What it is, is a Dirt Quake on Ice. As simple as it sounds, the dirt track race bikes challenge each other on Europe’s finest snow and ice race track in the Italian Alps.
For 2018, the event is in its third edition and has managed to grab a few eyeballs already. Including the folks of Harley Davidson, who have committed to giving 8 ice track-spec Street Rod 750s. They have invited journalists along with ex WSBK and MotoGP rider, Ruben Xaus to take their chance at each other on the ice.
Organised by the Chaps at Sideburn magazine and Deus&ExMachina custom builders, the event sees frolicking folks dress up for the occasion and race their custom-built trackers in sub 20 Celsius climate (-4 °F).
To take on the icy slips, the Street Rods’ will come fitted with a myriad of tweaks from UK’s Harley dealer, IDP Moto. They include two 500-stud Continental TCK80 tires, unique front and rear wheel guards, a chain/sprocket conversion, kill switches and more.
The Street Rod could just be the perfect setup for this icy event. Its 749cc Revolution X V-Twin engine gives out ample torque and is lightweight with sharp frame geometry. It is, in fact, the same skeleton running on the dirt in Flat Track form and is also the base on which the brand-new XG750R American Flat Track race bike is built.
Surprisingly the Snowquake 2018 will have three classes, SnowPro, Vintage, and Inappropriate Road Bike. Yes, you read that right. The Inappropriate Road Bike is for the inappropriate road bikes.
This is the bike’s description needed to qualify for participation: “Flat track, vintage scrambler or enduro. Long mudguards front and rear. Tires: Studded, not spiked. No Modern motocross, DTX or Enduro bikes, sorry”.
What happens after the race? All folks drive down to Milan for an exclusive party at the Deus Café, a couple of hours south of the event.
