Ok, I confess- as a young Mum I harboured a secret desire to be a sidecar swinger. My husband raced motorbikes, so I spent many hours in the pits with him, and was fascinated by the sidecar crews alongside us. These were the bad boys (and girls) of the racetrack,or so it seemed to me. I realise now that something as dangerous as racing sidecars probably appeals to people who are risk takers and not afraid of being hurt! Skimming along a few centimetres above the track with your body hanging off the side of the bike, head perilously close to other bikes , hanging on while you fling your weight from one side to the other. If you lose your grip (or your courage) the outcome is not a happy one.What now impresses me most about sidecar teams is just that. The teamwork. Each of you must be able to have total faith in the other. The rider needs to be certain that the swinger will read the track correctly and make the right moves. The swinger has to trust the rider to take the right line and do what he/she expects.Both of their lives are in the balance.
I've probably left my run a bit late- maybe in my next life.
Thanks to John Bowkett for letting me use his photo as a reference- this is him and a mate riding a Godden outfit some years back.
I've probably left my run a bit late- maybe in my next life.
Thanks to John Bowkett for letting me use his photo as a reference- this is him and a mate riding a Godden outfit some years back.
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