SHAKE IT 'TIL THE MEAT COMES OFF THE BONES!

I know we are already a couple of months into 2012 but here are some of my favourite shots of myself competing in the 2011 race season. Obviously, my choice of pictures shows me in the best light possible but on the other hand, like they say....the camera never lies!
Looking forward to the start of the new season on April 1st (no joke)... as the competition continues to get stronger I've no idea how I'll do this coming season but I feel I've finally recovered from my various injuries I picked up late last year and feel it's gonna be a good year for dirt track in the UK!

THE STAGS...VALENTINES DRAG NIGHT

Great show at the weekend to celebrate Valentines day....girls dressed as boys and boys dressed as girls. Pulled 'Husky' out of the bag after a 5 year lay off...it felt good!

DIRT QUAKE.....feel the rumble!!

Just announced...this will be a doozie! Lots of stuff planned but top of the heap for me is the UK's first ever dirt track chopper race. If it's heavy, hard to handle and totally unsuitable for track use...then it's in!
Pics are from a similar event that took place in Finland last year

Takes me right to the spot.....

Just received this shirt in the post from Tim Stamp. It's a short sleeve repro of the MAX shirt that I wore in 1982.

It's a high quality screen print on a 'Super-Premium' Fruit of the Loom and a limited run of 20 pieces.

Tim also excelled himself last year with a repro BICYCLE MOTOCROSS ACTION MAGAZINE long sleeve.

The BMX ACTION shirts are long gone but the MAX design, at this moment, is still available. If anybody wants one, get in touch and I'll pass on Tim's contact details.

 

THE PUPPETS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM...

I like to collect all things Gerry Anderson-related. Here are some simple, customised 12" action figures I have. All aquired very cheaply at car boot sales. We have: 

Joe 90 dressed in a Captain Scarlet uniform.

Brains in the International Rescue uniform.

Barbie dressed in a Captain Blue uniform.

I have a ton of Anderson memorabilia but these cheap, simply customised dolls from the 90's are very pleasing to my eye!

I think it's the 'What if?' factor of mixing up elements of the different shows.....I think they look better than any of the standard issue figures released at that time.

ACTION NOW MAGAZINE TV SHOW 1981

My good friend Tim Stamp had a VHS copy of this that we hammered when we skated in '83-'84.
ACTION NOW magazine rose out of the ashes of SKATEBOARDER magazine when the skateboard boom took a dump in 1980.
It was a last ditch attempt to stay afloat and the mag opened its doors to other action sports: BMX, roller skating, surfing, skimboarding etc. Unfortunately, this ploy didn't work out...it totally alienated the hardcore few that still skated, the lowpoint for me being a photo of someone on a horse down at the beach.
On a plus point, the mag did have a reasonable music content and it was quick to champion the LA punk scene. Lots of Circle Jerks, Black Flag etc as well as features on the big UK punk bands at the time.
The mag didn't last long and around this time a new, truly independent skateboard magazine was launched called THRASHER that drove the final nail in the 'Action Now' coffin.
The Action Now TV show was a self financed 30 minute showcase produced at one of skateboardings all time low points. By todays standards it looks nothing special but the skate footage blew me away. It was the only way to see moving images of the new 'bionic' skating that was starting to come through. particular stand outs are Neil Blender and Steve Alba....totally inspired by this, me and a few friends built STIFFNECKS RAMP.
I wish the rest of the show was on Youtube. Its been over 25 years since I saw it but I recall some good footage of Jeff Watson on his BMX in the Upland fullpipe and some early Bob Haro ramp riding.

PROJECT:ODDJOB

Whilst plebbing around on Myspace (first time in a long time) I stumbled upon this dormant page for a  band we put together for one gig only back in 2005. The recordings are intentionally crude and fizz with energy. We only recorded 4 songs: DIRTY ROBBER, I DON'T LIKE YOU, HEATSEEKER and RIP YER HEART. All covers by The Wailers, Skrewdriver and The Rip-Offs respectively.

 I don't entirely remember what we played in the set but I vividly remember a stonking version of MY BABY DOES THE HANKY PANKY with Topsy Stag on vocals.

Here is the blurb from the page:

 "FOUR TRAINED ASSASSINS....... UNDERCOVER AGENTS........... ARMED WITH GUITARS ......... PLYING THEIR DEADLY TRADE......EXECUTING CRUDE, SNARLING, UGLY GARAGE-PUNK!! "

 THIS IS PROJECT:ODDJOB ................... A SMALL BAND PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR OWN AMUSEMENT AND DISTRACTION......FEATURING EX-MEMBERS/CURRENT MEMBERS OF.........THE STAGS, DOKTOR COMBOVER, JAILCELL RECIPES, DRIVE. OUR MISSION IS TO PLAY OFF THE CUFF, THICK-NECKED, SAUSAGE-FINGERED THUG-ROCK. AMPED UP, IN THE RED, ROCK 'N' ROLL .....A TIP OF THE STEEL-BRIMMED BOWLER HAT TO THE TOUGHEST SIXTIES GARAGE BANDS AND BEST '77 ERA PUNK BANDS

Listen to the songs HERE