SF223

All across the country, sweaty postmen are heaving sacks of the new issue of Streetfighters into the back of the Postman Pat vans, and dreaming of the days when it was still raining. SF223 will be dropped of by Sweaty Pat at subscribers' houses tomorrow morning, and it'll be hitting the newsagents' shelves on Thursday next week, the 2nd August. Of course, if you're not a subscriber, you can always get an early copy at the Brent Cross Streetfighter & Stunt Fest on Sunday. We'll see you there!

Oh, and because the layout of Blagger has changed, it appears that we can't post pictures any more. Which is really useful...

An Oil Change

It might be a lowly SR400, but it is a cafe racer, and the commentary shows exactly the same dedication to scrupulous maintenance and exacting engineering that the Streetfighter team exhibit.

It's just over a week til the 3rd Ace Cafe Streetfighter & Stunt Fest at Brent Cross, North London. And we're getting slightly excited. It's gonna be a day of top level stunt riding in the arena from the SBF competition, and the SF Mag bike display will be showcasing the best streetfighters and specials around. Also FMX jump displays, live music, the deliciously naughty Fuel Girls, trials demonstrations, a dyno shoot-out, wheelie machine and loads more. Tickets are £10 on the gate or from the Ace's online shop: http://www.acecafeshop.com/catalog/52 See you there...

Norf Weawd, Innit.

This Sunday sees the Straightliners freight train howl down to North Weald airfield in Essex, for another round of the National Street Bike Drag Racing Championship. As is usual for the round in Essex, North Weald will also have classic bike racing, and an autojumble too and, for 2012, it doesn't clash with the Bulldog Bash! More details on 200mph.net or straightliners-events.co.uk

How It's Made

Okay, so it's not the ubiquitous oil-boiler Gixer, but this video makes fascinating viewing. Showing how a water-cooled GSX-R 1100 was manufactured and assembled, including technically fascinating footage of the crank being made, the frame pressings being stamped out, and the headlight lens being cast (which, if you're anything like Will, is going to make you want a poo...)

Newark News, the Noo.

The Newark Autojumble is well known for being a cracking place to source not only prospective project parts, but also garage essentials and disposables. Now, if you've got an intersting and / or classic vehicle, you can even get in for free... Penny Farthing Fairs, organisers of the ‘Normous Newark Car and Bike Jumbles, are offering FREE TICKETS for anyone wishing to display their classic vehicle in the hall at the next event – 22 July at Newark Showground – NG24 2NY. They must be there by 9am at the latest and be prepared to stay until around 1pm. Spaces are limited and at PFF’s discretion, so contact them now. Ring, write or email for a booking form – Penny Farthing Fairs, PO Box 222, Alfreton, DE55 2ZQ – 01773 819154 – 077955 05388 – mail@pff-uk.info.

SF222

Although subscribers will have received their copy of issue 222 by now, and had chance to plaster the free stickers all over their personal belongings, the new issue will hits newsagents' shelves in two days time (which is Thursday 5th July).

With Danny's gorgeous VTR street tracker gracing the cover and centre spread, issue 222 also contains loads more feature bikes and other exciting stuff. No, really, it's ace.

72 Hours

We're big fans of Icon clothing, not just for their apparel, but because of their approach to life and mnotorcycles. We're also fans of Monster Energy, because they sponsor some of the coolest riders on the planet. But that's not why we're showing you this link. These guys - Nick Apex, Ernie Vigil and Shinsuke Kinoshita - cram more into 72 hours than most folk do into a lifetime...

Euro-wide Demo

Regular readers of the Fighting Talk column in Streetfighters, as well as righteous political agitators, will already know all about the forthcoming demonstration on Sunday June 24th. For those that don't, the demo is the last chance that we'll get to voice our opinions on the proposed Euro-legislation that could put an end to all modification of motorcycling. There's more information on the website at www.euhandsoffbiking.co.uk but the long and short of it is that there'll be demo runs in each of the UK's European constituencies, and it's vital that you take part if you with motorcycling to have a future.

Farmyard Party

Only a couple of days to go before the Motorcycle Action Group's biggest fund raiser of the year - the essential rally for any self-righteous motorcyclist and party animal - the Farmyard Party. Aside from the stunning roads to and from the venue in the glorious Yorkshire Wolds, the Farmyard has about eight gazillion bars, a comedy show that WILL turn you incontinent, bands that make Britain's Got Talent look like the dole queue (actually...), a wet t-shirt comp and a stripper, a ride-in custom bike show, an on-site dyno and a burn-out pit!

Lincolnshire 'Liners

Straightliners are back at one of their favourite venues this Sunday, East Kirkby, for Round 6 of the National Street Bike Championship. The NSA will also be in attendance with all their classes, so it is the place to be on Sunday the 17th. Entry is on the day for all classes, just turn up and ride! The track has been swept and the start line will be prepped for racing, which usually means record-breaking performances in Lincolnshire!

Billing Bike Show

Quick heads-up for an event on the final weekend in June; the Billing Bike Show. Featuring ride-in custom displays, live bands, a burnout pit and loads more, all the details (including tickets) are available here: www.billingbikeshow.co.uk

SF221

As I type, steam-driven printing presses manned by greasy little trolls in the deepest and darkest part of the Black Country (and boy, is it deep and dark) are churning out quite literally several copies of the latest issue of Streetfighters.

Aside from Beanie's stunning race-prepped Spondon on the cover, inside there's no less than three turbo'd bolides, a single-sided Zed (and tattooed bimbette), a lurid Gixer-engined GS, a crisp LC, fettled CB1300 and ZRX factory retros, and loads more. SF221, heading to subscribers tomorrow, and in newsagents from Thursday 31st May.

Parmyard Farty

A quick reminder that this year's Farmyard Party, in Yorkshire on June 15th-17th, will be host to the first Streetfighters Burnout Pit, which as far as we know is the only time that there's been a burnout pit at a rally in the UK. More details can be found at www.farmyardparty.com Also, MAG are to hold a free raffle at the Farmyard this year. It will have three prizes that can be won and someone will walk away from the rally with £500 in their pocket, 2nd prize will be two tickets to the three big Yorkshire MAG rallies in 2013, and 3rd prize is a pair of tickets to next year’s Farmyard. It’s a no strings attached raffle, all MAG need from you is feedback at the rally. There will be people in the entertainments area with clip boards and all you need to do is to fill one in. The winners will be drawn on the BSH Big Top stage just before the last band on Saturday night, but don’t worry if you’re not there as it will announced over all the stages and posted on the wall of Event Control. The reason they're doing it is that MAG need reliable feedback from customers at the rally. They spend lots of money on advertising and the event itself, so it’s a fair amount to pay for market research. Please pass this on, as the more people who give MAG feedback then the more wisely they can spend, thus hopefully raising more money for MAG's fighting fund!

Diary Date?

Got anything booked for June 24th? Cancel it.

Records Broken!

Following on from the last post, we can confirm that there were, indeed, a very large number of records broken at Elvington last weekend. More info in your favourite magazine soon. And, when you've finished scouring the pages of Splosh!, buy the next issue of Streetfighters...

Record Breakers?

Sunday 13th and Monday 14th are the two days set aside for those folk who're destined to get into the record books, for those two days are the first time in ages that there's been an official British Speed records meeting, as endorsed by the ACU, in the UK. The meeting is at Elvington, near York, and there is guaranteed to be a number of records broken, given the fact that it's been so long since an official records meeting was last held. There are already 21 riders signed up for the event, riding everything from 95cc scooters to full-on turbocharged Hayabusas, via barking mad two stroke cyclecars and a 2K2 turbine bike. And, unlike previous records meetings, Joe Punter can go along and spectate so, if you want to see history being made, and experience the awe of forced-induction bikes clocking over 250mph, be there! Children get in free, and the paddock is open, so you can get the insider gossip on what it is like to prepare and ride a record-breaking machine!

You'll Have To Wait....

Those of you who've already got issue 220, either by subscription or by camping outside your local newsagent (which is stocking the issue from today), may have seen the new Icon advertisement on pages 2 and 3, displaying the new range of Alliance helmets:-

While the new art and comic-influenced designs are rather special, you'll not be able to get your grubby hands on them just yet, as they're not officially launched until the start of July. So save your money for a further month.

RIP Madman

Ed 'EJ' Potter, also known as the Michigan Madman is, sadly, mo more. Known for his manic bikes, and even more manic riding style, EJ was an iconic figure on the American drag racing scene, and pics like this show exactly why so many people have so many stories relating to the Madman...

SF220

Issue 220 celebrates twenty years of the Honda FireBlade, although rather than merely listing the numerous changes to Honda's lithe sportsbike of the last couple of decades (as other publications have done), we present you five vastly different ways of customising the CBR. From Ed's turbo / nitrous coverbike, to a barking mad German creation, inspiration for your 900RR is within these pages. And, of course, there's numerous other feature bikes, race reports, news and tech features. SF220, in subscribers' grubby hands now, and in the newsagents from Thursday 3rd May.