10 Questions with Dice Magazine
International motorcycle magazine ‘Dice’, based out of California, invited me to take part in their 10 Questions feature for issue #91. The magazine will be available from selected news stands and online from March.
'Nick Dart is a designer and art director who works between London, Australia, and the US. Better known for his work with artists such as Black Sabbath, Aretha Franklin, and Aston Martin, Nick is also the owner of Surfa Sam, one of the worlds oldest skateboard companies that was first established in 1963.
Nick is also no stranger to the bike scene creating a number of designs for brands such as TRI CO, Mooneyes, and the UK's largest chopper show 'Assembly'.
1. What's your first memory of a motorcycle? What year was it? Who owned it?
My earliest memory of bike was being at a fairground and riding a mini quad bike around a track made from hay bales. I was probably 5 or 6 years old at the time.
2. What's the car and bike scene like where you're living?
I’ve recently moved to the Gold Coast, Australia and I am really surprised with the amount of bikes and hot rods getting around considering it's a relatively small place. It has around 300 days of sunshine per year so it's the perfect place to own something impractical. Even though it's a smallish town, it's hot rodding roots date back to the early 60's with a friend and I managing to track down the group of guys who started the scene here in 1962. The good thing about the Australian scene being later to start is a lot of the original guys are still alive to share stories and photographs.
3. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 items would you take and why?
I would definitely need music as thats something I can't live without. A case of beer to enjoy while listening to my music. Some sunscreen as I'm pale as fuck so being stranded on a desert island wouldn't work too well for me.
4. If money were no option, what car or motorcycle would you own?
I would love to own the Tommy Foster '32 Roadster. To me that is the definition of an early 50's Hot Rod plus I love the idea of owning something that has been well documented and was an old show car. Bike wise, I would love to own my friend @Bonzorro 1966 Triumph that has 19" Kimtabs and a Tracy fibreglass works body with OG paint.
5. What's your favorite road and/or place to ride out to?
My good friend Josh Jardine organises the 'Gold Coast Reliability Run' for pre 1940's hot rods that goes through an area called the Tweed Valley that is 250,000 acres of World Heritage national park. It has some of the most amazing roads in Australia with the ocean off to the distance on one side, and the remnants of an ancient volcano on the other. It's a drive I look forward to each year even though its only 30 minutes from my house.
6. How many motorcycles do you own currently?
No motorcycles, only a handful of 1950’s balloon era bicycles. They’re cheaper on gas and more reliable!
7. What's your favorite person/animal/product on Instagram right now?
I've recently discovered the work of cut and paste artist Jim Madison (@jimhmadison) who is an official Rat Fink artist. He uses iconic Ed Roth water slide decals and imagery taken from old Rat Fink catalogues to create these incredibly unique silkscreened art prints. I highly recommend checking out his work.
8. What's your favorite road snack?
Probably an apple. It's clean and easy to eat while you drive, plus you can throw it out the window when you’re finished.
9. The Beatles or The Stones????
Does anyone actually pick The Beatles over The Stones?
10. Favorite book of all time?
This is a hard one, I'll have to give you my top five:
1. Skateboarding Is Not A Fashion by my friend Jurgen Blumlein
2. Monte: King Of Atom-age Monster Decals
3. Jungle Fever by Jean-Paul Goude
4. Fuck You Heroes by Glen E. Friedman
5. Subway Art by Martha Cooper & Henry Chalfant