Sidecar Racing in Australia - Vic Champs 2003

First time for a long time passenger experience.
Sidecar Racing in Australia - Vic Champs 2003: "On 30 November 2003 my were entered to race the #68 Sidecar. But with the engine in parts it seemed fruitless, so I attended as Secretary of the club to assist with management.
A long term competitor of mine Max Hooper,# 69 whom I first raced against in 1970, asked me to race with him because his passenger, Josh Hooper was injured in a solo race crash.


Well, did that start the butterflies, no leathers, helmet or boots and an offer to ride with Max. Gallantly I accepted the offer and figured the other matters could be resolved. The first race was actually practice for me as I missed them all and as it was the first time for 20 years that I have raced as a passenger, I had a fast learning curve"

Sidecar Racing in Australia - Eastern Creek 2004

Share a few lpas with me at Eastern Creek
Sidecar Racing in Australia - Eastern Creek 2004: "SIDECAR RAMBLINGS
Do you remember those times when life is pretty calm, everybody seems safe and well, bikes in the shed and the dog is not at the vets. And you may be pondering another sample of the good life when the phone rings and somebody asks for help. You naturally ask how and then terror strikes, can you do�. something you think is beyond the pale.
Like, lend me your bike; I have 10 metres of soil to move by hand, type of question.
A few days ago an archrival in racing Max made such a call.
Last time he asked I was at the track, the air was full of noise and Castrol R and I was not responsible for any decision I made at the time.
This time I was at home, contemplating day's activities with the Granddaughter and some tinkering on the outfit. He explained he needed a replacement passenger for Eastern Creek on 14 / 15 August 2004, his normal passenger was confined to home on home duties."

Maxton Suspension Monoshocks

Maxton Suspension Monoshocks: "FORMULA 1 AND FORMULA 2 RACING SIDECARS
At Maxton all of our shock absorbers are built to order, because of this we can manufacture shock absorbers specifically designed for Sidecar racing. As well as the shock being the correct length and eye sizes, we have also strived to perfect and design the best valving or damping rate for each manufacturer of sidecar. The combination of both these factors means we supply preset shock absorbers to suit the make of sidecar, the rider weights and what you use the sidecar for. We supply shock absorbers to all the major manufacturers of Racing Sidecars :"

Solitude-Rennen 1964 - World Championship Run

Solitude-Rennen 1964 - World Championship Run

Far from side-tracked

Far from side-tracked:
CHRIS NICKELS has been racing sidecars for over 40 years and had never won abroad, but this year has seen him enjoy a great season and finally well and truly eradicate that statistic from his record.
The old saying of `If at first you don't succeed try and try again,' has at last turned up trumps for the 58 year-old driver from Leigh, who despite his advancing years has lost none of his enthusiasm for the sport.
Together with his 37-year-old nephew Ian, a plasterer from West Swindon, his passenger for the last three seasons, Chris broke his duck with a win in Mattet, Belgium earlier this year."

A Bit On The Side

This has a great description of modern sidecar racing; John DaleyA Bit On The Side: "When you think of sidecars and sidecar racing, you could be forgiven for thinking that the sport would basically revolve around a motorcycle with a wicker basket tacked onto the side, in the style of Wallace and Gromit, or even more those bizarre “Two Fat Ladies”, sadly now numbering one, who drove into the living rooms of the nation with a programme dedicated to cooking.

Nothing could in fact be further from the truth, and today’s sidecar exponents and the equipment they use have more in common with Formula One car technology than even their solo racing counterparts. The modern racing sidecar chassis is very different from the sidecars of yore. The sidecar is an integral part of the machine; the wheels are wide with a flat profile (Formula one car style) with the whole machine being set very low to the tarmac. Streamlining and cowlings that an envelop the “Outfit” are the result of many hours in the wind tunnel, and after all the aerodynamic tweaks these sculpted beauties resemble a 200mph motorised bobsleigh.
"

The Festival Of Sidecars - Real Classic Motorcycle Rides

The Festival Of Sidecars - Real Classic Motorcycle Rides: "The Festival Of Sidecars

Classic racing comes in all shapes and sizes. Roy Workman enjoys a day out with the outfits, at Mallory Park's annual sidecar event...

This is the biggest gathering of racing sidecars in the country. It is organised by the Retford and District Motor Club, and it takes place at Mallory Park in Leicestershire. This is an annual meeting and this was the ninth such occasion. There was a full programme of 18 races.

With twenty-plus outfits lined up on the starting grid, the spectators are guaranteed plenty of excitement throughout the race, especially when they all jostle for space in the bends.

The riders range from Steve Webster, arguably the most successful sidecar driver since the sport began, to Roy Hanks, another famous family name in the sport."

1949-1952 Eric Oliver Norton-Watsonian 500 and 600cc Racing Sidecars

This site has some great pictures and stories from the 50's, John Daley
1949-1952 Eric Oliver Norton-Watsonian 500 and 600cc Racing Sidecars: "This machine is truly historic not just because it won the 1962 Isle of Mann International Tourist Trophy sidecar race but the way it did. Designed, constructed, developed and ridden by Vincent himself, it interrupted the eight year domination of the Isle of Man Blub Riband race by the German BMW racers. Almost beyond belief he did it with a production sports roadster engine from the BSA range he had tuned himself, with advice from his colleagues in the BSA experimental department.

The BMW power units were limited production racing engines, very expensive and only available to selected riders. They produced as much as 25% more power than Vincent's humble twin."

1949-1952 Eric Oliver Norton-Watsonian 500 and 600cc Racing Sidecars

1949-1952 Eric Oliver Norton-Watsonian 500 and 600cc Racing Sidecars: "Eric Oliver was, in the years after World War Two, the finest racing sidecar rider in the world. He was World Champion four times, won an Isle of Man TT race and countless minor road races always ona Norton-Watsonian outfit like the one pictured. In later years success would have been easier on a foreign multi cylinder machine but fiercely patriotic Oliver stuck to the British single cyclinder saying he had flown British during the war and would always race British"

Technorati Search for: racing sidecars

Technorati Search for: racing sidecars: "Brands Hatch 30th April - 1st May 2005

had failed to realise, was that the next 2 sidecars ahead of us were F1 outfits that we were racing... be doing really well. Going on to the left hander at surtees we overtook 4 (yes FOUR) sidecars, only... battle with 2 other F1 sidecars and an F2. We were so fast through the left hander at Graham Hill Bend

* Posted 8 days ago in Lindsey Brothers Sidecar Racin..."

The rantings of a Kiwi petrolhead.: A Kiwi World Record!!!

The rantings of a Kiwi petrolhead.: A Kiwi World Record!!!: "A Kiwi World Record!!!
After 3.5 years and $200,000 Kiwi Glen Hayward ripped the world record for 1000cc sidecars from T. Brown who had held it for 19 years.

Glen and Phil Garrett both smashed the record by 50 kph and 40kph respetively, raising the mark to an average of 272kph both ways. The record has yet to be ratified by the FIM but it seems that this step is but a formailty.

It was 50 years ago this week that a record of 261kph was set in the same location, Canterbury, by Bob Burns and Russell Wright. This record lapsed when the rules were changed in the late 60's (bastards :))

So now it's ours again.

Phil is already on record saying that he would willingly head to the Bonneville Salt Flats if he could find the money. This should result in an even faster record as this one was set on a blustery day on a stretch of public road.

Way to go Glen and Phil!!!!"