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Classic Sidecars


laird387
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Hi,

Delving through the offroadarchive I found the attached image of Alec Wright, with Frank Ball (Bill Slocombe's usual passenger) in the chair, photographed by Gordon Francis in the 1964 Wye Valley Traders Cups trial.

In those days Alec worked for Bill Slocombe as his workshop foreman and he said they just swopped passengers that day - for fun.

A couple of months later, when I was working in Paris, I helped to organise the annual International St Cucufa trial and, since they had never seen sidecars in trials on the continent before I offered to arrange a sidecar demonstration for the club. The deal was that I persuaded six competent sidecar crews to bring their outfits across and then escort them round the 70-mile course and take them on diversions in the few places that were just too narrow for chairs. The crews included Ron Langston, Arthur Pulman, Alan Morewood, Alec Wright and, for the life of me I can't remember the others

- sorry.

We had a fabulous day out, the crowds roared with amazement and appreciation and sidecars were immediately included in all future St Cucufa trials. I was riding my Alloy Works Replica DOT, freshly delivered direct from the factory in Manchester and my abiding memory is of riding along a French road on the edge of Marly Forest with Alec and John Gazeley trying to push me along faster, with the Greeves outfit front wheel on my right leg and the nose of the chair on my left.

We became firm friends and when he swopped to an Ossa outfit derived from that Greeves special, I bought the Ossa (when it was replaced with a Kawasaki at the beginning of Alec's long association with the Japanese company), so that Mary and I could use it as transport around trials carrying all the camera gear across the rough.

Enjoy

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Hi,

As a some-time charioteer in my own right I can fairly claim to sympathise with this pair. Competing in the Tanner Trudge - a sort of cross between a trial and a Hare and Hounds chase - in 1962 at Naish Hill they are obviously wondering just what it was that they didn't quite get right.

Any advice other than 'take up golf' perhaps........

Enjoy.

post-19290-0-83749500-1389467954_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

In the interests of balance in my posts I am enclosing this image from my offroadarchive of Alec Wright with John Gazeley in the chair of the Greeves outfit, taken on the Three Hills section of the 1962 Perce Simon trial.

Enjoy

post-19290-0-76608500-1389469272_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

As a past charioteer there are plenty of sidecar images in the offroadarchive, hopefully some of them of interest to others!

This cold and seasonal view is of brothers Geoff and Chris Cox with their 650 Triumph twin powered outfit in the Reg Lewis Sidecar trial in the early 1960s.

If you would like copies of any of the images from my offroadarchive (real photographs - not photocopies) then send me a PM with details.

Enjoy

post-19290-0-69810000-1389522922_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

Another offroadarchive image showing just how easy it was to have unique fun in the woods, still with all your clothes on and sitting down, if, like Chris Spittle in the 1966 national Kickham trial you find a tad too much grip - and this wasn't with modern sticky tyres......

Enjoy

post-19290-0-99263200-1389532181_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

Not all sidecar trials drivers were perpetually out of control, as can be seen with Roy Bradley peacefully skirting the tree stump and relying on Christine Bull to keep the sidecar wheel down.

Spotted by Alan Vines in the 1969 Kickham with their Ariel 500 outfit.

Enjoy.

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Edited by laird387
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Hi,

The Peeling brothers, Brian with Mick in the chair, with their 500 Ariel at the 1970 D K Mansell trial.

Brian rode with Ken Norcutt in grasstrack, possibly the most successful partnership in the late 1950s and 60s.

Nowadays they are busily remanufacturing Morris Minors.

Enjoy.

post-19290-0-03112300-1390644970_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

Anybody who has ever driven a trials sidecar will immediately sympathise with Jim Kendall (and Malcolm Sparrow in the chair).

They have obviously bogged down with their 350 Kenman outfit in the 1963 Don Mountstevens trial, where they eventually finished second behind Jim's brothers Ken and Des with their 500 AJS Metisse outfit.

But is Jim fearing the worst, rear chain come off the sprocket - primary chain bust - gear selector gone for a burton - whatever, how on earth are we going to drag this thing out of this goo.........

Enjoy.

post-19290-0-36119900-1390815923_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

It is August (you know, that 'holiday' month!) in 1963, and down in the West country (that well-established 'holiday' destination) those naughty motorcyclists are out in the fresh air (no, correct that) out in the soaking wet..........

Trying to maintain a stiff upper lip in adversity Londoners Alec Wright and John Gazeley with their special works Greeves outfit, climb Downscombe on their way to claiming the Sidecar Premier in the Beggars Roost national trial.

Both good friends of mine, I truly sympathise, but don't forget the poor cameraman - keeping your kit dry and still getting 'the' shot was no fun either.

Enjoy.

post-19290-0-27031600-1390826430_thumb.jpg

Edited by laird387
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