3 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

Was the choice of whether or not a GP sidecar had the passenger platform on either the left or right side purely the personal choice of either the passenger or rider, or was there any advantage of one side over the other side?

[GD66]

As sidecars were originally roadster-based, the chosen side normally reflected what was on the road where you grew up, so traditionally the British crews' chairs were on the left, and many Europeans (Germans mainly, not necessarily the Swiss crews) had the chair on the right. You could argue that with most circuits running clockwise, the left-mounted chair would have some advantage. That didn't seem to matter to the Germans with the horsepower advantage of the Rennsport BMWs...

Edited by GD66, 06 February 2013 - 08:44.

[Ristin]

Obviously it did matter at some point. As far as I remember, Rolf Steinhausen was the last one to ride with a right-hand sidecar (build by Dieter Busch) on international level - up to 1989.

[dommieracer]

In the early years it didnt matter too much on what side the chair was fitted, but as speeds and development grew and with tracks most being clockwise a left hand chair became std. But put a top rider in a classic race with a right hand chair you could well see him at the front or win.