The rebel riders of the UK Dirt Track scene
- Text by HUCK HQ
- Photography by Benedict Redgrove
Benedict Redgrove’s series on the UK’s Dirt Track Racing community, which was commissioned as the lead cover story for SPACES IN BETWEEN, situates the sport as a place where cultures collide. The look and feel of the scene settles “somewhere between B-boy and old school greaser.”
“Ben photographs fighter planes and rocket ships for living but he’s is a passionate biker,” explains Michael Fordham, SPACES IN BETWEEN’s commissioning editor. “We thought it would be fun to apply Ben’s clinical lens to the grit and grime of the Dirt Track.”
Using meticulous techniques in post-production, the detailed backdrop of the racing is knocked back. What comes to the fore is the detail of rider and motorcycle, and a scene that is as inclusive and open-minded as it is dynamic. “Dirt Track Racing is unique because of the people that run it and the people that ride in it,” says Gary Inman, editor of the scene’s key channel, Sideburn, and author of the story that accompanies Ben’s piece.
“The riders competing could be anything from Vegan Art Directors, tubby tilers or freckly schoolgirls. It really isn’t like any other motorcycle scene out there.”
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
New exhibition highlights British radical living over 200 years
Earthly Paradise — Taking place at the William Morris Gallery, it explores the homes and lives of artists, writers, musicians and more, as well as the conditions that allowed them to thrive.
Written by: Isaac Muk
What life on the Strait of Hormuz is really like
Southern Winds — Bandar Abbas based photographer Morteza Niknahad has been capturing the diverse communities and stories of his local region since he first picked up a camera. His new series highlights the human impact of war.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Nick Haymes’s intimate portrait of his family’s life
Chronograph — Over 25 years, the photographer documented his son’s lives as they grew into adults. The resulting photobook is an exploration of the passage of time, as well as the optimism of youth.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Kristina Rozhkova’s scatty, confronting portrait of captivity
Gut Feeling — The Russian artist’s 2024 arrest and subsequent detention opened her eye towards the omnipresent dynamics of power and control. Her new photobook is a stark exploration of being trapped.
Written by: Isaac Muk
UK’s first ever Latino film festival is coming to London
LoLaFF — Taking place between October 2-6, it will feature 55 filmmakers from Latin America, with an opening night at the Barbican.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Shawn Walker’s layered, psychedelic vision of Harlem’s streets
From BeBop to Illusion — Using glass as a means to illuminate the city’s different layers, the longtime photographer and filmmaker is publishing his first monograph at the age of 86.
Written by: Miss Rosen