Classes for everything. I'm surprised there isn't a Home Economics class. I suppose this way everyone fills up their trophy shelves.

Craig Randall (in the dark shirt) is the subject of one of my all-time favourite Sideburn features (A life Less Ordinary in Sideburn 3). He got in touch to say the dirt track bug had bitten again.

'It is all settled now. I will race at Lodi in California on 21 May 2011 with my BSA B50 framer. I will ride the 60+ (age) class and the vintage class. The roll call of 60+ guys at Lodi is pretty tough. Steve McCants and I will be reincarnating the Hi Hats Motorcycle Club of Martinez, patch included, of which we were members in the 60's. My race bike is being set up now and I will forward a picture when the number plates are on.
Best, Craig'

Remember all our Vegas coverage back in January? Well Gene Romero's West Coast Flat Track Series rolls up to the legendary Lodi this Saturday night. This races attract beautiful classics and super rapid GNC stars (like Jake Johnson and the Halberts) on framers and DTX bikes chasing the dough-ray-me. You really should go. Please email us your photos if you go. GI

In an email entitled 'Unfuckingbelievable' friend of Sideburn Wayne Karcich (that's him with KR) sent this to us (last week, but we've been busy).

'You aint gonna believe this. At 47 I had a heart attack on Monday. I raced at Lodi Saturday night and felt fine. Hit the floor at work and had to have an ambulance take me to the E.R. All my friends who are this age keep asking me what it feels like. I tell them don't worry you will know when you feel it. Here's a picture from Saturday on the beast. Also, one of the master engine builder who owns it.'

I told Wayne to get well soon. He said he was already back at work. Some people don't know when to slow down.
WK and KR Photo: Randy Krumpledick

Regular SB blog geezer Wayne Karcich was looking through old posts when he found this one about a Yamaha TR1 race bike. And he wrote to ask:

'Dude! Where was this pic from? I rode this bike at Pomona last year. It's a 100 hp Yamaha, about 900cc. I'm hoping to beg a ride on it for the Stockton Ca mile race this year. It belongs to a guy named Bud Riddle.
Here's a pic of me riding the animal at Lodi and Pomona.'

Well, we don't know where it came from. Sorry, Wayne. Lovely shots of you riding though.

New third picture added, thanks to Poppa Wheelie. Shot in the paddock at Pomona.

Beautiful straps from Ivan, because you deserve it. This fella is using one. He's Robert BooBoo Scally at Lodi on a Triumph 750, Do you want to look this good?

- designed by a racer and built to last
- highly abrasion resistant
- 450-deg. F melting point
- 44" heavy duty mil-spec flat webbing
- double (4) nickel-plated bullnose D-rings
- Kevlar thread stitched one at a time
- snugs to boot first, then around ankle.
- no more cheap dog collars or sticky duct tape
- any color you want as long as it's black
- $19 each mailed anywhere in USA, world $30
- I accept Paypal
- email: oldskool_alloy@yahoo.com

Photography courtesy of David Bickel

It's amazing for us to think Sideburn got people motivated to start racing again. This email means a lot...

My brother and I started racing flattrack when we were teenagers. We grew up near Santa Cruz CA which is a coastal community south of San Francisco. We would make the trek on weekends to Lodi and nearby Central Valley tracks to race in the late 70's and early 80's. For us it was like going to another world. From the hippie California culture to middle America circa 1963 (with a dash of dust bowl Okie) in about two hours. I mean that with the greatest affection. There was such a racer's spirit and camaraderie there. We made life long friends with many of the people we met.
Your piece about Lodi and the vibe there was spot on. We were totally blown away that you guys in the UK could look at a bunch of old Lodi pics and just nail the Lodi/club racer flattrack experience on the head like that. I had not been there for years and your article actually spurred me to go back.
I have a modest collection of vintage flattrack bikes and will send a pic or two and a bit of info soon. Thanks again for creating your magazine.
Chris

To read the article about Lodi buy Sideburn 1

At Lodi Cycle Bowl, 1982. Dad spanners Chris's Rotax stroker. I'm going to ride at Lodi one day. Mark my words. Nice van in the background. GI

Great shots of Sideburn readers in action.
Our buddy Ivan of Old Skool Alloy, California says:
"Here's a shot of my friend Chris Rudy on his Harley XLR at last Saturday's Lodi Cycle Bowl TT races. And I'm the other photo - the guy who looks slow. We both came home with Second Place trophies tho"
Photos by Dave Bickel.