride. Cool.

It's not great for trials... besides a few tyres around, this whoop-like section was as gnarly as it got. But... I see potential for a wee bit o flattrackin on them plains! A bit bumpy, but should be okay. Got to get my sooper-dooper-chinese-minibike prepped and down there! Wanna get the four-fiddy down there too. No excuses now... time to start training!

AMA Flattrack 2010 - Arizona Mile

Season finale at the Arizona mile - fantastic footage again from TheFastandDirty:

Arizona Mile II from TheFastandDirty.com on Vimeo.

I hope the Ducati boys come back next year and win more!

Ice Racing Camaros

A couple of cool vids of some ice racing Chevy Camaros... awesome v8 soundtrack!

AMA Flattrack 2010 - Kawasaki Wins

A couple of short vids by TheFastandDirty on Kawasaki's brilliant 2010 season:


The Technology Behind Kawasaki's Flat Trackers from TheFastandDirty.com on Vimeo.

... and a bit about the bikes:


Monster Energy Kawasaki Flat Tracker Bryan Smith from TheFastandDirty.com on Vimeo.

... they're not giving much away!