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Post by Carl on Nov 18, 2018 1:06:37 GMT
A cool before its time British Pathe study of different lines and techniques of sidecars through Ramsey Hairpin
And a more recent short history of the event:
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Post by chrisb on Nov 18, 2018 8:42:23 GMT
brilliant - cheers Carl, although sidecars is one of the scariest things I have seen, I met Jock Taylor in the early 80's and was 'er interesting
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Post by charleselan on Nov 29, 2018 20:10:31 GMT
Great bits of film Carl, I always like looking back at those old clips of the TT before WW2. Have to say for me, that the peak of sidecar (or chairs as it was affectionately known) was the 1960's. So many iconic names during that period, and for a long time the machine to have had to be powered by the flat twin BMW motor. I seem to remember that when Swiss Florian Camathias developed a Gilera 4 cylinder outfit, that began to change.  |
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Post by Carl on Nov 29, 2018 22:15:21 GMT
Most of the TT corners haven't changed at all, something that adds greatly to its interest. The early sidecars were crude designs, but the riders were just as brave as they rounded the hairpin and slowly accelerated away, leaving clouds of dust and exhaust behind. Here's another photo of the great Swiss Florian Camathias as he lifts his right foot back aboard, no longer needed as a precautionary outrigger. They all did the same! Amazing...
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Post by chrisb on Nov 30, 2018 7:59:31 GMT
whilst in no way am I fearless - maybe stupid at times, thanks to my wonderful 'oh what the hell button' there's plenty of time to overtake that - oops, perhaps not, oh well, but there is not a chance in anything would I ride in 'the chair' you really do have to belong to the utterly fearless brigade aka Jenks and wasn't Murray also in the sidecar? but not for me, especially not at the TT. When I was there in 2008 we met a team that has just broken down, this huge tattooed, Mohican haired muscular individual who really should have been in films, you know, the scary ones, was so full on, he really was a different breed.
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Post by charleselan on Nov 30, 2018 12:29:02 GMT
That they are Chris, especially at places like the IOM. This year there was an French all girl crew that did very well indeed at the TT.
In many ways it is a shame that sidecar racing has been sidelined from the GP meetings, but it probably does not fit in with DORNA's aspirations, what ever they may be, other than money and self aggrandisement.
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Post by mikael on Nov 30, 2018 12:56:04 GMT
Regarding the sidecar class, in particular the World Championship (so sorry for going a bit off a tangent ... as usual): With the possible exception of the early years, from the 1950's to the early 1970's, which were dominated first by (factory?) Norton's and then BMW's, it seems that the sidecar class always has been a "garagist" class, with no participation of major manufacturers. I find this interesting in a way. I wonder if the prize money are "big" enough to make the major players professionals - or is it really an amateur's World Championship?
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