Licks Cycles: “Insane and Quick” Dash Bikes

“2Crazy” Indian: @larsewers / @pmamericancycles

We’re massive followers of European 1/8-mile dash racing, the place custom-built bikes from workshops throughout Europe compete head-to-head in outdated school-style drag races at occasions just like the Glemseck 101.

The wildest, most inventive of those was the extremely standard Sultans of Dash collection, that includes a wildly numerous array of high-powered twin-cylinder dash bikes, loopy costumes, and a complete lot of burning rubber:

“It’s completely regular to stumble upon zombies, yetis, Frankenstein and Hercules: Sultans put on loopy outfits. As a result of not solely pace but in addition efficiency and energy within the type of fashion, creativity and craziness are very a lot a part of it. So there are factors for the race and factors for inventive design and party-hungry behaviour… Freaky is the secret.” –BMW Motorrad

Sadly, the Sultans of Dash collection was discontinued in 2019, leaving a fairly a vacuum within the sport. Thankfully, Philipp Ludwig of Kraftstoffschmiede (one of many authentic Sultans founders) and Krzysztof “Kris” Szews of Man & the Machines, each of Rennstall Moto, stepped ahead to discovered Rocket Race Membership.

After Glemseck, we caught up with Kris Szews to be taught extra in regards to the origins of RRC:

“In early 2022, after a two-year Covid break, the Glemseck organisers Steffen Hofmann and Steven Flier approached Philipp and me. They requested if we might get the outdated Sultans bikes again collectively as a result of Glemseck wouldn’t be the identical with out them. Among the outdated crew have been up for it, others had their heads elsewhere, however fortunately we have been in a position so as to add some implausible new folks from throughout Europe and Switzerland to the group and arrived with a big starter subject in Glemseck in 2022.” –Kris Szews, Man & the Machines / Rennstall Moto

Kris and Phil based Rennstall Moto in 2020 to supply and promote {custom} elements for Triumph bikes, together with cafe racer seats, fairings and stomach pans in addition to exhaust programs in partnership with Hattech Exhausts.

They put an enormous chunk of their income into getting Rocket Race Membership up and operating, together with tents, banners, sound tools, attire, and extra.

“There was no method we have been going to be as massive or spectacular because the Sultans of Dash and we didn’t even strive…we have been after a extra ‘roll up your sleeves and do one of the best you may with what you bought’ type of perspective.”

Spa 2023. Photograph: @marc.holstein @myeyesbychristine

Photograph: @marc.holstein @myeyesbychristine

Because the images attest, they’ve achieved a rattling fantastic job. It additionally helps that they’ve such a supportive crew of racers and supporters. Kris describes the Rocket Race Membership thus:

“Worldwide bunch of like minded and barely loopy {custom} bike builders with an enormous ardour to construct insane and quick dash bikes for 1-2 races a yr!”

Racer: @impossiblegarage / Photograph: @annagphotography

For 2023, Rocket Race Membership fielded almost 20 bikes in two courses:

Moon Shot Class: Two-cylinder air-cooled. Turbos, Superchargers, NOS: all allowed. You may see the full laws right here.
Model Bash: Two-cylinder water-cooled. Turbos, Superchargers, NOS: all allowed, comparable energy to weight ratio.

Photograph: @claudefischer (see-you.company)

Whereas the Moon Shot class is the extra excessive, Model Bash is designed to present OEMs the chance to compete towards one another, bringing extra trendy bikes into the collection.

“It’s one thing we need to develop right into a sponsorship programme for 2024 and likewise regulate the Moonshot Class laws considerably.”

Racer: @kraftstoffschmiede / Photograph: @annagphotography

With each courses, the main focus right here is on pace, fashion, and enjoyable. The bikes are loud and wild, constructed as rolling spectacles of hot-rod ingenuity and drag-racing fashion.

“Hercules II” (@kraftstoffschmiede / @manandthemachines) / Photograph: @claudefischer (see-you.company)

The Rocket Race Membership is as a lot about ambiance as competitors, and the rivalries stay pleasant.

“Technical laws are positively a decrease precedence…it’s rather a lot in regards to the present issue. That can also be why we love having Andreas Straschewski and Sven Thiele aka Batman & Robin in any respect our races to ship a implausible present and hype up the crowds!”

Andreas Straschewski and Sven Thiele, aka Batman and Robin!

This yr, there have been two races lined up:

Race 1: Bikers Pageant at Spa Francorchamps, July 12-13, 2023
Race 2: Glemseck 101, Sept 1-3, 2023

Phil (@kraftstoffschmiede) at Spa, lighting up the tire of “Hercules II”

Our man on the bottom at Glemseck, Roman Juriš, obtained to catch a number of the bikes within the pits and on the strip, the place Glemseck 101 race management oversees the sprints on a size of the outdated Solitude racetrack outdoors Leonberg, Germany.

The racing was quick and enjoyable, and Glemseck has landed squarely on our bucket checklist of occasions to attend in future years. Andreas Straschewski, aka Batman, has described the occasion as akin to Woodstock with bikes.

We’re thrilled that Rocket Race Membership has stepped as much as be a part of the motion. Just like the Sultans earlier than them, the neighborhood is the soul of the collection:

“Rocket Race Membership, as a lot because the Sultans additionally have been, appears like household! We love to hang around, eat, race and get together collectively and would like to have occasions like Glemseck each weekend!”

What’s extra, we’ve been instructed that RRC has plans to increase past dash racing, so we now have much more to look ahead to within the coming months and years.