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Classic Sidecar Racing

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Events & Photos 2008

Classic Bikes - Classic Sidecars - Tributes

New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Sidecars

Now back in the old days of Classic Side chairs which bolted onto the bike and handy for carting stuff around as well as the kids when they were running late for school....

"Classic Sidecar Racing's one of the most spectacular classes of motorcycle racing to watch and very different from the road going motorcycle combinations to which they are related. When sidecar racing first became very popular in the 1920's, outfits were indeed solos with a lightweight large wheeled chair bolted on.

In 1923 the first Isle of Man sidecar TT was won by Freddy Dixon, whose Douglas outfit featured a lever with which passenger Walter Perry made the machine bank through corners. Banking FLxicar sidecars were also successful in American dirt-track racing in the 1920's. By the time Britain's Eric Oliver won the first of his four sidecar world championships in 1949, the sidecar had become much lower so allowing the passenger, Denis Jenkinson, to lean out in left-hand bends".

Switzerland and Germany have produced many of the world's best sidecar drivers and designers over the years. Germany's Max Deubeland Emil Horner won four consecutive championships on BMW flat-twins in the 1960s. It was Swiss Fritz Scheidegger won two titles and did much to advance technical thinking in sidecars. German Helmut Fath won the championship in 1960 with a BMW, and returned after a serious injury to win it again eight years later with the URS, whose four-stroke engine he built himself.

Two strokes took over in the 1970s, initially with German Konigs and then with Yamahas. The sidecar's chassis revolution came a few years later, led by the Swiss Seymaz, whose monocoque aluminium platform and car-style suspension and wheels gave a lower, lighter machine than the traditional steel frame and telescopic forks. Although today sidecars still retain a following they have been excluded from many Grand Prix venues, and the future of sidecar racing was not known".

NZCMRR & EVENTS

242 Moto Guzzi 1975

CLASSIC FESTIVAL 2008

#43 Published BikeRider

NZ CLASSIC SIDECARS

1955 Triumph - 74

1975 Norton Commando

1962 Norton - 306

Paeroa 2007

1961 Matchless - 95

1972 BSA Blackadder


	Wanganui Cemetery Circuit 2007

26th December 2008

New Zealand Classic Sidecar Swinger Brett Sproull will be greatly missed on the tracks and circuits for the 2008 Classic Sidecar racing season and this tragic loss for John Blaymires on the Moto guzzi 950cc classic sidecar simply blew minds away after an amazing days racing at the Wanganui Cemetery Circuit 2007 on Boxing Day. Tribute Page for Brett Sproull and the Photo Collection for 2007. 242 @ Have A Go Day 19th October 2008

1975 Harley 68

1972 Norton Commando

1968 Norton - 156

1974 BMW

1962 Matchless - 316

1975 Norton Commando

1962 Norton SR Special

NZ Classic TT Event - Labour Weekend 2008

"Classic Weekend of Racing coming up....!!!

History about Sidecar Racing

Today classic sidecar racing is still a big event on the tracks and circuits around Europe, especially the UK. There's no doubt the number of sidecars and riders are growing each year in the sidecar racing events with the biggest of course being the annual Classic Festival.

The most interesting fact about sidecar racing is; two riders are required makes this kind of bike racing unique with the 'swinger' having fifty percent of the handling performance. Without the swinger and the skill and precision timing, the rider will have little control of the sidecar which is what makes it spectacular to watch.

Early New Zealand history for Classic Sidecar Racing is something I haven't had a dig in the archives to find and will probably be as elusive as trying to find out when the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle came to New Zealand. New Zealand's fortunate to have many classic racing sidecars including the 1975 Harley-Davidson owned by Keith Sinclair and is currently the only Harley sidecar racing. This could change soon with two more Harley Sidecars currently known to be under construction will bring that edge of competition on the track for this class of motorcycle.

The first classic sidecar I ever saw racing was 316 (the Dennison Brothers) with their well tuned 1962 Matchless G15 at the 2003 Paeroa, Battle of the Streets annual event. This topsy-turvy upside down swinging technique of hanging over the sidechair for Dave Dennison is a routine these two brothers have perfected for the crowds. The annual 'Have a Go Day' event organised by the New Zealand Sidecar Racing Association is a great opportunity for the public to experience first hand 'swinging' on the Sidecars.

*Footnote and Acknowledgement to Roland Brown, Author of The Encyclopedia of Motorcycles for a slice of History on Sidecar Racing.

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