Sidecar Racing [Update: SE Championships]

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Update on page 3: Been carrying on with the sidecar racing again this year with a permanent team now. We competed in the South-East Championships yesterday, although we didn't get a very good result in the end as our suspension packed up before the final race Brick Wall

. A friend who does photography came along with me to this one, so I got quite a few decent pictures of the days events I thought i'd share.

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Tried something a little different today - sidecar racing with Team Penfold at Grafty Green in Kent. Nil off-road experience, Nil grass-track experience, Nil side-car experience - Thought I might as well get on with it all at once Laughing

No video of me riding just yet, as Paddy and Ian who kindly came along to support and record it arrived after the practice/first race, and my later two were cancelled because of the bike having issues, but i've ordered the official video of the event so i'll upload that when I get it next week.

Really enjoyed it, although the first time i've been genuienely frightened by something Shocked

many brown-pants moments at the start.

I was riding sidecar on this
https://i62.tinypic.com/2ugm2vn.jpg
https://i59.tinypic.com/35bzif8.jpg
https://i60.tinypic.com/2nrexkx.jpg
https://i61.tinypic.com/5x2a2f.jpg

This was transformed Laughing

https://i57.tinypic.com/2po1nir.jpg
https://i58.tinypic.com/5xmoh.jpg
https://i62.tinypic.com/wgvtef.jpg

Big Karma

to Paddy for kindly hosting me for the weekend [and letting me play around on his KTM and Blackbird Twisted Evil

]

TheSmiler · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Karma :

Sounds really cool, I'd love to try the sidecar racing does look like so much fun.
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P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Not a problem mate, as I said you are more than welcome whenever!

Glad you enjoyed the bikes Laughing

Few pics, I took more but this is the best ones of the bunch.

Great day out really, enjoyed a different side of biking and meeting a stand up guy, great weekend!

What really irked me was the fact everyone seemed to run the most unreliable bikes. I ride shit, but some of these just spluttered and died. I know there are probably strict regulations they need to stick to, but is it really that hard to run a nice 600/1000cc lump in a frame? Laughing

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Didn't realise my camera was such a potato... Your pictures are great, all the ones I took of the racing are blurred and out of focus Laughing

Definately recruiting you to record next time Shocked

Prod Ian to upload the KTM video Laughing

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Caught the mud-flick on camera quite well Laughing

Did you video the sidecars final take-off by any chance, looks like I accidently set my camera to photo, i've only got a single photo where there should be a video Doh!

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Iain likely does, battery died on mine Laughing

Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Karma :

Not at all what I expected when I clicked on the thread. Looks like great fun though. Thumbs Up

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Don't worry, the crash threads will follow i'm sure Laughing

Almost flipped during the first lap of first practice Whistle

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

To be honest it was very tiring, i'm absolutly exhausted this evening [and severely sunburnt Mad

]. It probably didn't help I barely ate before hand as I was nervous, but after running along with five blokes pushing the bike for 30 odd metres in full MX gear under the hot sun to get it started before each race, and then hopping on and hanging off for a few laps it became really physically draining, and quite mentally stressful as being aware my arms were on the verge of giving out when hitting large bumps was quite worrying

Ultimately though it was fun, everytime we came in I wanted to head back out after i'd had a bit of a sitdown. Unfortunantely it was first race of the season so the bikes were being very tempremental and needed lots of tweaking and fixing between runs. Hoping if I can make next weekend it will be a bit more full-on.

I think the max speeds are around 60mph, expect we hit somewhere in the mid 40's during the day as I wasn't confident enough on my positioning to get the bike upto top speeds so far.

I think I would draw the line at the lefthanders though, hanging on my arms with my ass out onto the floor is one thing - the right handers are perched lying over the riders seat with their face almost on the floor at times - that I am not in any hurry to have a try at

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Looks ace! Pretty sure I wouldn't have the balls for it. ; - )

How's Iain's hand now?
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_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

My photos are all shit, but got a few good videos before my camera ran out of memory - one of the start below;

https://youtu.be/JzWcoHmgSKI

Matts KTM first attempt - was expecting it to hit power and put him through the hedge if im honest Laughing

https://youtu.be/Uu1Y77Zwmrc

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Think i'm more impressed with myself for surviving on that KTM for the afternoon Neutral

very fun, but very, very jumpy Laughing

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

As an aside, can you find a copy of the regulations/specifications required for these? I cannot see anything stating what vehicles must/musn't have etc Laughing

-Monty- · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Apr 2012 Karma :

Looks seriously fun Very Happy

I'm tempted to come down and watch next weekend if you will be there; although it will mean 400 miles of riding in 1 day, plus I think I am working so might not be able to anyway Sad

How did you manage to get into this anyway Matt?
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P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Matts anus was damaged, my anus is sore. Its basically cheating mate. Laughing

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-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

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P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :