Steve Abbott, – a great read from Fred Clarke THE Commentator.

Over the years, Britain has produced many of the finest & fastest sidecar racers in the world, and in 2002, Derbyshire’s Steve Abbott & passenger Jamie Biggs joined that illustrious band of Sidecar World Champions.

Today a spritely & fit looking 70year old, Steve’s initial intention was to give racing a go on a solo TZ250 Yamaha, but bowed to his friend Shaun Smith’s suggestion to try sidecars instead. The duo’s first race being in 1977 at Cadwell Park.

Straight off, he proved to be a gifted driver, and in less than three seasons Steve & Shaun were already making their GP debut, at Silverstone.

Their maiden ‘foreign’ GP was to be at the Belgian circuit of Spa Francorchamps in 1982, finishing an impressive 5th just ahead of former double World Champion, Rolf Steinhausen…..who’s son Jorg, would be the main adversary of Steve in the battle for the 2002 World Crown.

That same year saw their opening GP podium, the British at Silverstone, following an incredible drive from last away to finish 3rd behind championship contenders Egbert Streur & Werner Schwarzel.

What then of the Isle of Man TT?

“We raced there in 1981, 82, 83 & 84, and it was important because, to be blunt, it offered sensible prize money, which would then help to fund the rest of the season” answered Steve.

Following a memorable 3rd place finish in only their second year there, 1984 was even better, as they became ‘Overall TT winners’, placing 3rd in race 1, & victory in race 2.

Sensationally though, they would not return to race the Mountain course! “Our sponsor at the time, Rae Hamilton of Team Ham Yam, strongly objected to how the Organisers had re-jigged future financial arrangements, by dropping the safety net of guaranteed start monies. All cash payments thereafter being totally results based”.

Steve further added, “We couldn’t afford to go without a sponsor. The TT is two weeks on the Island, which gets very expensive, plus there’s always a risk of not finishing the races, which would mean no monies, ending, heavily out of pocket…..So that was that!”

In 1992, Shaun Smith, who had been with Steve from the beginning, stepped down to concentrate on his new push cycle shop. His replacement for the next couple of seasons being Julian Tailford, before in ’96 Jamie Biggs became permanent ‘passenger’.

……..and so to that title deciding ‘finale’ of the 2002 Sidecar World Championship.

Held at Imola, there were 5 teams still ‘in with a shout’ of becoming champions. It was a real cliff hanger.

Importantly, Steve & Jamie carried a 5 point advantage over nearest rival. Jorg Steinhausen & his British passenger, Trevor Hopkinson.

Once under way however, ‘Abbo’ was struggling, big time to hang onto 5th position, as his Windle Yamaha started to suffer clutch slip, whilst Jorg Steinhausen was locked into 3rd position.

Then, with just two laps to go, the race was ‘red flagged!’

Mick Frith, the passenger with Bill Philp, had managed to get his arm trapped between the fairing & rear wheel.

Totally unaware of the drama, Bill raced on for a further half lap before finally realising there was a serious problem. He immediately pulled off track. Mick eventually being transferred to hospital, for treatment to a severely damaged right arm, wrist & hand.

The race would not be restarted, so a result was declared. Klaus Klaffenbock was race winner, ahead of Steve Webster. Steinhausen was accredited third, & critically, Abbott was still there in fifth (just behind Tom Hanks)…..meaning, that Steve Abbott & Jorg Steinhausen had finished dead level on 151 points apiece.

……..The 2002 Sidecar World Title going to Abbott & Biggs by virtue of 3 wins to 1.

However, amidst all the immediate confusion, they didn’t realise that it was ‘mission accomplished’……no more did their crew back in pit lane, until chief mechanic Dennis Bingham, in desperation, phoned Steve’s wife Angie back home in England, to ask if she knew?

“I was just about to reply ‘don’t know’ when on the Europsport TV coverage of the race, it flagged up…..Abbott & Biggs 2002 World Champions”, remembers Angie!!!!!

It was richly deserved, long overdue, and a very popular outcome…..and with just 6 points covering the top 5, it was the closest finish ever to the Championship,

Understandably, the celebrations would go on long into the night, led by the teams ‘Entertainment Manager’ & red wine connoisseur….Norman Burgess!!!!!!!

Having achieved all his goals during his 26year career, including being the British Champion (3 times), TT winner & World Champion, he was also finding it increasingly difficult to get sponsorship, and as he said “prize money was just about non-existent”….Steve retired at the end of 2003

….but did he? Well just 2 years later he was tempted back by a ‘one off’ opportunity to compete in the 2005 Australian Sidecar Championship (“beats a winter in Derbyshire”), in a deal set up by ex TT passenger, Bryan Nixon & his Aussie wife, Sharon.

Re-united, Steve & Jamie were happy to show they’d not forgotten how…..winning all 12 races contested, plus setting lap records at the 6 circuits they raced…….and in so doing, became the first ‘poms’ to be, Australian Sidecar Champions.

Headline image: TT winners. Steve & Shaun Smith.

PIC 1….Have we done it ???

PIC 2….2002 World Champions. Steve (right), Jamie (left)