Category: Road Racing

Costello Racing

MARIA FIRST WOMAN INVITED TO RACE BOTH CLASSIC CAR & MOTORCYCLE AT PRESTIGIOUS GOODWOOD REVIVAL

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Maria Costello MBE will race on both two and four wheels when she competes in the prestigious Goodwood Revival at the weekend (September 17-19).
The Northamptonshire racer was the first woman to be invited to race in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy races in 2019 and has been racing classic motorcycles at the event ever since.


Maria with the MG YB she will race with owner Richard Colburn
Image credit: Mark Saunders


The Revival provides the perfect backdrop and racing track for a historic themed meeting that recreates the glorious days of glamorous motor sport.
Formula One legend Jenson Button and 23 times TT winner John McGuinness are among those taking part in a packed programme that will see Maria compete in both motorcycle races and the St Mary’s Trophy car race and become the first woman to race both classic two wheeled and four wheeled machinery.


Both races are a two-rider or driver affair. Maria will team up with Gordon Russell on a 1961 Norton Manx 30M owned by his wife Sally Russell (who is also the Deputy Clerk of the Course for the bike races). The race is run in two parts and starts on Saturday in Le Mans style with one rider running across the track to leap on the running bike held by their team-mate and concludes with the second half held on the Sunday.


Classic car racing is still something new for Maria who was given her first experiences on four wheels thanks to Julius Thurgood, who runs the HRDC. He introduced Maria to her Revival team mate Richard Colburn, who is running three cars alongside his two sons, James and Ben, and their team-mates. Maria and Richard will be sharing a 1953 MG YB in the St Mary’s Trophy two-part race that runs on Saturday and Sunday.


Maria said: “I always feel so privileged to be invited to compete at the Revival. It’s an absolute highlight of the motorsport calendar and I love every moment, from the dressing up in period costume to racing on this incredibly fast track onboard classic machinery. I adore the nostalgia and heritage that is brought to life. I didn’t think it could get any better but having the opportunity to race both two and four wheels has done that, I want to thank everyone who has made this possible and I can’t wait to savour the amazing experience and atmosphere!”

Maria gets to try out the Russell Manx Norton in a CRMC parade.
By Neil Kirby


The circuit is just one part of the period backdrop. The glamorous costumes of the era are worn by all who attend, including spectators, and the sights and sounds of the racing along with all the additional entertainment take you back to the halcyon days of motorsport, to find out more & buy your event tickets/hospitality head to the Goodwood Revival website.

Costello Racing

MARIA SMASHES SIDECAR PBs WITH STAND-IN PASSENGER GARY

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Maria Costello MBE continues to improve in sidecar racing despite a stand-in passenger at the BMCRC-MRO Championship at Donington Park last weekend.
Looking to build on the previous meeting’s positive race results at Croft with the FSRA British Championship, the pairing of Maria and passenger Vicky were keen to return to Donington Park with increased confidence as they felt they had unfinished business there after a lacklustre event earlier in the year.

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Costello Racing

SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND ON BOTH TWO & THREE WHEELS AT BATTLE OF BRITAIN

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Maria Costello MBE enjoyed a weekend of racing both her sidecar and the Mark Coverdale Paton at the North East Motorcycle Racing Club’s Battle of Britain meeting that featured a round of the FSRA F2 British Championship at Croft.
Racing at the North Yorkshire track for the first time, Maria took the Mark Coverdale Paton as well as her sidecar to Dalton-on-Tees to help with learning the track she had never seen before.

Maria & Vicky qualifying for the FSRA race in the wet.
Image Credit: Brian Blackett
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Classics at Oliver’s Mount, entries close 21st May

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From Dan

When it was announced that classic sidecars would be included at the Barry Sheene meeting at Oliver’s Mount on 26/27 June there was, apparently, a fair bit of interest shown but as of 14 May no entries have been received by the organisers.

Entries close on 21 May so if anybody wants to race at this iconic circuit they need to get their entries in without delay or there is a real risk that the sidecar class could be abandoned in favour of more solo races.

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Costello Racing

COSTELLO AND COOKE PREPARE FOR ROUND OF ACU/FSRA BRITISH F2 SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIP

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All-female sidecar team Maria Costello MBE and Vicky Cooke head for Donington Park this weekend looking to build on their brilliant start to the 2021 race season.

Northamptonshire-based Costello and Yorkshire-based Cooke will compete on the LCR/Kawasaki F2 outfit in the ACU/FSRA British F2 Sidecar Championship at the famous Leicestershire circuit having been boosted by their outstanding effort in their opening event of the year at Oulton Park with the Wirral 100 Club.

Maria and Vicky Cooke on the LCR Kawasaki F2 racing sidecar.
Credit David Johnston Motorsport Photography
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Costello Racing

COSTELLO AND COOKE TEAM UP FOR SIDECAR SUCCESS

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NEW ALL FEMALE SIDECAR TEAM FOR 2021


Maria Costello MBE and Vicky Cooke are teaming up to compete as an all-female sidecar team for the 2021 racing season and beyond.
Northamptonshire racer Maria has taken on sidecar racing in recent years to add to her already successful career on two wheels, and is delighted to be partnered with Vicky, an accomplished passenger who comes from a family steeped in racing history.

Vicky and Maria ready to take to three wheels for the 2021 race season.
Image courtesy Myles Bradbury.
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Molson British Sidecars

New talent going for 2021 glory in “Generation Game”

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Fresh ground was broken at the end of the 2019 season when a youngster, almost a rookie in fact, beat all the established stars to the British Championship title. Todd Ellis, partnered by the experienced Chaz Richardson set the paddock alight, and made everyone sit up and notice. It’s a known fact sidecar crews can continue racing at a high level far longer than their solo counterparts, and that has led to the age profile in the paddock tending to be higher. The number of youngsters coming into the sport is small, so when we do get real talent at an early age it is something to be celebrated and promoted. In most cases, the younger element is attracted by family involvement with the youngsters growing up alongside three wheels rather than two. For 2021, three such riders will be hell-bent on making their reputations and following in the footsteps of Todd Ellis.

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Some Cancellations and Spring Cup moved back

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The events calendar on here has been updated with what we have confirmed so far

Tonfanau Easter and May Cancelled,

http://www.steveenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60946

BHR Test at Mallory and first 2 day meeting cancelled

http://www.steveenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60945

Croft 27/28 March Cancelled

http://www.steveenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60943

Olivers Mount Spring Cup moved back 2 weeks (so far)

http://www.steveenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60944

Passenger needed for ACU/FSRA British F2, Oliver’s Mount, and S100 (if it goes ahead of course)

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John Lowther is looking for an experienced passenger to compete with him at this years A.C.U. / F.S.R.A. British F2 Championship events, the four Oliver’s Mount meetings, and – should it go ahead – the Southern 100 on the Isle of Man. (All obviously depending on the situation regarding the current pandemic – as things stand at the present time, the first British F2 event is scheduled for the weekend of 16-18 April at Brands Hatch).

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Isle of Man TT

TT 2021 Cancelled

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See the full FAQ and original article on iomttraces.com here

As a consequence of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Isle of Man Government has taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Isle of Man TT Races. We recognise that the cancellation may greatly impact our visitors and everyone associated with the TT, and have put together the following list of Frequently Asked Questions for those of you who may be affected. We appreciate your patience and will be updating the following information regularly as and when the position becomes clearer and will help you wherever we can do.

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Stan Dibben

Stan Dibben

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From Mark Dibben.

A quick note to let you all know that Stan Dibben, my Father, passed away this evening peacefully with family by his side.

I will write more in the coming days with Dad’s wishes re celebrating his life.

All best in the meantime, and thanks indeed for all the love you have shown him over many, many years,

Mark

click continue reading for Stan on Sidecar Radio with Slow Phil and the short film “No Ordinary Passenger”

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Team A.R.C. Retain The Ian Bell Memorial Trophy In An Immaculate Showing At Scarborough

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Harrison & Winkle Get The Holeshot From Crawford & Hardie

Words – Tim Langham / Photographs – Dirk Wharton

Exactly a year had passed since the last “real road race” for sidecars in the U.K., and it was the Oliver’s Mount International Gold Cup meeting, hosted by 243 Racing which had the honour of being the only such meeting to run in 2020.

A full grid of sidecars had entered, and some excitement prior to the event had been generated with the news that multi world champions and TT winners Ben and Tom Birchall had entered, and were to make their racing debut around the 2.43 mile North Yorkshire parkland circuit aboard their LCR Honda. However, they were to face stiff competition from regulars Lee Crawford / Scott Hardie (LCR Suzuki); Conrad Harrison / Andy Winkle (Bellas Honda) and Steve and Matty Ramsden (LCR Honda).

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