Tuesday 28 April 2015

DTRA Round 1: Leicester

This is, I think, my eighth season of UK short track racing and I was looking forward to this one more than any before. I'm not getting much better at it, while some other people are getting way better, but there is such a good crowd and atmosphere that I couldn't wait for Leicester.
That's me above in my new Icon Hypersport Stealth jacket and trousers. The jacket was lettered up by a family business in Wigan called Joyda.
Here's why I was so excited. G

(All photos: Sideburn, except the one above: Baron73)

REASON 1 - NEW RIDERS, NEW FRAMERS
The UK scene is growing like never before and there are a lot of cool bikes we've never seen before. I knew about a lot of them, but not this one. 55R is Angelo from Sinner Supply in Belgium, one of three chopper-riding Belgians who have either bought or built framers over the winter to compete. His mate 85R, David is on a self-built SR500. And there are more to come.
The last of the Belgians, who actually performed the best on the day, was Bram on his Suzuki 600. Bunch of great guys bringing even more colour and variety to the DTRA.
This is a small line-up of the DTRA's 30-strong Rookie class entry. How good do these bikes look? 77R is photographer Sam Christmas. 

REASON 2 - EXISTING RIDERS, NEW PAINT
NEW PAINT.  Existing racers getting new paint jobs. This is Leah's killer Death Spray Custom KTM.
And Ross's equally bitchin' Death Spray KTM/Rotax framer.

REASON 3 - THE VINTAGE CLASS
After a good, but steady start to the DTRA vintage class in 2014, the category has exploded and mutated. Nick Ashley has retired his Cheney Triumph for this Harley WLA. Nick designs for exclusive UK clothing company Private White VC. He races in them too.
This is Jack on his Dad's BSA Empire Star. This bike was flying until the final when it got tangled up and managed to run over poor Paul Harrison twice in the same incident. 
Another Paul looked the absolute business on his Enfield, white shirt and open-face lid. I hope he doesn't mind me saying he was so slow he couldn't catch a cold, because he was out there, doing it. Respect. And then he came off track and shoved a pie in his face to recuperate. Screw your energy drinks. Double respect!

REASON 4 - ANTHONY BROWN
If you don't know him, let me explain. He is the nicest man you'll ever meet. He organises the series, with help of a handful of other people, including Anna his other-half. He helps make Dirt Quake happen too. On Sunday he ran around like a headless chicken sorting everything, then jumped on Wilky's Triumph and won the final. Awesome! That's his dad with him, Dickie, another legend.

REASON 5 - THE VARIETY
We have hot shots like reigning champion Tim Neave - all Troy Lee'd up on the way to the playing a starring role in the most exciting final in UK history (and coming away with a broken scaphoid. Get well soon).
And, at the other end of the scale, we have Sid Snots like Milo with his pie plate on his back. 
We love them all!

REASON 6 - THE SPONSORS
The DTRA has some great sponsors including: Deus Ex Machina, DuckSmart, Nixon Watches, FTWCo, Barstow by 100% and House Industries who created the design and font for our official number plates. Oh, and Sideburn is a sponsor too.

REASON 7 - MY MECHANIC
Busy time, busy life, busy town, so it's good to spend a full boy's day out with my son. It's never the same when he can't make it. 

Next race is at Peterborough, a two-day and part of the MCN Festival of Motorcycling. There is going to be a special Transatlantic race that includes Kevin Schwantz and David Aldana and David Knight! G

10 comments:

grant said...

pie paul was slow......but he looked fresh as a daisy and was pushed out wide onto the wet stuff, if he could have had a day on his own out there i reckon he would of come good! His enfield had a lucas SR1 magneto "clever" so he must be shed clever?
dave bevan and i were impressed.
Massive respect.

Custom Made said...

What a great post. Its OK Gary you know Anthony is a robot.
Ironic that below I now have to tick a box to say I am not a robot.
Anna

ROBOT BOYS OF HOLLOWAY said...

Whole heartly agree with every thing you said . Just a shame the innocent child got held up above the air bags as the bowser came spraying past . Did he get you back ?

Drakey72 said...

Well done Anthony. Sounds like a successful day all round!

Brad said...

A great day! Really looking forward to getting on the bike for Peterborough

Brad said...

A great day! Really looking forward to getting on the bike for Peterborough

-BaRoN- said...

Perfect description of a perfect day !
Can't wait for more

Anonymous said...

I think this all goes to show what a great influence Sideburn has been for the sport that so many are getting involved. That is not taking anything away from the DTRA, who are also doing a great job, by the way. Keep up the good work.

A fan said...

Cheers Grant! Re the pork pie it was in fact a cheese roll and the bike had first outing nerves,and they should give the guy a break it was his first event!!

Sideburn Magazine said...

I'm not sure if A Fan is Paul on the Enfield, but either way, we have nothing but respect. I said it twice in the three short lines under the photo.
We don't really care how fast or slow someone is. We like the slow riders as much, if not more than the fast ones. If you're fast it's easy to turn up. If you haven't got a cat in hell's chance (like me) the motivations are different and, perhaps, more admirable.
Only someone looking for an online fight could take exception with that post.
For anyone who missed it, or chose to ignore it in the post, big respect for Paul on the Enfield! G