@@marcuswardle3180 actually 0 sympathy, they know the risk and take it purposly. I call this natural selection. Bad for familys or kids left behind but stupid by the dead. There are far better situation to put the heart to. For example when the victims cant do anyting about hteir situation. Those drivers choose the risk.
@@marcuswardle3180 father was a TT veteran but son was a rookie :( as harsh as it sounds, I wouldn't really wish the father to survive that when his son died...that would've been horrible for the father too :(
I dream about having one of these built of a liter, or 1+++ turbo busa, that is more street oriented design, because I became disabled in a workplace injury in 2003...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
This is the craziest motorsport of all. I think being the passenger is just impossible to imagine Fair play and respect for their bravery and skill RIP to those who lost their lives at this years TT, its sad, but they know what they are getting in to
Old Grand Prix and Endurance racing - like from the 1920s and 1930s - they were like this. The driver and mechanic rode in the same car, side by side, at speeds of up to 180mph by the late 30s…with thin tires and brakes made of old rags. They were a special kind of crazy, like these people in sidecar racing.
Respect to those that have the courage to partake in these sports and to their families that support them. I remember watching a work mate who's brother was a sidecar racer start training to be his brothers passenger after his brothers passenger was injured. He put in an amazing amount of work to build up his fitness, endurance, flexibility and strength to be able to perform well. When asked why he said he wanted to help his brother reach his dreams. When asked about the risk and his own family he simply said he trusts his brother and his family supports them because that's what families do
when I was little after seeing the sidecar racing from the music video "take on me", I used to think it was a joke. without doing my homework, I thought "oh the passenger is just gonna sit there and watch the whole ride? LOL" ...and Boy was I wrong... the passenger is absolutely amazing skilled...
In the 1970s my grandfather was a sidecar passenger, His name Francis Knights, he raced around Europe and also the TT, alongside Jeff Gawley, Helmut Schilling and also Roger Dixon. Absolute balls of steel that unfortunately I didn't inherit 😂. It's an honour and privilege to have known him. Beside sidecars were different to today much more basic and dangerous. I love they carried on the Motorsport it's like a monster it's bigger than the rest of us.
Oh yeah if you think this is Bonkers check out the Skandinavian Trailbike racing in the Snow with three to four inch spikes in both wheels. I think it rates close …
RIP Roger and Bradley Stockton, Father and Son sidecar outfit, 3 wheel channel was one of their sponsors, who passed away at this year’s TT. RIP to all 5 this year❤️
Hey Ian, I'm with you, too insane for me. Sidecars (and bikes) used to race at Bathurst up until about 2000, there's a lot of YT vids out there, it's pretty intense.
Holy sidecar!!!!! Love the sidecars. Most of them are private and build their own bikes. Really just for the love of it. They call the non driver the passenger but i think they should be called ballast!
Hey man, glad you enjoyed my suggestion, i’m just now getting around to watching the vid since i just got out of basic but i love learning about extreme motorsports and what it takes physically and mentally to succeed in them.
Always loved sidecar racing. The teamwork between the rider and the passenger is amazing. Such a joy to watch. Still safer than going to school in the US.
During WW II most armies used bikes with sidecars - one rider, one gunner to deliver orders, cards and so on. After WW II they were pretty common in Europe as cheap alternatives to cars. And the way humans work - if you have a vehicle with a motor - they want to find out who is the fastest...
Posted this on discord ages ago, glad you got around to it. A friend used to build and race these and did well against factory teams. His father also built and raced and lost his life racing sidecars but did not deter Shane. Requires teamwork even more than rally.
Don't know about now but back in the day the passenger was called a swinger, because he swung around on the sidecar. Knew a guy from a bike shop who went to the isle of man with a sidecar team, was trying to explain what it was going over the bridges at 100mph with your helmet tapping the stones on the bridge. Not for me....
I worked with a guy that raced as a passenger in the 50s and 60s with one of our sidecar legends Chris Vincent . He was one of the most friendly and unassuming guys I ever met .🇬🇧
And he's only talking about the F2 category, imagine the F1 category that has 1000cc engines! But even so, these modern 4-stroke outfits don't hold a candle in terms of dangerousness to the 500cc 2-stroke era, when the engines were directly derived from the MotoGP bikes: almost the same power as today's litre engines but much more nimble and light. Those were the real widowmakers! Fun Facts about the F1 and F2 categories: on the F2's the engine is in front of the driver (or below, depending on how you look at it) but on the F1's the engine must be behind the driver, making the outfits slightly longer than the F2's. You know Motocross, right? Now imagine Sidecar Cross! Yeah, it exists, so hold your 'What's The Craziest Sport' ranking until you watch some Sidecar Cross races. 😉
An older friend of mine (now, sadly, no longer with us) was a racing passenger and even in his 70s he had a permanent limp due to a very nasty accident while racing, and that was in the late 60s, so these guys deserve the greatest respect, it is probably the most dangerous way to race in any motorsport.
In 70's a friend was a passenger for his brother for a couple of years. He said it was hairy especially down the old conrod straight at Bathurst, when the whole outfit was airborne at he end (before the chase). they had guts to do that . . . . Never knew about miniature sidecar racing though, it looks great.
Bit of info Ian , in 1923 a man called Freddie Dixon invented an outfit where the bike could lean toward the sidecar on bends , throwing additional weight onto the sidecar wheel , it also had a disc brake on the front wheel .🇬🇧
Brits ride on a different side of the road to other Europeans, so racing sidecars came in left and right hand varieties. This made close quarter tussles dangerous, particularly on limited TT clearances, where corners were approached at different speeds. Check out classic TT footage to see the effect. Modern sidecars have car style steering geometry, whereas older outfits had basic Earles fork motorcycle type steering. The rider had to battle the combination round bends. Before kneeler outfits became popular in the 1960s, sidecars resembled normal bikes and the high centre of gravity threatened to throw the pair off at every corner. Those guys were absolute heroes.
My old man was passenger on a motocross combination (bike and side car). He was just as bonkers as me. Here's a peek! ruclips.net/video/Uk05VuvqW5w/видео.html And here's the Trials version ruclips.net/video/no141Av72eY/видео.html
In 1992-98 the legendary Suissauto engines was built in sidecars like this (Biland/Baltisberg) and won almost everything. They've been naturally aspirated 500cc V4 two-stroke engines, weighing around 80lbs (incl clutch and 6 speed gearbox!) and developed around 200hp. That's 400HP per liter displacement! Probably the most powerful naturally aspirated engine EVER.
Told ya bloke this is where a crazy rider has that friend thats got the hold my beer attitude all the time honestly these guys are crazy and the level of athleticism for the passenger is off the wall ive always loved watching these guys rip around just that bit more due to the respect for what they are doing dont get me wrong tt superbike riders are crazy but these guys are basically wile e coyote level 👍🇦🇺
There are always several people that lose their lives TT week, some are fans too. The sidecar bikes run full throttle like eighty percent of the time, the senior bikes are only at full throttle around fifteen percent of the time. I started watching it back in the early 2000s. It is by far the most dangerous racing on the planet.
On the "slower side of things" ... James May - one of the Top Gear/Grand Tour guys - built his own version of Motorcycle + sidecar ... from MECCANO, which is a children's construction set basically made up of small metal strips and tiny screws. There are also tiny electrical motors ... He did drive around the Isle of Man TT course during race week (during the closed hours) and managed to complete a lap together with his buddy Oz Clarke. It took them HOURS with frequent repairs on the go.
I remember as a young lad, going to Rowley Park Speedway to watch sidecar racing; it was on a circular track, and you would get sprayed with the fine gravel off of the track. They also had demolition derbies.
I used to end up in the bar after bike races, and the thing that struck me was how all the sidecar racers were mates. They raced hard, then all hung out together afterwards. Good people imo, so it's always tragic to lose them.
You can definitely do a part 2 on side car racing. There are crazy clips of passengers dragging their heads through the grass for the most weight transfer.
Five racers in total lost their lives at the IOM TT this year. A father and son driver/passenger in a sidecar crash and a sidecar driver a few days before. Plus two solo riders. Rest in peace all those guys.
12/10/1973 i was at Claremont speedway Perth Western Australia to see a really good friend of my family "Neville Gorman" race sidecar and he was the passenger, 1st race in 1st place second lap he came off and the sidecar in 3rd place hit him in the head killing him instantly i will never 4get that night. R.I.P Neville Gorman. 😔
My uncle did this in the Netherlands & Europa 1975 untill 1985 with his first wife she was THE BAKKENIST ( PASSEGER ) Got his helmet as Birthday present. Uncle is still with us . Greetz poeloe
Imagine as a passenger in high speed a sidecar race, you accidentally sprain your wrist, twist your ankle or dislocate your shoulder while maneuvering your body from one side to the other... you're then in deep trouble! By the time you communicate the situation to your driver, it may be too late to avoid a crash.
It is sad that they died but at the same time they should be celebrated. They died doing what they loved. I'd rather go out like that than a horrible lingering disease or similar.
My boy friend took me to one of these sidecar races and we saw one did not make a corner and smashed into a brick wall both were killed it was horrific,this was in the 60's.
I used to work with one of the nutcases that rode the sidecar, he did the Motorsport in the summer and worked as an electrician in the winter. He was a really nice guy who wasn't crazy at all😉, NOT.
When I was a kid in a little town called Collie in Western Australia they used to have a street race wk end bikes and sidecars.It was awesome people having house parties and on roofs watching,sidecars were the best and passenger has to have the biggest balls of all.Then insurance come in and it was gone🤬
I used to have a vintage BSA outfit. Bloody thing near killed me, when the sidecar mounts broke and it put me into the grill of a Mercedes. Over 3 months in hospital and a year off work. Scary things, outfits.
The magic of the tt races is that it kills people - it's like the ultimate gamble 🎰 for those that dare or are crazy enough to do it, and there's plenty of them!
You should know that outfits have been raced for as long as solos - they are not new. They have developed (especially aerodynamically) in the same way as racing motorcycles. A 1900's solo looks like a completely different beast to a 2020 example and the same goes for their 3 wheeled equivalents.
Wish I could put a picture Up here Of what I do it's the absolute most adrenaline pumping sport and we use 1000cc bikes but On dirt track in Australia but still get to around 100 miles an hour on the straight cheers have watched y for a couple of years now and always enjoy your content and take On everything.
On average 2 people a year have died racing the Isle of Man TT, since it's inception in 1907. Every single rider that takes part know the risks of travelling at nearly 200mph on normal public roads.
I think it's close, but I think the sidecar driver/passenger combo is "crazier" than the solo TT riders, because at least on a solo bike your life is entirely in your hands, but with the sidecars your life absolutely depends upon the actions of both the driver and the passenger. One mistake by either the driver or passenger and both can be killed! That's a crazy level of trust.
The Isle of Man TT is the greatest motorcycling event in the world. I scrolled through the comments, I didn't see one that wants the TT banned. RIP to all the riders who tragically died. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends in there time of loss.
It's true. Most professionals drivers / riders WILL NOT TOUCH the Manx TT. They think it's true madness with their business mind. Not worth the potential reward. Takes a special kind of dedication and people for the sport to want to ride the Manx TT. Heck, just wanting to spectate, is basis for a long hard think. Personally, I'd like to ride the Manx circuit, off-season, on my own bike, at my own pace. And my bike is not a racer. It has studded(offroad) tyres, and it has a V-twin engine to give a hint or two.
A note of respect to the racers who lost their lives at the TT this year. Plus special sympathy to the French pairing who were mis-identified. Respect and admiration.
When I grew up, there was a "famous" person in my small village called Udligenswil. His name was Rolf Biland and he was a sidecar racer. In fact, he is the most successful racer of all times with 81 race wins.
Just found your video, pretty awesome take on sidecar racing. I was a pro passenger here in the US for three seasons, and a pro driver for 10 in the Formula 1 Sidecar class. It got me a spot in an episode of Mythbusters blasting down the Alameda runway in my sidecar at 180mph :) As far as how scary being on the back is, it's about 1/100th as scary as it looks on video once you're back there. In regards to the physical fitness required, it does help to be in good shape/cardio, but it all comes down to finesses and timing. Less is more, and knowing when to transfer the weight, where to, and why makes all the difference. You have to know the track just as good as the driver so you can both be fast. My R2 unit had motorcycle and automotive roadracing experience and we could rip like wonder twins. I have a bunch of my sidecar racing videos on my channel, consider me a subscriber.
While the focus at times is on the passenger, often it is the rider that comes off worse as if these things go bellyup, the rider is often stuck as some of these are so well guilt, it is a capsule that the rider fits in to. Thus, if they go upside down or out of control, a passenger may be thrown (and absolutely that hurts - have mates to do it), the rider is so often stuck. Honestly, these along with super-motards are my go to classifications for bike racing, and I have been watching or involved for 35 years.
There was a Guy and his passenger in the 70's who lived in Mildura Victoria his name was Percy Jones and he was the Austrlian Sidecar Champion at the time who tried to jump a Honda Goldwing and Sidecar over the Murray River between Victoria and N.S.W they built ramps and worked out the angles that they calculated to jump from ramp to ramp but in the end they got it wrong and crashed on the other side of the bank and got badly hurt in the process I cannot remember if he tried again but I think he did I will try and find out more about it later cheers
that was clarry jones, and he was a speedway sidecar champion who tried to jump the river murray at walkers flat and did not make the other side crashing into the river on a 250 mx bike not a goldwing, i know this because i raced speedway sidecars for years and know clarry well, and yep he did try it again without sucsess
My brother used to build racing motorbikes and his friend rode them. I wanted to get into sidecar casing but both he and my dad said flat out NO! They both rode motorbikes and my brother used to do up old motorbikes for a living. I was allowed a motorbike on the understanding I had the leathers, boots, gauntlets and a full face helmet as my dad came off once and the full face helmet saved his face and as he spun the leather ripped apart but never got to his hands.
These guys are made of different stuff and I’ve slightly more re respect for these guys than standard bike riders as the risks are soo much higher it’s a beautiful sport
Roger and Bradley Stockton died in 2022 in a sidecar at IOMTT. Father and son Sidecar team. Also in 2022 Cesar Chanal a sidecar drive died. Sidecar racing is insane.
I saw a headline recently that a father son duo sidecar racing team were both killed in only their second race. Those passengers are definitely more crazy than any other bike racer.
In both Swedish and Finnish the passenger/monkey is called "jar slave" (burkslav / purkkiorja). Or ...not! Actually the word "burk" in Swedish does not derive from the word for jar (burk) but from the werb "burka", which means using your body weight to balance something (a sidecar - or a boat!). The Swedish word actually means "balancing slave". So the Finnish word is wrongly translated. But "jar slave" also sounds ok, you got this guy who you put in tne "jar", the sidecar, and he works for you.
RIP to the 3 sidecar people who lost their lives at the Isle of man this week
@Gavin Tye I think it's up to 5 this time alone.
My heart goes out to the Stockton sidecar team. A father and son, Roger and Bradley, combo who both died this year. The family must be devastated.
@@marcuswardle3180 actually 0 sympathy, they know the risk and take it purposly. I call this natural selection. Bad for familys or kids left behind but stupid by the dead. There are far better situation to put the heart to. For example when the victims cant do anyting about hteir situation. Those drivers choose the risk.
@@marcuswardle3180 father was a TT veteran but son was a rookie :(
as harsh as it sounds, I wouldn't really wish the father to survive that when his son died...that would've been horrible for the father too :(
@@alinadornieden8411 I agree, no father should have to bury his son. The grief of the wife/mother must be immense and unimaginable.
I dream about having one of these built of a liter, or 1+++ turbo busa, that is more street oriented design, because I became disabled in a workplace injury in 2003...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
The passage has to have some BIG balls.
You should check out Sidecar Motocross. Yes its side car motocross. Dirt tracks, jumps etc.
This is the craziest motorsport of all.
I think being the passenger is just impossible to imagine
Fair play and respect for their bravery and skill
RIP to those who lost their lives at this years TT, its sad, but they know what they are getting in to
Old Grand Prix and Endurance racing - like from the 1920s and 1930s - they were like this. The driver and mechanic rode in the same car, side by side, at speeds of up to 180mph by the late 30s…with thin tires and brakes made of old rags. They were a special kind of crazy, like these people in sidecar racing.
Very good and informative video, wish same from sidecar offroad bikes.
Respect to those that have the courage to partake in these sports and to their families that support them. I remember watching a work mate who's brother was a sidecar racer start training to be his brothers passenger after his brothers passenger was injured. He put in an amazing amount of work to build up his fitness, endurance, flexibility and strength to be able to perform well. When asked why he said he wanted to help his brother reach his dreams. When asked about the risk and his own family he simply said he trusts his brother and his family supports them because that's what families do
They do sidecar motocross too. That's always fun to watch and definitely worth a reaction.
Most exhausting Sport i´ve even done, when i was 15-16 years old. After 15-20 minutes your done for the Day.. lol
And trials 👍
@@derxKai That, I can imagine very well. Kudos for your bravery. Did you join the army afterwards? LOL
And speedway sidecars as well
And Enduro 🤪
when I was little after seeing the sidecar racing from the music video "take on me", I used to think it was a joke.
without doing my homework, I thought "oh the passenger is just gonna sit there and watch the whole ride? LOL"
...and Boy was I wrong...
the passenger is absolutely amazing skilled...
My Dad Used to build and race these in NZ in the 70's when I was a kid .
In the 1970s my grandfather was a sidecar passenger, His name Francis Knights, he raced around Europe and also the TT, alongside Jeff Gawley, Helmut Schilling and also Roger Dixon. Absolute balls of steel that unfortunately I didn't inherit 😂. It's an honour and privilege to have known him. Beside sidecars were different to today much more basic and dangerous. I love they carried on the Motorsport it's like a monster it's bigger than the rest of us.
Oh yeah if you think this is Bonkers check out the Skandinavian Trailbike racing in the Snow with three to four inch spikes in both wheels. I think it rates close …
RIP Roger and Bradley Stockton, Father and Son sidecar outfit, 3 wheel channel was one of their sponsors, who passed away at this year’s TT. RIP to all 5 this year❤️
Check out the Mini sidecars in the UK @FAB racing
Exciting.. dangerous... amazing... love it
Yep, thumbs up for a mini F1 sidecar reaction 👍 looks awesome
I race mini sidecars.... brilliant fun... everyone also thinks we are mental. #457
Hey Ian, I'm with you, too insane for me.
Sidecars (and bikes) used to race at Bathurst up until about 2000, there's a lot of YT vids out there, it's pretty intense.
Bathurts and Macao are probably the most insane tracks for motorcycle racing
For a bit of light relief take look at lawn mower racing, it is serious stuff.
Ever seen motorcycle chariot racing? It's not this insane but pretty cool.
Holy sidecar!!!!! Love the sidecars. Most of them are private and build their own bikes. Really just for the love of it. They call the non driver the passenger but i think they should be called ballast!
Hey man, glad you enjoyed my suggestion, i’m just now getting around to watching the vid since i just got out of basic but i love learning about extreme motorsports and what it takes physically and mentally to succeed in them.
Those passengers of the side car would have to have the biggest set of nuts hands down ,,, its like they are dancing on the back of that bike
Always loved sidecar racing. The teamwork between the rider and the passenger is amazing. Such a joy to watch. Still safer than going to school in the US.
Harsh but fair.👍
The sidecar racers run at the Isle of Man. A father and son team just died this friday at the Isle of Man. RIP Roger and Bradley Stockton
So so sad,RIP
I’ve ridden and driven some hella fast bikes and cars in my lifetime… but no money in the world would make me wanna be a passenger on these things 🤯
I've always wanted to swing on one of those, Might get the opportunity this year...!
@@MickH60 I’ll stick to drag racing thanks 😂 be safe mate 👍
During WW II most armies used bikes with sidecars - one rider, one gunner to deliver orders, cards and so on.
After WW II they were pretty common in Europe as cheap alternatives to cars.
And the way humans work - if you have a vehicle with a motor - they want to find out who is the fastest...
Posted this on discord ages ago, glad you got around to it.
A friend used to build and race these and did well against factory teams.
His father also built and raced and lost his life racing sidecars but did not deter Shane.
Requires teamwork even more than rally.
Don't know about now but back in the day the passenger was called a swinger, because he swung around on the sidecar. Knew a guy from a bike shop who went to the isle of man with a sidecar team, was trying to explain what it was going over the bridges at 100mph with your helmet tapping the stones on the bridge. Not for me....
I worked with a guy that raced as a passenger in the 50s and 60s with one of our sidecar legends Chris Vincent . He was one of the most friendly and unassuming guys I ever met .🇬🇧
Sidecar racing is completely bonkers…not since the days of early Grand Prix auto racing has racing been this crazy
Group B. RALLY racing was hardcore too.
Every sidecar racer I've ever met has been lovely but also a special kind of crazy. They are a different breed.
Check out motorcycle trials!
Bathurst Bike races...was awesome, wish theyd bring it back 🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🔥
I actually passenger a sidecar in scotland. I love every minute of it
Must be like Superman flying through the air at those speeds.
And he's only talking about the F2 category, imagine the F1 category that has 1000cc engines! But even so, these modern 4-stroke outfits don't hold a candle in terms of dangerousness to the 500cc 2-stroke era, when the engines were directly derived from the MotoGP bikes: almost the same power as today's litre engines but much more nimble and light. Those were the real widowmakers!
Fun Facts about the F1 and F2 categories: on the F2's the engine is in front of the driver (or below, depending on how you look at it) but on the F1's the engine must be behind the driver, making the outfits slightly longer than the F2's.
You know Motocross, right? Now imagine Sidecar Cross! Yeah, it exists, so hold your 'What's The Craziest Sport' ranking until you watch some Sidecar Cross races. 😉
Nice reaction. I had a couple mates (we have lost touch now) who were a team in Motor Cross (Moto X) sidecar racing - now that really is mental!
My old man was a passenger on a MX combination many years ago
I was just about to suggest a MotoX sidecar reaction. Lol.
An older friend of mine (now, sadly, no longer with us) was a racing passenger and even in his 70s he had a permanent limp due to a very nasty accident while racing, and that was in the late 60s, so these guys deserve the greatest respect, it is probably the most dangerous way to race in any motorsport.
In 70's a friend was a passenger for his brother for a couple of years. He said it was hairy especially down the old conrod straight at Bathurst, when the whole outfit was airborne at he end (before the chase). they had guts to do that . . . . Never knew about miniature sidecar racing though, it looks great.
Yes, My old mate is an multiple Aussie champion, period 4 sidecar racer, he loves Bathurst but also says it's crazy...
that's very cool! Sidecars for Bathurst is very dangerous though, with 3 sidecars riders/passengers dying in the 70s
Would you trust you best friend to drive while you are hanging out of a bike like that? It is insane.
The passengers on those bikes give the grim reaper the middle finger.
Bit of info Ian , in 1923 a man called Freddie Dixon invented an outfit where the bike could lean toward the sidecar on bends , throwing additional weight onto the sidecar wheel , it also had a disc brake on the front wheel .🇬🇧
Brits ride on a different side of the road to other Europeans, so racing sidecars came in left and right hand varieties. This made close quarter tussles dangerous, particularly on limited TT clearances, where corners were approached at different speeds. Check out classic TT footage to see the effect. Modern sidecars have car style steering geometry, whereas older outfits had basic Earles fork motorcycle type steering. The rider had to battle the combination round bends. Before kneeler outfits became popular in the 1960s, sidecars resembled normal bikes and the high centre of gravity threatened to throw the pair off at every corner. Those guys were absolute heroes.
G'day I was offered a chance to ride in an outfit around Phillip Island, Victoria. As fun as it would have been I'm not that brave.
Imagine the fitness you would need
My old man was passenger on a motocross combination (bike and side car). He was just as bonkers as me.
Here's a peek! ruclips.net/video/Uk05VuvqW5w/видео.html
And here's the Trials version
ruclips.net/video/no141Av72eY/видео.html
In 1992-98 the legendary Suissauto engines was built in sidecars like this (Biland/Baltisberg) and won almost everything.
They've been naturally aspirated 500cc V4 two-stroke engines, weighing around 80lbs (incl clutch and 6 speed gearbox!) and developed around 200hp.
That's 400HP per liter displacement! Probably the most powerful naturally aspirated engine EVER.
I've been in one as a passenger on a circuit in Belgium (Zolder). My ex used to race sidecars. It was a crazy experience!
Told ya bloke this is where a crazy rider has that friend thats got the hold my beer attitude all the time honestly these guys are crazy and the level of athleticism for the passenger is off the wall ive always loved watching these guys rip around just that bit more due to the respect for what they are doing dont get me wrong tt superbike riders are crazy but these guys are basically wile e coyote level 👍🇦🇺
There are always several people that lose their lives TT week, some are fans too. The sidecar bikes run full throttle like eighty percent of the time, the senior bikes are only at full throttle around fifteen percent of the time. I started watching it back in the early 2000s. It is by far the most dangerous racing on the planet.
On the "slower side of things" ... James May - one of the Top Gear/Grand Tour guys - built his own version of Motorcycle + sidecar ... from MECCANO, which is a children's construction set basically made up of small metal strips and tiny screws. There are also tiny electrical motors ...
He did drive around the Isle of Man TT course during race week (during the closed hours) and managed to complete a lap together with his buddy Oz Clarke. It took them HOURS with frequent repairs on the go.
I remember as a young lad, going to Rowley Park Speedway to watch sidecar racing; it was on a circular track, and you would get sprayed with the fine gravel off of the track. They also had demolition derbies.
The formula 1 side cart champ is Australia an lives in Melbourne Vic. Go Team Breeze !
I used to end up in the bar after bike races, and the thing that struck me was how all the sidecar racers were mates. They raced hard, then all hung out together afterwards. Good people imo, so it's always tragic to lose them.
Being a passenger is one of the mst physically demanding things I have done.
I want out in an off road sidecar once and spent most of the time cling9ng to the base of the platform and giggling.
Hi Ian you should check out the sidecar racing on mount panorama from back in the day.
You can definitely do a part 2 on side car racing. There are crazy clips of passengers dragging their heads through the grass for the most weight transfer.
Five racers in total lost their lives at the IOM TT this year. A father and son driver/passenger in a sidecar crash and a sidecar driver a few days before. Plus two solo riders. Rest in peace all those guys.
12/10/1973 i was at Claremont speedway Perth Western Australia to see a really good friend of my family "Neville Gorman" race sidecar and he was the passenger, 1st race in 1st place second lap he came off and the sidecar in 3rd place hit him in the head killing him instantly i will never 4get that night.
R.I.P Neville Gorman. 😔
My uncle did this in the Netherlands & Europa 1975 untill 1985 with his first wife she was THE BAKKENIST ( PASSEGER ) Got his helmet as Birthday present. Uncle is still with us . Greetz poeloe
Imagine as a passenger in high speed a sidecar race, you accidentally sprain your wrist, twist your ankle or dislocate your shoulder while maneuvering your body from one side to the other... you're then in deep trouble! By the time you communicate the situation to your driver, it may be too late to avoid a crash.
Who is crazier? Easy. Group B spectators ;)
Love the Audi Quattro rally car. Group B is my favorite motorsport
I had a go at swinging (being the passenger) years ago. I wasn't much good because I was just a small girl but it was HUGE FUN!!!
It is sad that they died but at the same time they should be celebrated. They died doing what they loved. I'd rather go out like that than a horrible lingering disease or similar.
Any person who travels at speeds like that are friggen mental... hats off to them.
My boy friend took me to one of these sidecar races and we saw one did not make a corner and smashed into a brick wall both were killed it was horrific,this was in the 60's.
I used to work with one of the nutcases that rode the sidecar, he did the Motorsport in the summer and worked as an electrician in the winter. He was a really nice guy who wasn't crazy at all😉, NOT.
When I was a kid in a little town called Collie in Western Australia they used to have a street race wk end bikes and sidecars.It was awesome people having house parties and on roofs watching,sidecars were the best and passenger has to have the biggest balls of all.Then insurance come in and it was gone🤬
Nascar fans really seem ignorant of the racing world.
Backwoods.
I used to have a vintage BSA outfit. Bloody thing near killed me, when the sidecar mounts broke and it put me into the grill of a Mercedes. Over 3 months in hospital and a year off work. Scary things, outfits.
The magic of the tt races is that it kills people - it's like the ultimate gamble 🎰 for those that dare or are crazy enough to do it, and there's plenty of them!
You should know that outfits have been raced for as long as solos - they are not new. They have developed (especially aerodynamically) in the same way as racing motorcycles. A 1900's solo looks like a completely different beast to a 2020 example and the same goes for their 3 wheeled equivalents.
Wish I could put a picture Up here Of what I do it's the absolute most adrenaline pumping sport and we use 1000cc bikes but On dirt track in Australia but still get to around 100 miles an hour on the straight cheers have watched y for a couple of years now and always enjoy your content and take On everything.
On average 2 people a year have died racing the Isle of Man TT, since it's inception in 1907.
Every single rider that takes part know the risks of travelling at nearly 200mph on normal public roads.
Wow. Didn't even realise this was a thing anymore.
My brother races sidecars in Australia 🇦🇺 very exciting to watch. Darryl Rayner of Rayner Racing
Check out Australian speedway sidecars- no brakes, 1000cc methanol outfits. I was a passenger when I was younger. Then I built my own. Then I grew up.
I've heard "passengers" refered to as "slingers" particularly in a speedway context
There was a flash of Guy Martins face....he’s quite a character....maybe worth checking out some of his stuff.
SIdecar race is like 2 dudes that come make a promise to confront the death, in TT isle of man is directly go throw the Hell and scape
My brother was a passenger around Bathurst. Bikes and sidecars have been banned there for many years now.
I grew up with sidecar racing in the 1970's , it just seems normal when you've grown up with it...Went to the IOM twice at that time
Brilliant me and my brother we were going to race sidecar back in the 80s
I think it's close, but I think the sidecar driver/passenger combo is "crazier" than the solo TT riders, because at least on a solo bike your life is entirely in your hands, but with the sidecars your life absolutely depends upon the actions of both the driver and the passenger. One mistake by either the driver or passenger and both can be killed! That's a crazy level of trust.
The Isle of Man TT is the greatest motorcycling event in the world. I scrolled through the comments, I didn't see one that wants the TT banned. RIP to all the riders who tragically died.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends in there time of loss.
Grass track outfits race on open fields marked out with tape as a the circuit.
A must see.
It's true. Most professionals drivers / riders WILL NOT TOUCH the Manx TT. They think it's true madness with their business mind. Not worth the potential reward. Takes a special kind of dedication and people for the sport to want to ride the Manx TT. Heck, just wanting to spectate, is basis for a long hard think.
Personally, I'd like to ride the Manx circuit, off-season, on my own bike, at my own pace. And my bike is not a racer. It has studded(offroad) tyres, and it has a V-twin engine to give a hint or two.
A note of respect to the racers who lost their lives at the TT this year. Plus special sympathy to the French pairing who were mis-identified. Respect and admiration.
Glad you found this Ian. I''m no fan of the bikes...except when they have a moving lump of human helping them around the track. Always my favourite! 👍
When I grew up, there was a "famous" person in my small village called Udligenswil. His name was Rolf Biland and he was a sidecar racer. In fact, he is the most successful racer of all times with 81 race wins.
Same era as streuer /schnieders and webster/ hewitt man we are old.🤣🤣🤣
Just found your video, pretty awesome take on sidecar racing. I was a pro passenger here in the US for three seasons, and a pro driver for 10 in the Formula 1 Sidecar class. It got me a spot in an episode of Mythbusters blasting down the Alameda runway in my sidecar at 180mph :) As far as how scary being on the back is, it's about 1/100th as scary as it looks on video once you're back there. In regards to the physical fitness required, it does help to be in good shape/cardio, but it all comes down to finesses and timing. Less is more, and knowing when to transfer the weight, where to, and why makes all the difference. You have to know the track just as good as the driver so you can both be fast. My R2 unit had motorcycle and automotive roadracing experience and we could rip like wonder twins. I have a bunch of my sidecar racing videos on my channel, consider me a subscriber.
While the focus at times is on the passenger, often it is the rider that comes off worse as if these things go bellyup, the rider is often stuck as some of these are so well guilt, it is a capsule that the rider fits in to. Thus, if they go upside down or out of control, a passenger may be thrown (and absolutely that hurts - have mates to do it), the rider is so often stuck.
Honestly, these along with super-motards are my go to classifications for bike racing, and I have been watching or involved for 35 years.
There was a Guy and his passenger in the 70's who lived in Mildura Victoria his name was Percy Jones and he was the Austrlian Sidecar Champion at the time who tried to jump a Honda Goldwing and Sidecar over the Murray River between Victoria and N.S.W they built ramps and worked out the angles that they calculated to jump from ramp to ramp but in the end they got it wrong and crashed on the other side of the bank and got badly hurt in the process I cannot remember if he tried again but I think he did I will try and find out more about it later cheers
that was clarry jones, and he was a speedway sidecar champion who tried to jump the river murray at walkers flat and did not make the other side crashing into the river on a 250 mx bike not a goldwing, i know this because i raced speedway sidecars for years and know clarry well, and yep he did try it again without sucsess
They also do side car observed motorcycle trials. Loving the variety!
just discovered your videos, I love them , Thank you for all the work you do to put it all together...
My brother used to build racing motorbikes and his friend rode them. I wanted to get into sidecar casing but both he and my dad said flat out NO! They both rode motorbikes and my brother used to do up old motorbikes for a living. I was allowed a motorbike on the understanding I had the leathers, boots, gauntlets and a full face helmet as my dad came off once and the full face helmet saved his face and as he spun the leather ripped apart but never got to his hands.
These guys are made of different stuff and I’ve slightly more re respect for these guys than standard bike riders as the risks are soo much higher it’s a beautiful sport
Roger and Bradley Stockton died in 2022 in a sidecar at IOMTT. Father and son Sidecar team. Also in 2022 Cesar Chanal a sidecar drive died. Sidecar racing is insane.
I saw a headline recently that a father son duo sidecar racing team were both killed in only their second race.
Those passengers are definitely more crazy than any other bike racer.
that miniature sidecar racing is hilarious and cool at the same time ^^
In both Swedish and Finnish the passenger/monkey is called "jar slave" (burkslav / purkkiorja). Or ...not! Actually the word "burk" in Swedish does not derive from the word for jar (burk) but from the werb "burka", which means using your body weight to balance something (a sidecar - or a boat!). The Swedish word actually means "balancing slave". So the Finnish word is wrongly translated. But "jar slave" also sounds ok, you got this guy who you put in tne "jar", the sidecar, and he works for you.
The first thing, in terms of danger from speed, that comes to my mind, is downhill longboarding.
The passenger is JUST. HOLDING. ON.!!