There was something missing at Aberdare Park

[IsabelleViolet]

I'm fully aware there has been sidecar racing at Aberdare Park for years now, yet this year it stopped because the track is apparently to narrow. Places like Scarbrough are just as narrow if not narrower so I'm just interested to find out why or how it could be stopped in some places and not others? Is it snotty local councils getting their own way and having some control over the events or health and safety in certain areas gone mad?

The reason I ask is because as someone new to motorsport with a huge interest in passangering, aberdare park is currently my local roadrace and I think it's a great event, I would have loved to have had a go around there! I'm gutted it's been stopped and so are plenty of others!!

Who's had a ride at Aberdare?

Also heard that last year they were forced to have a car out infront so was more like a parade than a race! Can see why it didn't happen this year, although would have loved to have seen some sidecars this weekend!

[oldbelly]

There hasnt been a sidecar race at Aberdare for a long time and that was only for the early F2s ( 350s). That may have been a one off. If it wasnt I dont think they were there many times Isabelle.

[Sideslip]

There hadn't been sidecars at Aberdare for many years until they decided to re-introduce them in (I think) 1991.
Outfits were limited to the Formula 2 rules at the time; 350 two stroke twins and the grid size was limited to about 8 outfits, if I recall correctly.
We rode there at the first meeting in 1991. Great fun. Cracking little circuit and a good road surface - apart from the bumpy start/finish straight. The crowds were enormous. There were a couple of minor incidents at this first meeting, but nothing serious. We were invited back to the following years meeting,1992, where things got a little hectic. I remember a passenger falling out over the start/finish line and I narrowly avoided him; someone went off into the bushes at the end of the start straight and Greg Lambert ended up in a tree on the paddock corner.
The organisers decided that sidecars were incompatible with the narrowness of the track and decided not to run them again.
Pity really, as it was a truly unique event with a great atmosphere.

[mike yiend]

Aberdare is wider than Scarborough and they have classic Karts racing there now. They had parades for the last couple of years along with someone from the ACU, who I think may have pulled the plug on chairs racing there. Can't see the problem myself. Yes, it's short but you'd only need 7-8 outfits to make a race. Perhaps if someone from the ACU who actually understands racing were to pay a visit....?!

[IsabelleViolet]

Good to hear everyone with positive comments about the park, its just such a shame that it's been stopped! Yeah I saw the karts this weekend!

Yeah I have been told it was someone from the ACU, but as we say Scarbrough is narrower! (let's hope the same thing doesn't happen again to another great circuit!) I wish it would get reconsidered!

It's just a shame because it's through seeing the sidecars at the smaller more intimate circuits that people really get a chance to fully appreciate just how amazing it is/they are!

It's exciting watching sidecars on more narrow circuit anyway! (obviously no one wants it dangerously narrow, but narrow enough to get our adrenaline running!)

[G JONES]

We rode there - pretty sure it was 1996 - last meeting before we stopped racing for 12 years....
It was a 2 day meeting - we only did the Sunday - when we arrived we were told George Hardwick had gone home - I believe he thought it too bumpy - we found out for ourselves - Julie took a huge bruising when we hit the big bump on the start straight - had to enlist a solo lad to finish the day - pretty sure someone told me the bump has been removed now (or filled in)

[anp]

Gordon I remember that meeting I went to help Steve Brooks its one of the best race meetings I have ever been to an awesome tough to ride track for an Outfit and the support from the spectators was superb all weekend the trophies were great a brass coal wagon given by the sponsors Tower Colliery and prize money ! the night life at the local was good too Steve was on his 350 he rode hard all weekend I think he finished 3rd maybe Paul Iwanski was there as well also on a 350 I think a 600 won overall

[bruce moore]

We raced there in 1991,with PaulIwanski,Greg Lambert,Dave Wallis,Dennis Keen,Steve Wood,Martin Waters,good meeting,it was indeed very bumpy and after Gregs accident we all got together and turned the race into a demo,still good fun
as for previous post,Pete Broom was the winner in 96 on a 600 thundercat

[Sideslip]

Didn't realise that sidecars ran up to 1996. Either that, or I'd forgotten!
I'm presuming that they only allowed 350s in, as I'm pretty certain I would have entered again; but I'd gone to a 600 in 1993.

[Toby]

KEW can prob give you more info, think he's the font of all Welsh racing knowledge

[bruce moore]

Aberdare 1991