The DTRA launched its Hooligan class at last weekend's MCN Festival, Peterborough and it was a blast. The series is sponsored by Harley-Davidson, Roland Sands Designs, Co-Built and Sideburn. The grid was healthy for race one, and a large festival crowd loved the action. Here are the runners and riders.
All the bikes were road bikes, the scene hasn't developed to US standards were most hooligan bikes only ever see the track, so most riders removed front brake levers or calipers, leaving discs or drums fitted.
The DTRA has two fellas called Ross and each is a boss. This is Ross Sharp from the Bike Shed in London and his mean Cagiva Navigator. We have to feature this soon.
James from Hard Luck Tattoo and his Sportster.
Jaz (?) and another Sportster. Alloys taped up to stop arms going through them.
It wasn't all V-twins. DTRA regular Paul Harrison rode his 750 Bonnie.
This is the Sideburn Sportster, decked out with RSD, Speed Merchant, Motone and Biltwell parts. I'd only ridden it in a car park before the first race. The weight of the thing made me nervous, but I was happy with how it lookedand how it went. Read about it in the next Sideburn.
Co-Built Geoff, Pierre-Alexandre Treust and me ready for the first heat race. Don't know how I ended up with number 1!
The big MCN Festival crowd lapped up the action. Geoff won this heat race on a borrowed £12,000 Scrambler FT Pro, then, to be a crowd-pleaser, did a big powerslide on the slowdown lap, highsided and broke his wrist. He raced on though, and marshalled all the next day. Legend.
Paul Harrison leading, me in second, Geoff high and wide!
Jon on his wife's Scrambler.
Milo on a Sportster and Pierre on an enormous BMW GS.
The Harley Hooligans.
These heavyweights have so much traction off the start.
Ross was close to unbeatable. He cleared off at the front in the final leaving me, Geoff and Paul to battle for the podium places.
Brink and his 45.
Colour-coordinated Co-Built Geoff.
I nicked third place on the last corner, when Paul and Geoff were caught up with a lapped rider. I'd done the same in a heat race, so I knew to go around the outside this time. I nearly got second on the line and had a great time, so much more fun than I thought it would be. UK hotshot, Ollie Brindley handed out the awards.
The next Hooligan race is at the Hell's Race, Belgium, then on the Friday night of Dirt Quake. G
The next Hooligan race is at the Hell's Race, Belgium, then on the Friday night of Dirt Quake. G
Photos: GI and Ian Roxburgh/Ian Osborne/DTRA