European Classic Sidecar Championship?

[Eddy Wright]

That's correct John the tyres were wider, and 10/12/13. and 16" wheels were used back then.

[petercaughlin]

Sorry Eddy but I disagree,most people in the period were using 16" fronts and 10" rear and sidecar the 10" were the Dunlops used on Mini`s and were all no more than 5.5" wide,the bigger wheels, 12" and 13" came in the early 70`s,but as we know all you have to do is find one person who used a 13" wheel and it becomes eligable, we are back to this old chestnut about "rule interpretation" lets face it if outfits went better on 10" then nobody would use 13".

[Big Tim]

I am reliably told that John Flood, from Lincoln was running 13" wheels as early as 1964 !

[sidecarracing]

so someone used 13 inch in 1964, and of course there will have been some outfits running late sixties with 13 inch.
But as Pete said the mainstay of the sidecars used smaller wheels, like 10 inch and most of the times a 16 inch front.
If above is how the rules are read then I have a tip for the people who run in Post-Classic: one guy in 1978 used an outfit called a BEO so make a replica of that one and bingo you are eligible...
Remember, Enders became worldchampion in 1973 with drum brakes!

[Eddy Wright]

I don't mind what size wheels we have to use in this new championship just looking forward to it.

I know most of the bikes in the 60s had 10" rear and 16" front, had one myself, but there where outfits with bigger wheels around then.

Terry Windles first Imp outfit had a 12" x7.5" in the rear, 10" front and chair

[Simon Smith]

Dick has said the championship he is referring to will start in 2013. The one on the CRMB web site is for this year. Have I got that right?

Also, 13" wheel outfits have been running in the Belgium championship for years. This is a recent change to the rules.

[tonybsa2008]

I agree with Peter.If you want to see what the majority of crews were using,you only have to look at the history books,and old photographs.
I would guess,and it is a guess,that people are going to 13" to take advantage better rubber than is available for the 10" wheels,aside from the Imps,which are going for it because with the correct profile tyre its closer to the 12" tyre outer circumfernce that would have been used in period,on the Imps.

[Eddy Wright]

Tony, The best rubber at the moment is Yokohama, Which comes in 10" 12" and 13" Problem is the 13" is according to the powers that be too wide. There are other fitments Avon, and Dunlop which are great in the dry !

So I guess 10" or 12" Will be the rim size of choice as any team running 13" will be at a disadvantage in wet or damp conditions,

[dick tapken]

it's the same old thing again moan moan and moan what the bloody hell doe's it matter if it's got 3 wheel's that will do all we ever do is nitpick! at every thing that come's along we really are our own worst enemy,it's took nearly 3 year's to get my bmw to something like along come's a serie's which sound's to be right oh no you can't come in youv'e got the wrong tyre's or wheel's on it i just wish someone would grow up to reality the past has gone yes we all would love a genuine bike that we ran year's ago but that will never happen ,over the year's we have shot ourselve's in the foot with all the petty bickering's ask yourself doe's it really matter if so and so's bike has got this or that wrong with it so many time's folk are at each other's throat's over nowt it make's me sick half of the moaner's are tosser's anyway who have never won owt in their live's get real over this before we knacker up what could be a great championship

[dick hawes]

Well said Tappo.

Some of the classic lads are a bit like football fans.........they are all world experts.... and the organisers

know nothing.

Eddy Wright, yourself, and some others are enthusiasts who have been there and done it.

You both want to race and have fun against like minded crews.

Its fun..not a bloody war.

Dick

ps Give Ian Johnson an MBE for listening to shit week in week out.

[dick hawes]

Well said Tappo.

Some of the classic lads are a bit like football fans.........they are all world experts.... and the organisers

know nothing.

Eddy Wright, yourself, and some others are enthusiasts who have been there and done it.

You both want to race and have fun against like minded crews.

Its fun..not a bloody war.

Dick

ps Give Ian Johnson an MBE for listening to shit week in week out.

[Triplebrew]

Agree with you Dick and Dick. A lot of the time it is people who do not even race with the Classic guys that appear to be such experts. We enjoy a great turnout at CRMC meetings with excellent variety of machines on ALL wheel sizes. As for wether 13" are better than 10" I have no idea and no interest! Watching the likes of Perky, Matty etc on 13" vs Colin, Nick Houghton on 10" is great racing with spoils shared amongst them. I chose to have our bike built on 10" as that is what our first outfit used which was an original built in the 1960's whihc itself started off with a 16" front wheel (and a Twin motor for that matter!) but was changed to a 10" front in the 1980's I am told. And too true Dick Ian Johnson should have a MBE for what he does!

[Eddy Wright]

I think to be fair to these people they do have an interest in Classic Sidecars, and we should respect that.

However they should also respect the people who are currently racing, and the organisers who do put an awful lot of time in without receiving any payment.

A discussion should be just that, and this forum is for that purpose, not to get personal, or become objectionable !

So let's welcome them to take part as long as it is for the good of our sport.

[dick tapken]

you are right ed ,that's what i meant to say but you know me! about as diplomatic as a sledge hammer.

[dick hawes]

Well said Ed....if only everyone puts the sport first, and their own fortunes second.

The reason sidecar racing is special is cos its full of givers not takers.

Lets keep it that way.

Dick