DTRA MAGAZINE ISSUE #02 WWW.DIRTTRACKRIDERS.CO.UK
# #02 02
CONTENTS 09 12 30 34 58 66 70 88 102 112 126 144 150 154
Intro
DTRA 2015 Round One
Twin Picks: Boddy Brothers DTRA 2015 Round Two Leah Tokelove Pete Boast’s Five Tips DTRA 2015 Round Three Racin’ Rookies Dave Aldana Photographer’s Profile: Sam Christmas DTRA Gallery Deus Ex Machina Parting Shot DTRA 2015 Riders List
ON THE COVER: Kevin Schwantz #34 leading US teammate Dave Aldana #13 at the MCN Flat Track Trans-Atlantic Trophy in Peterborough PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA Magazine Issue #02 RH: Anthony Brown Editor: Ian Osborne Design: Ian Roxburgh Photographers: Ian Roxburgh, Ian Osborne Contributors: Anthony Brown, Anna Butler, Peter Boast, Sam Christmas Race poster designer: Ryan Quickfall Race cat: S P Lodge
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KEVIN SCHWANTZ AND DAVE ALDANA AT THE MCN FLAT TRACK TRANS-ATLANTIC TROPHY AT PETERBOROUGH PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
INTRO I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the 2015 DTRA season. And what a year it has been so far. Round one saw record numbers and it was wonderful to see so many new faces joining the DTRA family for some flat track fun. We’ve loved having you along and spoke to some of the first time racers after round one to see what they thought in our Racin’ Rookies feature on page 88. We’ve even seen a few familiar faces return after hanging up their boots for a few years.
Round three saw the whole flat track circus move to Eastbourne where the racing was far from geriatric. Plus we had the addition of American visitors Julian Heppekausen and Nevin Pontious from Deus Ex Machina. Not only did they pull on their leathers and race, but performed well with Nevin winning the Minibike Class. We caught up with the Deus boys post-race to chat about their experience and to find out more about the big ‘D’ (page 144).
It’s not just the racers that have shown an interest with more media and photographers showing their desire for the sport. One photographer, who is also a familiar face in the Rookie Class, is Sam Christmas. As a professional photographer Sam sees things a little differently to most and he shows us his top five DTRA shots from the last couple of seasons (page 112).
Along with all of this we hear what it’s like to be a female racer in a predominantly male sport. Leah Tokelove, who has been showing the boys a thing or two during her three years of flat track racing, explains all on page 58. Plus Pete Boast is back with his handy tips to help you dial your bike in ready for action (page 68). Enjoy the newsletter and we look forward to seeing you at the next race.
Round two of the DTRA series, which was held in conjunction with the Motorcycle News festival at Peterborough, saw more top class race action. Plus there was the addition of the TransAtlantic Trophy with American visitors Dave Aldana, Kevin Schwantz and Jay Maloney. We have all the action starting on page 34. We also managed to grab a few words with Dave Aldana (page 102).
Anthony Brown
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DTRA ROUND 1 26 April 2015 VenuE: Leicester Speedway DATE:
Round one of the 2015 DTRA (Dirt Track Riders Association) race series kicked off in style at Leicester Speedway on April 27. Sunshine and a well-groomed track provided the perfect start to the season. With a record number of race entries the 2015 series looked like it would be more competitive than ever before. And it didn’t disappoint! PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA ROUND 1
AIDAN COLLINS #90 AND TOM NEAVE #68 BATTLE IT OUT PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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Pro Class The Pro Class offered some amazing racing throughout the heats but delivered a final of epic proportion. From the green light it was 2013 DTRA champion Aidan Collins who showed his experience as he blasted into the lead. He controlled the race for the first half with twin brothers Tom and Tim Neave chasing hard in second and third. It looked like Collins had it sorted but then the Neave brothers kicked it up a gear as 2014 DTRA champion Tim found his way underneath to move into the lead. Collins seemed to lose focus after this and Tom cashed in on this opportunity to move into second. Soon he was followed by a fast moving Oliver Brindley who did the same to move into third. With just a lap and half to go the Neave brothers were fighting hard for the win when they clipped wheels. This sent Tim hurtling into the dirt. Luckily, he walked away but not without sustaining several injuries that would put him out of round two. As a result the red flags were raised and the race stopped. Current positions were awarded with Tom Neave taking top honours, Brindley second and Collins third.
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DTRA ROUND 1
Vintage Class The Vintage Class was a lesson in classy racing as Anthony Brown stormed into the first turn with a dominating lead. He used his years of experience to stay ahead and take the win. Guy Sutherland chased hard for a well-deserved second with Paul Harrison rounding out the podium.
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ANTHONY BROWN #47 AND NICK ASHLEY #59R
PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA ROUND 1
Thunderbike Class Dave Chadburn dominated the Thunderbike Class in 2014 and returned to racing in 2015 in fine form as he blasted into the lead. He raced smartly to grab the win with Neil Martin taking second. Behind, the battle for third was close with Ross Herrod edging out a fast chasing Geoff Cain for the final podium spot. 18 I DTRA MAGAZINE
DAVE CHADBURN #36R
PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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ROSS HERROD #52R PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA ROUND 1
Restricted Class In the Restricted Class birthday boy Ross Herrod came out in front following a huge first turn battle. After this he pulled away in dominating fashion for the win. Behind, the battle for second saw Scott Faulkner and Gary Birtwhistle duking it out. Unfortunately, Birtwhistle lost the war after he ended up on the ground, leaving Faulker to take second with Christophe Decombard snatching third.
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MARK WALKER #99R PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA ROUND 1
Rookie Class The Rookie Class saw lots of new riders for the 2015 season including racers from France and Belgium. Mark Walker had to work his way to the front but his efforts paid off as he pulled away for victory. Sean Kelly rode well for second with Andrew Smith third.
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DTRA ROUND 1
Minibike Class The Minibike Class saw Leah Tokelove ride with style and class as she took a well-earned victory against the men. The battle for second and third saw some top racing between Freddie Hales and Robert Neave. Hales managed to stay ahead for second with Neave third.
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LEAH TOKELOVE #37R PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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STORM STACEY #79 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA ROUND 1
Youth Senior Class In the Youth Senior Class all eyes were on 2014 champion Skye Adams. She didn’t disappoint as she moved into an early lead with Toby Hales chasing in second. Unfortunately for Adams, Hales made the pass to move into the lead and take the win. Adams held strong for second with Connor Jackson third.
Youth Intermediate Class Storm Stacey showed the rest of the Intermediate Class a clean set of wheels as he blasted to the win. Joe Burden fought hard to finish second with Kier Armstrong completing the podium.
Youth Junior Class While he might be the only rider in the class, Leon Collier, continues to show promise and improves with every race we see him at.
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#57 JOHN BODDY
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Day job? Engineer. Years racing? I started when I was 52 and I’ve been racing three years. Why did you start dirt track riding? The camaraderie. There’s such a good close-knit group of friends who help each other out. What aspect of the racing do you enjoy the most? I’d say winning but I don’t do any (laughs). I think it’s the taking part because you find your own level and others who race at that level, so you always have someone to race. There are always races within races, especially in the Vintage Class. Best result? I got a third at Scunthorpe. Only three of us turned up and I even broke down in the final, but the way the system worked I still got the third. I fluked my best result (laughs). Worst crash? I ripped a fingernail off at Rye House when I caught my hand between the handlebar and the ground. Who’s your biggest influence? I love watching the Neave twins race and I’m amazed with the way Oli Brindley has come through. I was impressed with Dave Aldana after meeting him. He’s had such a long pro career
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Brothers John and James Boddy from track scene. They have been racing th where John races in the Vintage Clas with the ‘Death or Glory’ saddle, whil They both work in the world of engine business at each round. While the be classes they are true racers who co dedicated. The Boddy brothers are epitomise what flat tra
PHOTOS: IAN
yet he’s still keen as mustard. He’s not like some pro racers and isn’t jaded or cynical. I liked the fact he was happy walking around the pits chatting to everyone like a club racer. He came across as more genuine than most professionals who’ve had a career like his. I’d say he’s inspirational. What do you aspire to achieve in the sport? To continue racing as long as possible. What’s your craziest travelling experience? A deer on the motorway attacked us and it ripped the back bumper off. Some other lads who race with us were travelling behind and nearly hit the flying deer. Pre-race ritual? We always have bananas, flavoured water and Hobnobs. They have to be the original Hobnobs not chocolate. That is our ritual and we don’t eat or drink anything else. I used to have a lucky T-shirt from 1991. I’ve done track days and single cylinder racing in the past and I always wore that lucky T-shirt whatever riding I was doing. In 2013 it just fell to bits and from that day on I have always worn a different T-shirt to every event I’ve been to. I never wear the same T-shirt twice. What do you do outside of the sport? I have grandkids and I like to do the vintage motorbike festivals with track days. Along with flat track there’s not much time for anything else.
Hull are stalwarts on the British flat he DTRA series for the last three years ss on his infamous 750 Triumph twin le James competes with the Rookies. eering and quietly go about their race earded duo may not be winning their ompete within them and are no less e true characters of the sport and ack racing is all about.
N ROXBURGH
Day job? Welder by day and aspiring photographer in my spare time. Years racing? This is my third year with the DTRA. Before this I did some beach racing and Moped Mayhem racing. Why did you start dirt track riding? It looked like fun. What aspect of the racing do you enjoy the most? The people and the social side of it. It’s such a good crowd of people who race the flat track series. Best result? Strong midfield (laughs). Worst crash? That was at Scunthorpe. It happened in turn one when I lost the front wheel and went down. Then someone went over the top of me. Luckily, I came out of it without anything broken. Who’s your biggest influence? I don’t really have one. I like to think I’m my own man. It was good seeing Dave Aldana at Peterborough. That left me with a slack jaw (laughs). I am also impressed with Pete Boast. He’s such a good rider and knows so much about the sport.
#56JIM BODDY R
What do you aspire to achieve in the sport? Longevity. I’m approaching 50 and I just want to do it for as long as possible. I’ll keep doing it until I can’t. What’s your craziest travelling experience? We don’t have much craziness. Me and my brother are quite puritanical. One time on the way home we hit a deer on the motorway that jumped out from the central reservation. It clipped the back of the van but didn’t do much damage to us. We wiped it out no two ways about it. We were shook-up after that and didn’t take any pleasure from it. It took the bumper off. Pre-race ritual? I have tried hanging around the pits chatting and being social but that doesn’t work for me. I need to go and find a quiet spot to get myself fired up and angry to race. I wander off and go into a little chuff - it’s my energy and drive for the race. What do you do outside of the sport? I like taking pictures and photography. I like shooting the racing. Outside of this I want to avoid categorisation and I take what I like when I see it. I have no plan. I see a shot and bang. D
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2
DTRA
ROUND DATE:
16-17 May 2015 VENUE:
Peterborough Speedway Round two of the 2015 DTRA (Dirt Track Riders Association) race series moved to Peterborough Speedway for a special two-day event at the MCN Festival of Motorcycling. Not only did this event feature two days of hard fought flat track action, but also included the TransAtlantic Trophy with Britain’s best taking on some legends of the sport from the USA. Visiting riders included Dave Aldana, Kevin Schwantz and Jay Maloney. Sunshine and a well-groomed track provided the perfect setting for an amazing weekend of dirt track racing. PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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THE MCN FLAT TRACK TRANS-ATLANTIC TROPHY
PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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THE FLAT TRACK TRANS-ATLANTIC TROPHY RIDERS PROCESSION BEFORE EACH RACE SESSION PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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MCN FLAT TRACK TRANSATLAN TIC TROPHY The MCN Flat Track Trans-Atlantic Trophy was made up of four rounds all with heats and finals. Each race featured 10 riders racing 12 laps. In round one it was good news for Team GB as they took the top three spots. Oliver Brindley blew the doors off the competition with Tim Neave taking second and Aidan Collins third. Round two saw Team US take the win with Jay Maloney moving into the lead after Alan Birtwistle, who was representing the US over the weekend, had issues with his bike cutting out in the final turn. Team GB’s Brindley and Collins took second and third respectively.
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MCN FLAT TRACK TRANSATLAN TIC TROPHY Round three saw Team GB’s Aidan Collins lead from the start only to be caught napping in the final turn when Jay Maloney snuck through for a US win. Collins held on for second with GB teammate Oliver Brindley coming home third. In the fourth and final round Alan Birtwistle got a flying start to move into the lead. He held off Brindley who took second with Maloney third. At the end of the four amazing rounds it was close, but Team GB edged the USA for the win with 226 points over 220. One of the best things about the whole event was watching the classic riding styles of US old school racers Dave Aldana and Kevin Schwantz.
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ROUND
THE MCN FLAT TRACK TRANS-ATLANTIC TROPHY FIRST CORNER ACTION WITH AIDAN COLLINS #90 OUT FRONT, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY JAY MALONEY #12 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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AIDAN COLLINS #90 ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP STEP OF THE PRO CLASS PHOTO: IAN OSBORNE
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PRO CLASS The Pro Class final delivered fast and furious action as Aidan Collins got the holeshot ahead of Oliver Brindley and Alan Birtwistle. Collins looked solid but Brindley pushed hard trying to find a way through. Behind, Tim Neave passed Birtwistle to move into third and the pair continued to fight all the way to the line. At the front Collins held strong for the win, with Brindley second and Neave held off Birtwistle for third.
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VINTAGE CLASS The Vintage Class final saw Paul Harrison take the early lead followed by Frank Chatokhine and Anthony Brown. Behind, Guy Sutherland started to work his way through as he moved into second. It was a closely fought race but Sutherland managed to get to the front and take the win. Chatokhine showed his usual race swagger for second with Harrison rounding out the podium.
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ROUND
GUY SUTHERLAND #97, PAUL HARRISON #4R, FRANK CHATOKHINE #5R AND ANTHONY BROWN #47 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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ROUND
GEOFF CAIN #45 LEADING GEORGE PICKERING #38 AND TOM CLEMANS #42 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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THUNDERBIKE CLASS The Thunderbike Class was stopped after a crash put Guy Sutherland and Dave Chadburn on the floor and out of the race. The restart saw Geoff Cain blast to the front in a dominant fashion. Behind, George Pickering chased hard and was constantly looking for a way past. In doing so he left the door open at the wrong moment which allowed Tom Clemans to move into second. While this was happening Cain kept the gas on and rode to victory. Clemans held on to second with Pickering third.
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RESTRICTED CLASS In the Restricted Class final Conor Bolsover led from the start. Gary Birtwistle pushed hard in second with Ross Herrod in third. Bolsover rode well and kept the doors closed on Birtwhistle, who despite his best efforts, had to settle for second. Herrod cruised home unchallenged in third.
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CONOR BOLSOVER #79R HAVING A GREAT DAY IN THE RESTRICTED CLASS PHOTO: IAN OSBORNE
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ROUND
DANIEL KAFKA #46R ON HIS WAY TO HIS MAIDEN WIN IN THE ROOKIE CLASS PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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ROOKIE CLASS Once again the Rookie Class saw more riders than ever before. Daniel Kafka shined as he blasted to the win. Richard Rowden rode well for second with Andrew Murphy completing the podium line-up.
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ROUND
MINIBIKE CLASS The Minibike Class saw Leah Tokelove grab the holeshot and lead from the first turn. Alfie Collett chased hard in second and the two pulled away from their competition. Geoff Cain sat in third but was passed by Robert Neave as the race progressed. With just one lap to go Collett managed to make the pass to take the win. Tokelove held strong for second with Neave third.
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LEAH TOKELOVE #37 LEADING THE MINI BIKE CLASS PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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ROUND
SKYE ADAMS #76 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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YOUTH SENIOR CLASS Skye Adams was in dominant form in the Youth Senior Class as she led the way. Toby Hales moved into second with Ben Neave third. Adams opened up a gap and took the win. Hales rode a smart race to second with Neave third.
YOUTH INTERMEDIATE CLASS The Youth Intermediate Class saw Storm Stacey ride well to take his second win of the season. George Hopper put in a strong effort for second with Joe Burden rounding out the podium.
YOUTH CLASS The Youth Junior Class saw Leon Collier put in another great performance riding with style and skill beyond his years.
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DASH FOR CASH WITH TIM NEAVE #1 TAKING THE HOLESHOT PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DASH FOR CASH The one off Dash for Cash race, with £500 up for grabs for the top three, attracted a large field. The final saw Tim Neave, Alan Birtwistle and Oliver Brindley lead the charge. Neave was on fire but Brindley was hot on his tail. The pair pulled away from their competitors eventually catching and passing the back markers, which only added to the drama. This time the 16-year-old was unable to find a gap and had to settle for second leaving Neave to take the £250 winner’s prize. The battle for third was hard fought with Jay Maloney managing to pass Birtwhistle for the final cash slot.
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INTERVIEW
Off the bike 17-year-old Leah Tokelove is like any other teenager. At weekends she pulls on her leathers and everything changes as she transforms into racer mode. In flat track the girls race directly against the boys and this easy-going pretty teen turns into an aggressive racing machine. Racing in both the Restricted and Minibike classes Tokelove has come a long way as she moves into her third season of racing with the DTRA. This youngster has not only shown maturity in her racing but has given back to the sport by organising a women’s only race day to encourage other females into flat track racing. We caught up with the easygoing and ever-smiling speedster to find out more. 58 I DTRA MAGAZINE
PHOTO: IAN OSBORNE
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HOW DID YOU END UP RIDING MOTORCYCLES AND WHEN DID IT ALL START? I’ve had motorbikes since I was about five years old. We just used to mess about off-road and not ride seriously. My first bike was a PW50. When I was 11 I started riding our Kawasaki 110. After a good summer of riding when I was 13 my dad suggested beach racing and I went along to Mablethorpe. My dad sorted out a Suzuki 85cc for me to race on. My dad did beach racing when he was younger so it seemed right. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN RACING DTRA FLAT TRACK? This is my third season now. My first season was in the Youth Senior Class in 2013. HOW WAS YOUR FIRST DTRA RACE? I started racing when the DTRA took over the series from Peter Boast. I raced with Oliver Brindley, Aaron Silvester, Callum Willey and Flynn Scott. It was pretty daunting because I was on a 125cc because we hadn’t
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got a 250cc sorted when I started. I ended up loving it and have been racing flat track ever since. WHICH RESULTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY? This season I would say my Minibike Class results. I’ve been getting on well with that and making some good progress. At round three in Eastbourne I was happy with my results on the 350cc in the Restricted Class. I got two seconds in my heats. I didn’t have a great third heat or final but I was happy to have two good races. BEST RESULT EVER FOR YOU? My best result ever was last year at the last race of the season at Rye House Speedway. I got a first in all my heats and that was my proudest moment. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK AND WHY? I am fond of Greenfield Dirt Track at George’s (Pickering) house. On the race calendar I like Rye House. With the straights being shorter I do better
PHOTOS: IAN ROXBURGH
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INTERVIEW
“It’s exciting but to be honest it no longer feels like I’m racing the boys as such. I’m just racing.” there because I’m riding a smaller bike than most of the others. I also do well in the corners and tend to lose them less on the straights on shorter tracks. WHAT’S IT LIKE RACING THE BOYS? It’s exciting but to be honest it no longer feels like I’m racing the boys as such. I’m just racing. I feel like another racer and don’t separate myself. I go and ride with a bunch of friends. No one ever lets me through or offers me the win because I’m a girl. DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I’m not sure. I like wet tracks, especially when it rains. I can normally hold it well when it’s like that. My style can be a little sketchy but generally I’d say it’s smooth and consistent. I think my exits of the corners are a strong point. WHO DOES ALL THE WORK ON YOUR BIKE? Mostly my Dad and Uncle. I try to help but they’re pretty obsessive about it and everything has to be just right (laughs). I help with cleaning and I
always watch them working on it. I try to help as much as I can and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG RACERS WHO ARE STARTING OUT? Whether you’re a boy or girl it’s worth coming along to one of the practice days to get some riding time. Then once you’ve done that first race you’re going to be hooked. If you’re thinking about racing then just come and give it a go. It’s a really friendly sport. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN RACING THIS YEAR? I’d like to achieve a top five finish. It might not be achievable but I feel I’m starting to ride better than earlier in the season. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK ABOUT YOUR RACING? My close friends love it. They sometimes come to watch me beach racing. Sometimes I used to get the p*ss taken out of me at school by the boys and even got called a d*ke for a bit. I usually just tell them to come and WWW.DIRTTRACKRIDERS.CO.UK I 61
PHOTOS: IAN ROXBURGH watch me race or ask them to give it a go and see how they do. It’s not a problem. People understand it better now. WHAT DO YOUR TEACHERS THINK ABOUT YOUR RACING? My school have been extremely supportive of my racing. I have to thank my head teacher Mrs Payne. She constantly shows an interest in my racing and helps with any time off that I might need. DOES YOUR BOYFRIEND GEORGE, WHO RACES IN THE THUNDERBIKE CLASS, GET UPSET IF YOU BEAT HIM IN PRACTICE? Sometimes when we race each other practising. I think when he raced the Minibike Class at Peterborough he thought he’d walk it and beat me easily. I think he was a little surprised when that didn’t happen. It’s good to practise riding with him. I’m trying to race a little more aggressively and I don’t mind doing that with George because he can take it (laughs).
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR LADIES DAY? After the success of the ladies only race at Dirt Quake in 2014 and the number females showing interest it seemed like a good idea. Some girls are intimidated by racing and this is a great way of introducing them to the sport. I spoke to Anthony and Anna from the DTRA and we set the day for July 4 at Rye House Speedway. It was all day and we had 20 rider slots so we could give everyone the focus they need. We started with minibikes to build confidence and technique before offering the chance of riding something bigger. It provided an environment where women weren’t afraid to give it a go or ask questions without feeling silly in front of men. I hope everyone took something from the day. We had special number boards for the event from House Industries that everyone took home as a memento.
NAME: Leah Tokelove AGE: 17 FROM: Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire DAY JOB: At school doing first year of A levels BIKES: KTM SXF350 for Restricted Class racing and a 150cc special built
by Paul Scott for the Minibike Class SPONSORS: Death Spray Custom with the 350. He’s helped with leathers,
protection, motocross gear and boots. Dave from Death Spray Customs has been amazing this season and has given me incredible graphics on my bike. Everyone complements them. I am also sponsored by M-Tech tuning who help me out a lot with the bikes. And of course my mum, dad and my uncle. I couldn’t do it without them. They’re big sponsors. D
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5 BOASTIE
Top Tips with
#54
Peter Boast is the godfather of dirt track racing in the UK and started the UK short track race series in 2005. He’s won multiple championships and currently rides for Team Suzuki in the UK and Europe. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding all things motorbike and dirt track racing. PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
Top Tip #1. Gear Set-Up The aim is to race around a short track oval in one gear. That gear needs to give you enough punch out of the corners yet be fast enough to give you speed at the end of the straight. I have noticed some of the Rookie Class run their bikes at such low revs that their back wheel spins violently and out of control. If the bike is in the higher rev range then the slide is easier to control coming out of the corner. There has to be a compromise because you don’t want the engine topping out way before the corner and losing speed at the end of the straight. Regardless of the level you race at it’s important to have a handful of rear sprockets and a couple of fronts because all of the tracks are different, and the surface can change throughout the day. For example at DTRA round three at Eastbourne I changed my gearing several times. This was the same for Oli Brindley, the Neave twins and Aidan Collins. It’s important to get used to changes in gearing, even if they’re wrong, to develop your knowledge.
Top Tip #2. Gear Ratios It’s important to know that different bikes, whether it’s a Suzuki or a Honda, will have different gear ratios. This means you can’t just put the same gearing on as the bloke next to you and expect it to ride the same. If it’s someone with the same bike from the same year it might be comparable but always take this into consideration. You might want to gear your bike for second which tends to be a shorter ratio. This is better for getting off the line and punching out the corner, but not so good for the straights. If you gear your bike for third then that should be a longer ratio. This could work better on the straights and still be okay for corners, but it might mean you need to do a second gear start.
Top Tip #3. Rear Wheelbase This makes a big difference on how the bike grips coming out of the corner. If you run your rear wheel towards the end of your chainstay this will help to keep the bike more stable. The trade-off is less grip because the rear wheel is further away from weight of the rider. Bringing the rear wheel forwards to shorten the wheelbase it will be a little unstable but will help with drive out of the corners. I keep a box of chain links from one to three links so it can be changed accordingly at the meeting.
Top Tip #4. Tyre Cutting This is a black art. Most riders will pick their own cut for the track. The basic rule is that if the track is looking like a roadway, like Scunthorpe can be at times, then you don’t need to cut your tyres because the more rubber the better. Conversely, on a course like Amman Valley, which is a deep limestone track, a deep cut tyre will work best.
Top Tip #5. Tyre Pressure Maxxis DTR’s seem to work best in the 12 - 20psi range. If the track is wet or a bit slimy then it’s better to run lower pressures because this allows the tyre to spread more for extra traction. When a track is firm with plenty of grip then you can go with higher tyre pressures for a faster and firmer feel. This also helps to stop the tyre over-heating. D
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DTRA
ROUND DATE:
13 June 2015 VENUE:
Eastbourne Speedway Round three of the 2015 DTRA race series saw another amazing weekend of flat track racing. Adding to the action from the USA were Nevin Pontious and Julian Heppekausen from Deus Ex Machina. With the rain holding off the fast and dusty Eastbourne track provided some epic race day action.
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GEOFF CAIN #45 WITH HIS TITANIUM WELLIE SPAKING WITH TOM CLEMANS #42 IN HOT PURSUIT PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA
ROUND
THE FIRST CORNER OF THE PRO FINAL WITH AIDAN COLLINS #90, OLIVER BRINDLEY #24, TIM NEAVE #1 AND ALAN BIRTWISTLE #30 ALL IN THE FRONT ROW SEATS PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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Pro Class The Pro Class provided some amazing racing throughout the day and it was a tough call come final time. Oliver Brindley, who is just 16, got the holeshot from his inside starting position and led the way into the first turn. The older and more experienced Aidan Collins went hard on the outside and managed to pass Brindley to move into the lead. Collins was on fire and powered ahead. The battle continued as Alan Birtwistle tried to get the jump on Brindley. The youngster was having none of it and raced ahead. Behind, round one winner Tim Neave was fighting his way through and passed Birtwistle to move into third. Out in front Collins delivered a textbook performance to take the win with Brindley second. After a hard fought battle Neave took the final spot on the podium.
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DTRA
ROUND Vintage Class The Vintage Class provided some of the best racing of the day with Anthony Brown taking an early lead ahead of Derek Brindley and Guy Sutherland. Brindley passed Brown to move into the lead with Sutherland third. Then Sutherland opened it up passing both Brown and Brindley to take the lead and the win. Behind, Brown managed to pass Brindley in the final lap swapping their podium spots in the final seconds of the race.
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ANTHONY BROWN #47, DEREK BRINDLEY #25 AND GUY SUTHERLAND #97 HAVING A GREAT BATTLE DOWN TO THE WIRE
PHOTOS: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA
ROUND
GEORGE PICKERING #38 LEADS THEM OUT IN THE FINAL PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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Thunderbike Class The Thunderbike Class saw George Pickering lead the way ahead of round two winner Geoff Cain. Pickering pulled away from his race nemesis for a classy win. Cain rode well for second while Tom Clemans managed to move through to finish third
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Restricted Class In the Restricted Class Ross Herrod was in fine form once again despite a weekend of mishaps and illness. He moved into the lead and pulled away from his competition to take a classy win. Behind, Scott Faulkner rode like a demon for a welldeserved second with Christoph Decombard edging out Sideburn’s Gary Inman for third.
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RESTRICTED CLASS WINNER ROSS HERROD #52
PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA
ROUND
TOM HERMAN #20R GOT THE HOLESHOT AND THE WIN PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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Rookie Class Rookie Class racing always provides some seat of the pants action and it didn’t disappoint at round three. Michael Herman moved into the lead with Andrew Smith second and Peter Jordan third. Jordan found a way through into second with a great battle going on for third. Herman rode well for the win with Jordan second and Sean Kelly riding into third.
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DTRA
ROUND Minibike Class In the Minibike Class Leah Tokelove led the way in dominant fashion but it wasn’t to be her day as her bike cut out. This left the door open for US visitor Nevin Pontious to take the win. Tokelove managed to take second based on points with Adam Lovesey third.
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NEVIN PONTIUS #7 PASSING ROBERT ALGAIER #69 ON HIS WAY TO A MINIBIKE WIN PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DTRA
ROUND
Youth Senior Class The Youth Senior Class saw Toby Hales racing in a dominant fashion as he blasted to the win. Ben Neave rode consistently for second with Jordan Lee Miller third.
TOBY HALES #20, SKYE ADAMS #76 AND JORDAN LEE MILLER #19 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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Youth Intermediate Class In the Youth Intermediate Class final Joe Burden rode his way to the win with Kier Armstrong second and Jack Bell third.
Youth Junior Class Leon Collier took the win in the Youth Junior Class and continues to show style and panache.
JOE BURDEN #58 MAKES A PASS ON KIER ARMSTRONG #17 PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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The DTRA has been steadily growing and the Rookie Class is bigger than ever. We thought we’d catch up with a few first timers at round one of the series to find out more about their experience and whether they’d be coming back to race again. This seems like a long time ago now, and after only a few races these guys are no longer newbie’s but a firm part of the DTRA flat track family. Welcome!
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PAUL MURRELLR #60
Paul Murrell #60R Luton, UK Why flat track?
I was brought home from the hospital in a sidecar, passed my test in 1970 and started racing motorcycles in 1975. I have raced most disciplines including road racing, trials and motocross, so thought it was time to give this a go.
Bike raced? 350 Indian.
How was your experience today? It was hectic but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What would you do differently? With regard to the bike it needs to be geared down. I need to do a bit more preparation and arrive early.
Will you race again?
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Yes.
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Bram De Roeck #62R Antwerp, Belgium
BRAM DE ROEK R #62
Why flat track? I have been following flat track for a few years now and checking out the US racing on the Internet. I love it. Then we attended Dirt Quake last year and that did it for me. I was hooked and went home to build a bike.
How was your experience today? In the beginning I was all over the place and kind of wobbly. The second heat was better and the third good. I messed up in the final because I was too eager. I learned a lot today, especially watching the good guys race.
Bike raced? Suzuki DR400 from 1980. It’s an old MX dirt bike I have customised to work for flat track.
What would you do differently? I will change the set up of the bike. I will lower it a little. In the race I am going to work on my lines.
Will you race again?
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PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
Yes!
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PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
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DAVID VAN PARIJS R #85
How was your experience today? I thought it would be better. I was all over the place. I have to work on my skills (laughs).
What would you do differently? David Van Parijs #35R Roeselare, Belgium
I need to ride more, but we don’t have a track in Belgium which is frustrating.
Why flat track?
Will you race again?
I competed in Dirt Quake last year and was stoked to finish second. Then Bram told me he was racing DTRA round one so I had to get a bike together.
Definitely.
Bike raced? It was built around an XT engine and old frame I had. I did it in eight weeks.
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Angelo Van Zele #55R Lokeren, Belgium Why flat track? I watched a lot of flat track on the Internet and it looked so exciting. My friends and I kept talking about it. We made each other crazy about going to build a bike and racing it.
Bike raced? Star Racer frame with a KTM 520 engine in it.
ANGELO VAN ZELE R #55 How was your experience today? Super exciting! I am hooked for sure.
What would you do differently? I got excited a lot today and I need to contain that. I was going well and super happy for my first race. I have to sort a few things out on the bike. I will try to relax and ride smoother. I’m happy with what I achieved.
Will you race again?
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PHOTO: IAN ROXBURGH
Yes. I will miss Peterborough because I have a chopper meeting of my own going on but I will be at Eastbourne.
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JÉREMY DECOMBARDR #17 Jéremy Decombard #17R St. Georges sur Eure, France Why flat track?
It’s fast and fun on motorcycles.
How was your experience today?
Bike raced?
It was good. I loved racing and sliding the bike in the corners. It was so much fun. I can’t wait until the next race.
Husqvarna.
What would you do differently? Try to race faster and choose a few better lines.
Will you race again?
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PHOTO: IAN OSBORNE
Yes, of course!
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Come ride Dirt Track with me at the Noyes Camp in Motorland, Aragon. Experience the thrill and learn the technique or rear wheel steering our oval and TT tracks with a steel shoe stepped on your left boot. We have a bunch of KLX 140s, full riding gear, five different tracks and several different schools and race day options to choose from. See you at the Dirt Tracks!
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DAVE ALDANA DAVE
ALDANA Dave Aldana from the USA is one of the legends of motorcycle racing. This friendly yet colourful character has competed in all forms of motorcycle racing throughout his career. His do or die style on the dirt oval circuits won him fans the world over and cemented his name in history. His flamboyant style on and off the bike caught the eye of Bruce Brown, who featured Aldana in legendary motorcycle movie On Any Sunday. He later moved onto a successful road racing career in the glory days of motorcycle racing competing with the likes of Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts. In the 90s he quit racing professionally but the racing world was lucky enough to see his return 15 years later. Number 13 may be a little older but he still rides with his classic style that turn heads wherever he races. And best of all he does it wearing his infamous skeleton race leathers. ALL PHOTOS: IAN ROXBURGH
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How did motorcycles come into your life? I had an uncle who tuned for a professional racer and he got my father interested in motorcycles. I was introduced to motorcycles because my father would take me to watch the motorcycle races. At the time I was more interested in going off hiking in the woods looking for snakes and turtles. I didn’t pay much attention to the motorcycles at first. Then at 14 my father bought me an 80cc Suzuki and I started riding. I took the lights and stuff off it because you couldn’t buy dirt ready bikes back then. I raced two or three scramble events a year. When I started high school my father bought me a van and I started taking myself to races. Did you start racing more at this point? I had a part-time job in a motorcycle shop and was racing about four times a week. This was scramble racing. There weren’t any berms so I learned how to slide around the corners. This caught the attention of Ossa who decided to sponsor me. They gave some motocross bikes and we converted them in to dirt track bikes. I then got sponsored by BSA for dirt track racing but used the Ossa bikes for scrambles and motocross style racing. Tell us about your hook up with BSA? I was riding a BSA B25 and this happened in 1968 when I was 18. I raced as an amateur and BSA paid me to travel around the country racing. Back then I was going as fast as the experts as an amateur. When I turned expert I learned I could race as fast as them but I needed to do this every single lap. As an amateur I would usually get the lead and just cruise, but this wasn’t the case in the experts with 18 guys breathing down your neck the whole race. Weren’t you Rookie of the Year around this time? I was Rookie of the Year in 1970 and this was also the time I was involved in Bruce Brown’s film On Any Sunday. I can see, even 40 years later, how that film kept my name in the public eye. On Any Sunday must have had a huge impact? It did and still does. People still come up to me today and talk about it. I think some of them still expect me to be 20 years old and ride like I did back then. That’s so far from the reality (laughs). Who else did you ride for throughout your career on the dirt? After BSA I went on to ride for Norton and then I rode for Harley Davidson a little bit. Back in the day we used to race all types of motorcycle events whether it was dirt track, motocross, road racing, short track or the mile. When the Japanese got involved with road racing things became more professional and the money came in. As a professional I had to go where the money was. I started road racing far more. I did local dirt track races alongside this but didn’t travel the circuit like I had in the past.
Things you might not know about Dave Aldana #1 “Barry Sheene was best man at my wedding. We were teammates on several teams and got along so well. There are so many off the record stories that I will have to save for another time. Barry was a big star and he could always talk his way out of anything. The only time he had to pay a speeding ticket was when he came over for my wedding. The cop didn’t know who Barry was and I think it was the only time he didn’t talk his way out of something. He was a true character and good friend.”
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Things you might not know about Dave Aldana #2 “Before I raced motorcycles I used to race slot cars – like your Scalextric. I had a paper round to pay for the little engines and new tyres. We raced against factory teams when I was 13. I was always yelled at because I used to talk too much when we were racing. It used to psyche people out when I would tell them that I was coming for them. I would upset people and they’d crash. We even did a 24-hour race for a lousy four-inch trophy (laughs). We even had lights on those cars. I remember being so stoked when I got my first motorcycle trophy for coming third. That thing was nearly as big as me. After getting that trophy for motorcycle riding I never raced slot cars again.”
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How was the road circuit? I was lucky in that I got to race with the best in the sport and travelled the world doing it. I rode for Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki during my race career on the road. I was always a free agent and would prostitute myself to the highest bidder. Fortunately, I was able to make a living and saved my money, unlike some who spent their cash on wine, women and song (laughs). I have been lucky to have never had a real job since I left high school. Don’t get me wrong I took my racing seriously but it never felt like a job. I was training hard at the gym and running as well as riding bikes to keep this lifestyle alive. How was it competing during this explosion of motorcycle racing? It was a fun but at the time we just got on with it and didn’t think about it. There were eight teams with four riders in each and it was extremely competitive. In those days at some races you’d have 120 guys trying to qualify for 36 spots. Just making a national back then was difficult. Which result are you most proud of? Winning the Suzuka 8 Hours race is definitely up there. The level of competition was so high because all the Japanese motorcycle brands brought their best riders to the event. Along with the tough course with hills and off-camber corners it meant you had to be a good rider to do well there. I had a good qualifying time and went on to win the race. I remember being thrown about in the air after the race and it was crazy. Everyone was so happy for me and it was great to have that feeling of respect from my fellow competitors and people involved. It was a special moment that I’ll never forget. You’ve been racing for over 40 years. What keeps driving you to race? I think racing is in the blood. I remember as a kid I used to make ramps and jump off them on my bicycle. That was when it started back in the early 1960s. I always loved that feeling of going fast or jumping off things. I stopped racing professionally in 1995 but still did a few local events. I stopped racing completely for around 15 years and had no desire to ride a bike. Then these guys in Atlanta, Georgia kept pestering me to come and do a race. For three years I kept saying no and then I agreed. I had so much fun and had this huge grin on my face after the event. I have been Vintage racing for the last five years. It’s essentially a bunch of old guys riding old bikes and having fun. The kids racing these days are in a different league. Are you always competitive with Kevin Schwantz? I always want to beat him. We’re about the same age and grew up racing but we rarely competed against one another back in the day. He paid his dues to become world champion. I always wanna beat him (laughs).
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How’s the body holding up these days? I had broken a lot of little stuff like my fingers, hands and wrists so I was lucky. Then just when I’d got a Honda factory ride I had a crash where I was over the bars and looking at my number plate at 80mph. I landed in a mound of dirt and broke my femur in six places, hip and pelvis. I went to get up and my leg was like a noodle. I kept trying to get up but kept falling back down. I was in the hospital for 30 days after that one. I had to keep that quiet from Honda so I didn’t lose the ride with them. That happened around Halloween and I had to race Daytona in March the following year. I ended up getting third at the Daytona race behind Freddie Spencer, who was world champion, and Mike Baldwin. I had pins and plates holding me together. It was crazy. How easy is it to get back on the bike after a big crash. Did you ever get spooked? I was always great at getting back on and wanting to race again. That’s the competitor in me. Even when I was hurt I’d get back on and get on with it. That’s what we were paid to do. We had to ride through the pain and often had to hide it from our competitors and sponsors. What do you think of the scene that’s evolving in the UK? I think it’s great. Whatever can keep this family of motorcycle racing alive and draw new people in is a good thing. This Class C or flat track racing you do in the UK is growing on a large part thanks to Peter Boast and in more recent years Anthony Brown at the DTRA. I love seeing all the young kids who are racing so well. I love the camaraderie that goes on and how friendly everyone is. What advice would you give to the new wave of young fast racers in the UK like the Neave twins and Oliver Brindley? The most important thing is to make sure you’re having fun. By all means be super competitive but it’s important to keep things fun or you can suffer from burnout. It’s important not to take yourself too seriously. You have to keep things in perspective. It’s important to enjoy all the training and racing. Also stay away from girls and drugs. I have seen other people’s pitfalls when they get caught up in these things (laughs). What’s your approach to motorcycle racing these days? It’s always to make it home in one piece. I always want to be in the group and be competitive.
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Things you might not know about Dave Aldana #3 “I used to have homing pigeons. It started when I was racing slot cars. Then later when I was racing motorcycles I’d spend a lot of time in Europe and I knew the best pigeons came from there. I used to visit all these top pigeoneers when I was on the race circuit there. I’d give them passes to get into the GPs and other races. In later years I started to import pigeons from Europe and they had to go through quarantine in New York because there wasn’t one in Los Angeles then. I became serious about my pigeon racing during the 15 years I stopped racing motorcycles. I still have the pigeons and a giant aviary. I won a few 500-mile races during this time. I was very competitive like when I raced motorcycles. I have been on the cover of a magazine holding out my pigeon’s wing with a group of other pigeoneers. It was serious business for me.” D
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Proudly sup
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pporting the
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brothers.com
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Sam Christmas Sam Christmas is a professional photographer with an eye for shooting something special and thought provoking. He’s extremely humble about his talent and has worked with the likes of Triumph, Edwin and Sideburn to name but a few. When he’s not capturing stunning pictures he can be found fettling his Suzuki DRZ and racing it at the DTRA race series. We asked Sam for with his top five shots from the DTRA and here’s his selection… Lives: Kent First Camera: Mamiya RZ Started working professionally: 2010 Equipment: 2 x Canon 5D Mk3, 35mm, 50mm, 70-200mm Why flat track: I like everything about it. The bikes in the Vintage Class are incredible this year. The rare characters on the scene and the full on action. All in all, there’s nothing that isn’t photogenic about it. Inspiration: Can come from anywhere whether it’s a place, person, film or wherever. What makes a good picture: There’s a ton of different things that can make a good picture, but ultimately a good picture has to make you feel something when you see it. Advice to aspiring snappers: Shoot what your passionate about, and shoot a lot!
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Great combo of strong light, awesome Death Spray Custom livery and the aggressive riding style of Ross Herrod.
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The strong contrast between the lit dust framed by the dark shadows of the stadium works perfectly with Frank’s Chatokhine black and white chequered leathers.
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It’s just brilliant to watch the pro boys slide into the corners because they get so low and are so smooth. It’s inspiring to see and photograph.
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Dimitri Coste and Guy Bonzorro are always stylish in their vintage clobber, but mainly I like this shot as it shows the camaraderie between riders. Everyone is happy to help each other out where they can.
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I think this image nicely illustrates the carnage that is commonplace in the Rookie Class!
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Oliver Brindley #24 and Tom Neave #68 at DTRA Round Three at Eastbourne Speedway Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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GALLERY #02
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First corner action at DTRA Round Three in the Thunderbike Class at Eastbourne Speedway Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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GALLERY #02
Vincent Priestley #65 on his BSA Vintage Class entry at DTRA Round One at Leicester Speedway Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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Ross Herrod #52 is on fire this season. DTRA Round One at Leicester Speedway where he took top honours in the Restricted Class. Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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GALLERY #02
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GALLERY #02
Four Maxxis girls all in a row... Photo: Ian Roxburgh
One Dimitri Coste... Photo: Ian Roxburgh
Three Pro riders in a row... Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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GALLERY #01
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David Van Parijs #85 crosses the line at DTRA Round 3 at Eastbourne Speedway Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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Dustin Aksland and Dimitri shooting the breeze Photo: Ian Roxburgh
GALLERY #02
Glyn Pocklington #98 taking the holeshot in the first of the MCN Flat Track Trans-Atlantic Trophy heats at Peterborough Photo: Ian Roxburgh
Peter Jordan #15 getting all bent outta shape at Peterborough Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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GALLERY #02
The Rookies at DTRA Round One at Leicester Speedway Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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Hubert Bastie #89 Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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The obligatory Dimitro Coste shot... Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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GALLERY #02
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GALLERY #02
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Tim Neave #1 celebrating a heat win at DTRA Round One at Leicester Speedway Photo: Ian Roxburgh
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Deus Ex Machina, which means god from the machine, started out making custom motorcycles. The company was the brainchild of Australian Dare Jennings who launched the brand a decade ago. Since then the company has evolved into an apparel company with six coffee shops in exotic locations around the globe. Recently, Julian Heppekausen and Nevin Pontious, who are based at the Venice Beach store in California, came to the UK to race the DTRA flat track series event in Eastbourne. We caught up with them to find out more about the brand, what they’re up to and where they’re heading. PORTRAIT AND RIDING PHOTOS: IAN ROXBURGH ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEUS
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JULIAN HEPPEKAUSEN RACING IN THE ROOKIE CLASS
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How did Deus come about? Julian: Deus started out 10 years ago. It’s our 10th anniversary this October and we’re going to be holding a special party for that. It all started with Dare Jennings’ vision when he noticed a merging culture in Japan with all the kids buying SR500s and customising them themselves. Instead of spending $50 grand on a chopper, Harley or a sports bike and looking like a transformer, he saw there was more style and individualism emerging. That’s how it originally started. When did the clothing and the coffee shops emerge? Julian: Dare quickly realised there was no money to be made in custom motorbikes and that’s when other elements of the business came along including the café and the clothing side of things. This came out of necessity. Deus has a bit of a schizophrenic business plan. It completely changes and works its way through because Dare doesn’t have this vision of how it has to be. He’s constantly evolving and changing. He brought Carby Tuckwell in as creative director and this led to the T-shirts and artwork becoming an important part of what Deus is.
Nevin: Carby Tuckwell is what ties everything together that Deus is involved in, whether it’s the surfing, cycling, and motorcycles, or wherever we end up going. It’s all about passion and doing something really positive. Where Deus goes doesn’t matter. It’s about people doing things for the right reasons. It’s all about passion. Carby is the constant throughout because it’s his artwork that brings all of these passions together. Don’t you do bicycles as well? Nevin: Deus was doing bicycles in the period before everyone was riding fixies. This culture was just emerging and a few people who worked at Deus were already into it and passionate about the scene. It was a natural progression for Deus. It’s the same with the beach cruisers and commuters we do.
Are some areas tough to get involved with? Julian: There are lots of other things we’d love to get into because we love them. For example, Carby is a massive fan of skateboarding and we’d love to do that, but it’s so hard to do right. It’s a culture that makes so much sense to us but we can’t figure out how to do it right. Deus is not about muscling in on other sports/pastimes unless we have a real connection with them. We only sponsor the DTRA because we have a huge connection with what they’re doing. It’s not just about being associated with something cool. How did the DTRA connection come about? Nevin: The DRTA connection came out of meeting Gary Inman from Sideburn and Dimitri Coste (raceswagger king) who we knew from racing, and then later Geoff Cain, and Anthony Brown and Anna Butler from the DTRA. We want to help support them when they come to America and they have helped us have a great weekend racing at Eastbourne. It’s such a good group of people racing. Not just in the UK but all over the world. There’s a neat connection throughout the world sharing bikes, racing and enjoying things together. Has Deus has tried to influence this family approach? Julian: Back in the early days in Sydney we used to invite all the motorcycle groups and they were hesitant. If we can help flat track evolve and expand things that’s a good thing. It’s not about being exclusionary and trying to create something elitist. In fact, it’s completely the opposite and we want to welcome people into the family. Another example is when Nevin started this clunker bike race on beach cruisers with coaster brakes. It was small and fun but now there are all these people in LA who are clunking. Once again, it’s a close-knit group and everyone gets along. Nevin: It’s all about pushing to the top of the hill and bombing down the thing. Just like early mountain biking. It’s on simple beach cruisers with coaster brakes and a whole lot of fun. It must be fun bringing like-minded people together to enjoy life? Julian: A small community has grown out of this clunker racing but we never try to force or manipulate any of this. It’s not the way to go if you’re trying to create a relationship or community. It’s about working and playing with people, and letting things evolve naturally. It’s a unique business model. Are the opportunities endless? Julian: We joke about what stuff we might end up getting involved with. For example, we were looking at old wooden sailboats and stuff like that. If someone at Deus is passionate about going off and doing it I am sure we could get involved. There has to be passion or it’s all just a job. Is the work/fun balance and how the world perceives it a fine line to tread? Julian: We’re careful to make sure it doesn’t look like we’ve got a business where it’s just us going off and doing cool stuff. If you spin it like that this all starts to look a bit w*nky. Even though it could be construed as this with places in Milan, Japan and Bali. It’s a fine balance between being seen as rich pompous w*nkers and doing something that’s cool and we’re passionate about. We love the DTRA because of the scene in the UK. It is full of people who are friendly and helpful. We were so pleased to get lent bikes and race whatever that bike might be. We’re not too precious. It’s not about taking yourself too seriously but doing what you do positively and passionately. Sounds like a dirty job? Julian: Nevin and I do have great jobs. We realise that and we’re extremely fortunate. There is a blurry line between work and fun. Nevin did screw up today racing at Eastbourne and win. We’re not meant to win. We are a participant racing team (laughs). WWW.DIRTTRACKRIDERS.CO.UK I 145
Nevin: I only got first place because the bike was so good and someone else’s misfortune. I was trying to be conservative because I have family to look after and no health insurance (laughs). When we’re at events like this one at the DTRA we’re no longer working, we’re doing what we love to do. It’s our passion. Where are the Deus store locations? Julian: Venice Beach, Sydney, we have a small place in Byron Bay, Bali, Japan, Italy and we’re hoping to open a new store in the UK before the end of the summer. It’s in Brighton and the guys we have working on this in the UK are really good. We are also looking into Bangkok and we’re looking into somewhere else in the USA. What’s your sponsorship philosophy? Nevin: We don’t really sponsor lots of big names. We have locals and friends who come to our shop and through their support of us we ended up flowing them stuff. We support them because they’re Deus people and they’re the one’s who support us and hang out with us. They are the people who are helping to build the community. They’re the people who share the same love as us. What about event sponsorship? Julian: We sponsor a few events and smaller races because we love what they’re about. The DTRA is the perfect example of an event we love to sponsor. Nevin: We want to help keep racing and the tracks going. Some of the old guys have been racing since the 70s and things are starting to die out. We want to keep the tracks and racing alive. The old guys love it when new guys come along and help to keep the racing alive. Julian: It’s not just about writing cheques either. It’s about doing it and being involved. This helps to keep things alive by creating a community rather than just throwing money at something. One of Dare’s lines is: “We do this”. It’s not a gimmick or a marketing plan. The marketing comes from us going and doing things, and hopefully helping to keep things alive. There’s no marketing analysis or Deus trying to force anyone to do something they don’t want to do. Motorcycling is a hard place to be in right now because it has become cool, so you have the big companies coming along and latching on to that. Only time will show how long they hang around for. What’s next for Deus? Julian: We started an event in Venice called Luftgekühlt that’s all about air-cooled vintage Porsches. Nevin: It was an event where the energy tied in with everything else we do. This was a Deus spin on a car show. It worked well and that’s something we’re looking at. We had all sorts from old classics to wreckers. How important is the creative side beyond racing? Julian: We’re more of an entertainment company at times. Part of what Nevin does is about creating great images and videos. As a business we have to figure out how to make these things more valuable than just a blog post. We have so much talent and creative people doing the things we love, like here at the DTRA, and we need to figure out how to make money with their talent. We need to look at the creative side beyond T-shirts. The photography and the adverts have such value. Do you worry about things becoming too mainstream and Deus losing its appeal? Nevin: I don’t think so. We gravitate towards things that will never become mainstream. They’re all niche sports/pastimes. We are always evolving along with the things we support. I have been racing flat track for three years but some people have been doing it for 40 years. I get attention deficit disorder doing something for too long. I’m not saying I wont be racing flat track in five years but there’s always a change in what we do and how we have evolved. I am sure we will keep adding things to do. What are you guys looking into doing next? Julian: Nevin and I have been talking about trials bikes because we’d never ridden them until recently. I did it with Geoff (Cain) from the UK. I’m sure we will buy cheap pieces of sh*t and get frustrated with them
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before getting better bikes. It’s about giving it a go. I think apart from Nike it’s hard for any company to be completely mainstream and remain culturally important. That’s a difficult thing to do. People think if you’re more mainstream and everyone wants your T-shirt that’s great because you’re making more money, but I am not sure that makes it better. It’s just different. It’s important to remember what Nike has and what makes them an amazing business, is good for them, but that doesn’t mean we, or any other business for that matter, needs to try and achieve that. It’s important to be happy about where you are right now rather than where someone else is. So no superstores, airport shops or outlets planned? Julian: The hardest thing about all of this is that it is a business and Dare has invested all of his money and time into this. He does need a return
ROOKIE AND MINI BIKE CLASSES
and sometimes we struggle with that because we are so part of the culture that Deus is a part of. We do have to remember we’re a business and we need to make money. Right now there are lots of businesses that put a motorcycle in their window to sell T-shirts. We sell the T-shirts so we can ride motorbikes. If we don’t sell shirts we don’t get to ride the bikes. At times it’s difficult because we want to get involved with so many things, but we don’t want things or people to be exploited. D WWW.DIRTTRACKRIDERS.CO.UK I 147
PARTING SHOT #02 DTRA Round Two Peterborough Speedway, May 2015 Guy Sutherland #97 and Dave Chadburn #36 Guy takes a tumble in one of the heats and Dave Chadburn has nowhere to go clipping Guy’s bike sending him into the dirt. Photos: Ian Roxburgh
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DTRA 2015 RIDERS LIST Pro Class 1 3 8 9 18 24 25 26 29 30 36 38 40 42 45 47 50 54 61 67 68 90 95 97 98 100
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Tim Neave Paul Sheldon Guy Martin Richard May Mark Richardson OliverBrindley Derek Brindley Neil Martin Adam Allott Alan Birtwistle Dave Chadburn George Pickering Paul Baleta Tom Clemans Geoff Cain Anthony Brown Les Wood Peter Boast Kevin Armstrong Justin Heavens Tom Neave Aidan Collins Vince Hurst Guy Sutherland Richard Mason Matt Layt
Restricted Class 4R 5R 6R 9R 10R 11R 11R 13R 15R 22R 27R 28R 31R 31R 35R 37R 39R 41R 43R 44R 46R 52R 56R 56R 57R 59R 71R 76R 86R 87R 89R 112R 120R 517R
Paul Harrison Frank Chatokhine Christophe Decombard Freddie Hales David Gwyther Richard Rowden Robert Williams Gary Inman Peter Jordan Mike Ryan Drogo Michie Mike Johnson Martin Hüning david Arnold Mike Hill Leah Tokelove Rick Bearcroft Steve Lane Matthew Moore Lez Stevens Daniel Kafka Ross Herrod Jim Boddy Alfie Collett John Boddy Nick Ashley Scott Faulkner Brad Hardman Tom Wright Dimitri Coste Hubert Bastié Ian Cramp Gary Birtwistle Julian Heppekausen
Rookie Class
Youth Junior Class 91
Leon Collier
Youth Inter Class 17 53 58 78 79 93 110
Kier Armstrong Connor Jackson Joe Burden Wilbur Skipp Storm Stacey Jack Bell George Hopper
Youth Senior Class 10 19 20 76
Ben Neave Jordan-Lee Miller Toby Hales Skye Adams
2R 7R 7X 8R 10R 12R 15R 16R 17R 17R 20R 21R 28R 23R 31R 32R 33R 34R 39R 46R 48R 49R 51R 53R 55R 58R 60R 62R 63R 64R 65R 66R 69R 70R 72R 73R 74R 75R 77R 78R 79R 80R 81R 82R 83R 84R 85R 88R 92R 93R 94R 96R 99R 128R 116R 116R 117R 109R 141R
Ian Sisson Jago Anderson Tara Henry Adam Brinkworth Ryan Quickfall Milo Hiscox Peter Jordan Harley Peters Jeremy Decombard Dimitri Hettinga Michael Herman Franck Depoisier Harley Peters Stuart Avery Ryan Quickfall Andrew Murphy Sean Kelly Tom Moore Rick Bearcroft Daniel Kafka Philip Gerrard Olivier Le Quellec Randal Thomas Ben Part Angelo Van Zele Matthew Walker Paul Murrell Bram De Roeck Grevet Thibaut Jeremy Skipp John Priestley James O’Hara Robert Allgaier Richard Rowden John Huxley Giles Longbone Guy Williams Jason Cursley Sam Christmas James Jordan Greg Krzeszowiec Mike Fisher Damian Mccann Isaac Hunter Ben Hunter Karl Fehrs David Van Parijs Makhlouf Zakaria Dirk Pieper Martin Hüning Norm Joss Adam Waller Mark Walker Harley Peters Paul Jenkins Jeff Green Dimitri Hettinga Andrew Smith Richard Gardiner WWW.DIRTTRACKRIDERS.CO.UK I 151
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