139 replies to this topic

[picblanc]

There does not appear to be a topic thread on sidecar racing? so thought I would get one going.
A question was asked about the B2B bike of Biland etc, dont know to many technical details, but he won the 1978 title along with Kenny Williams on his, & Bruno Holzer won the 1979 title on a B2B bike.
Here is Rolf in 1977 along with Kenny Williams on his conventional Symaz outfit.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 05 September 2011 - 21:25.

[philippe7]

Good thread idea, Graham

The "infamous" year 1979 with those two separate championships was a consequence of heavy lobbying by traditionalists ( led by Schwarzel, Steinhausen , Schauzu...and hence named "the germans" in the french press of the times ) to come back to the roots of "real sidecars" . Without going into unnecessarily complex technical details, the B2A category was for outfits with a traditional "earles" type front suspension and steering by direct handlebars , whereas the B2B was for modern outfits with car-type triangular suspensions .

But this desperate attempt by "the germans" failed miserably, since their best enemy, Swiss Rolf Biland, who was the figurehead of the "moderns" , failed to win the B2B category ( beaten by the consistency of Bruno Holzer who came second in each single race, whereas Biland and Alain Michel shared the wins but had a few DNF's...) but made a point to also enter the B2A championship with a traditional outfit , and to trash "the germans" with his pure riding skills...

All the results one can wish to find about sidecars are still on the late Vincent Glon's website, which is still online to this day
http://racingmemo.fr.....0- GRILLE.htm
(clicking on the champion's name in the large general file leads to the details of each season )

[rd500]

great thread, my most enduring sidecar memories are from the late jock taylor.

his record lap at the tt in 1980 i think was only broken in 1989 by boddice and i saw how quick he was going that day!

also i remeber when he came back to knockhill after the world title win and ron haslam had the lap record on his tz750, in the last race of the day he came across the tannoy anouncing he was going for the outright lap record, the sight of jock drifting that outfit round the hairpin [called taylors turn now] was something else and has always stuck with me.

he was trying so hard he eventually ran off the track and damaged the sidecard IIRC. nobody could believe it when we heard the news of the accident.

RIP jock.

[bella]

Biland, now theres another genuine legend that gets very little "time".
Lost a few titles through his technologically advanced development issues .

[bobness]

I came to the party in 1980, when Jock was just about unbeatable.
For a couple of years, Biland's name drew the same kind of awestruck look as Kenny and Bazza. A man who just didn't like to stand still. And has anyone ever actually bought any Rodolphe Deville aftershave?
:-)

[omobono]

Nearing the end of BMW domination

[Rennmax]

Doing a 99.31 mph lap at the TT 36 years ago...

Edited by Rennmax, 06 September 2011 - 14:27.

[picblanc]

Rolf & his BEO outfit 1978.


Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 06 September 2011 - 13:33.

[picblanc]

A great variety of designs in Sidecar racing, now they pretty much all look the same?
Rolf Steinhausen & Wolfgang Kalauch in 1978 on their Seymaz outfit.


Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 06 September 2011 - 13:40.

[picblanc]

That pic of Siggy Schauzu reminds me of the King of Brands race when all the top International/GP guys used to do the Brands race on their way to the TT, Siggy was a regular.

Edited by picblanc, 06 September 2011 - 13:42.

[picblanc]

Three of the best Jones/Ayres, Biland/Williams, Odell/Arthur, sad to see as usual people buggering off home when the Sidecar boys take to the track!


Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 06 September 2011 - 16:00.

[omobono]

Doing a 99.31 mph lap at the TT 36 years ago...

Always good on the Island, but no match for Klaus Enders, if he kept going

[Rennmax]

Three of the best Jones/Ayres, Biland/Williams, Odell/Arthur, sad to see as usual people buggering off home when the Sidecar boys take to the track!

Was it the same in the Vincent/Seeley/Camathias/Deubel era ?

[jonnoj]

Was it the same in the Vincent/Seeley/Camathias/Deubel era ?

Going home before the end of the meeting? They sure did, but bear in mind that some people travel and long way to watch the racing and most circuits are sods to get out of. I've left circuits an hour after the racing and there were still long queues to get out onto the main roads - and that included motorbikes.

[Rennmax]

Going home before the end of the meeting? They sure did, but bear in mind that some people travel and long way to watch the racing and most circuits are sods to get out of. I've left circuits an hour after the racing and there were still long queues to get out onto the main roads - and that included motorbikes.

I recall the time when the sidecar race (usually only one over here) was the highlight of the event that nobody wanted to miss. And I recall the TT in '78 when Biland was circulating on his Beo contraption, where it was better to look the other way or go for a pint....

Edited by Rennmax, 07 September 2011 - 06:56.

[bella]

I recall a terrific sidecar duel at the Mallory race of the year of 1979 between Taylor, Michel and Greasley, as usual Greasley shot off like a scalded cat whilst Taylor and Michel were giving each other some serious grief, they were side by side around the hairpin with some lovely powersliding on the exits and when they caught Greasley it was mayhem x 3 with someone ALWAYS trying to powerslide round the outside.
Watching them made you realise just how skillful the rider was slewing those things round the hairpin on a two stroke powerband and also how the poor passengers mind must been frazzled trying to anticipate the next instantaneous move, tremendous stuff.

[rd500]

yes the modern day sidecars are still nice to watch but they dont have the same feeling [or sound] of the sidecars of old.

dick greasley was another one i enjoyed along with alan michel, i recall him losing a title because his visor came off.

mick boddice was pretty good aswell, i remember seeing him at the goosneck when he had a broken clutch cable, commited i think is a word i could use!

i wasnt at the tt in 90 but i was shown a video from an official yamaha dealer which was where Dave Saville on the 350 was against the new f2 rules 600 honda of boddice, the 350 just sailed past the 600 and broke the first 100mph lap for the class.

the acu/fim made a bit of a mess of the sidecar class imo and irta/dorna were only too happy to get rid of them from the gps, sad

[jaybee49]

Good Call Graham we needed a sidecar thread:..

I use to think that frequently in the 60’ & 70’s it was the best race of the day, myself.

Here are just a few to have a go at:







Also, does anyone recognise this influential fellow in the grand scheme of the history of sidecar racing..?

[picblanc]

Great shots Jim, love the Snetterton one (top) Greasley & Jock on front row, not sure who is far right?
George O'Dell & Cliif Holland, & I think Nigel Rollason bottom, & what a great shot showing how acrobatic you needed to be to passanger back in the "olde days".

[picblanc]

Must be Roy Woodhouse in the Snett pic top on front row right?

[dommieracer]

Hi all,

Glad to see this thread, i have just been given a couple of books for my birthday and one of them is Mick Walkers Sidecar Champions Since 1923. Just had a quick look thru and it looks very good indeed, plenty of period shots. I will try to sit down and read it when i get a chance.
On a different note, the Domie is nearing completion just a few items left to get. Pistons, carbs, foot rests and exhausts.

Kevin

[Herr Wankel]

Must be Roy Woodhouse in the Snett pic top on front row right?

Don't think its Roy mate.Its the Roboserve Konig but I can't for the life of me remember who the pilot was.I think the woodhouse bros were part sponsors.Didn't Roy race a 750 Honda powered rig (mostly) ?
What a superb shot of Nigel,Jim

HW

[picblanc]

Much missed, Mac Hobson with Gordon Russell 1975.


Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 08 September 2011 - 08:04.

[philippe7]

While looking for a certain extraordinary pic of Mac Hobson that I remembered having seen in period ( taken at Assen ) I stumbled upon Dick Greasley's official website....I only read the first page so far ( called "Dick Greasley sidecar... the racing years" ) and it's well written and a very intersting read... didn't remember that Dick had been in contention for the 1979 B2A world title until the last meters of the last race...

http://dickgreasley.com/index.html

[Robin127]

Much missed, Mac Hobson with Stu Collins 1975.


Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Isn't that Gordon Russell in the chair?

[jaybee49]

Great shots Jim, love the Snetterton one (top) Greasley & Jock on front row, not sure who is far right?George O'Dell & Cliif Holland, & I think Nigel Rollason bottom, & what a great shot showing how acrobatic you needed to be to passanger back in the "olde days".

Its our old friend Mick Boddice, Graham..

Anyone no idea who the chap is yet?

[philippe7]

It's not Dieter König, is it, Jim ?

[jaybee49]

No, Philippe, but your sort of on the right track...(excuse the pun)

[picblanc]

Isn't that Gordon Russell in the chair?

Doh!! thats what happens when tired! it is indeed Gordon Russell, I shall change the original post, thanks Robin.

[picblanc]

Its our old friend Mick Boddice, Graham..

Anyone no idea who the chap is yet?

Ah thanks Jim, no idea from me who the Gent being interviewed is though?

[picblanc]

This was truly beautiful, Attrill & Coomber 998 HRD Vincent outfit 1977.



Photos Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 08 September 2011 - 08:25.

[Herr Wankel]

Ah thanks Jim, no idea from me who the Gent being interviewed is though?

I'll chip in with Dieter Busch.Its OK,I've got my coat ready !!
That Vinnie, just superb,word can't do it justice

HW

[Rennmax]

Dr. Peter Kuhn, the brain behind the URS (with a little help from you caption Jim...)

[Herr Wankel]

Dr. Peter Kuhn, the brain behind the URS (with a little help from you caption Jim...)

Would have never got it even if I lived to be 200.Well done Renn

HW

[jaybee49]

Dr. Peter Kuhn, the brain behind the URS (with a little help from you caption Jim...)

That is right Renn. Dr. Peter Kuhn. Well, I thought I would give everyone have a chance and leave the same name in the file...

[Dewie]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Well here we go.
This was my first outfit, purchased for me in 1974 by the great Barry Smith. Yamaha 650 twin running on 25% nitro in a Lindsay Urquhart frame. Great machine


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This was our second outfit. Rolling chassis purchased from Alex Campbell 1977 and TZ750 engine supplied by Barry Smith It was our most successful bike.
It was destroyed in a massive crash in 1980.



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My third ride came 12 months later ( after all the broken limbs healed ) from Allan Jamison who offered his TZ powered outfit.


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After a lot of work it turned into a fair unit



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Anyhow thats my story, hope its not too boring

Edited by Dewie, 09 September 2011 - 11:37.

[Dewie]

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And my favourite shot

Edited by Dewie, 09 September 2011 - 11:44.

[Russell Burrows]

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Thats better Sorry about that . Just did it all wrong

That's an excellent shot. Did you ever sell it?

[Russell Burrows]

Was it the same in the Vincent/Seeley/Camathias/Deubel era ?

If I recall correctly, Renn, they didn't usually run them at the end of the meeting. Is this what tended to happen later? In Australia - where not all the outfits were meticulously prepared, and they routinely ran their races in the middle of the proramme - there was sometimes protests from non outfit blokes; I can recall Bill Horsman becoming very animated with a steward at Oran Park after said official declined to black flag an outfit that was billowing smoke and laying oil all over the circuit.

[Dewie]

That's an excellent shot. Did you ever sell it?

Russell the bike was destroyed at A.I.R may 1980 when we were involved in the mishap which took Alex Campbell’s life

[Russell Burrows]

Russell the bike was destroyed at A.I.R may 1980 when we were involved in the mishap which took Alex Campbell’s life

Apologies Dewie, having almost lost track of bikes around then, I was only vaguely aware of Alex's death.

[picblanc]

Great photos Dewie, thanks for sharing them.

[picblanc]

The Borets Renwick Konig early 1974, with either Nick or Gerry in white T-shirt?


Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 09 September 2011 - 14:57.

[jonnoj]

Sidecar racing seemed to lose a something when the passenger stopped hanging out in front of the chair wheel. They were much more acrobatic when they had to move diagonally across the bike, instead of side-to-side as they do now.

[dommieracer]

Sidecar racing seemed to lose a something when the passenger stopped hanging out in front of the chair wheel. They were much more acrobatic when they had to move diagonally across the bike, instead of side-to-side as they do now.

I totally agree, CRMC rules used to be forward exit only for the sidecars. Think that has gone out the window now aswell.

Kevin

[philippe7]

This was my first outfit, purchased for me in 1974 by the great Barry Smith.

Dewie, is your former sponsor the same Barry Smith who was a factory Derbi rider in the late 60's , and then came back to Grand Prix in the late 70's as a privateer with a 125 Morbidelli , winning the infamous 1979 Belgian GP in the process ? I must confess I do not know much about the gent, except that he was Australian....

[Russell Burrows]

Dewie, is your former sponsor the same Barry Smith who was a factory Derbi rider in the late 60's , and then came back to Grand Prix in the late 70's as a privateer with a 125 Morbidelli , winning the infamous 1979 Belgian GP in the process ? I must confess I do not know much about the gent, except that he was Australian....

Barry was originally from somewhere up north - England that is. Or is my memory playing tricks again.

Edited by Russell Burrows, 09 September 2011 - 23:22.

[jaybee49]

Here are a few more:

Edited by jaybee49, 10 September 2011 - 08:04.

[picblanc]

The late Mal White middle shot, killed @ Silverstone.
More great shots Jim.

[Dewie]

Dewie, is your former sponsor the same Barry Smith who was a factory Derbi rider in the late 60's , and then came back to Grand Prix in the late 70's as a privateer with a 125 Morbidelli , winning the infamous 1979 Belgian GP in the process ? I must confess I do not know much about the gent, except that he was Australian....

Yes thats right and Formula 3 World Champion, in 1981 I think