Isle of Man TT blog: Spotlight on sidecars
Published: Saturday, 4 June 2011, 12:39PM
In her latest TT blog, presenter Tania Nadarajah catches up with Charley Boorman on a day on which the focus fell on the sidecars...
The cancellation of the solo motorcycles’ penultimate practice may have thrown a spanner in the works for more than a few teams but it meant that focus on day four belonged to the sidecars.
I claimed a sneaky spot beside the start line, giving me a prime view down Bray Hill and the opportunity to catch up with TV star and adventurer Charley Boorman on his first visit to the TT.
Arriving with friend and director of the TT3D movie, Richard De Aragues, Charley spoke of his respect for all the competitors and, having done the Dakar Rally in 2006 and walked away with two broken wrists to prove it, this is a man who knows a thing or two about tough races.
Despite perfect weather all around the Mountain Course, the practice sessions faced numerous delays – not helping the already tense mood in the paddock.
Tannoy updates came thick and fast although at one point, an announcement warned grandstand spectators of the health and safety hazard caused by leaning against the railings. Ironic, considering what the sidecar racers in front of them were about to do.
And speaking of sidecar racers, let’s just say you have to be a certain slightly crazy breed to be one. During one of the numerous delays, Conrad Harrison wandered over to talk about some of the finer points that led to his first podium finish in 2010 after almost 20 years of racing.
As the fella in control of this speeding bullet, his absolute focus and almost supernatural knowledge of the course was astounding.
But what’s it like for the teammates of these daredevil riders? Well, the bit they’re perching in is a lot like those plastic toboggans that kids play on in the snow. With wheels. Going really, really fast.
The term ‘passenger’ doesn’t come close to describing what these guys do. Even Klaffi, 2010 sidecar winner, said that he wouldn’t swap places with passenger Dan Sayle for a single lap.
These slightly unhinged individuals are battling from the off to help corner, balance and brake the machine, all the while tucking in behind the riders or fairings to minimise wind resistance. Of course this means that they can’t see where they’re going most of the time.
But then again, doing over 110mph in what is essentially a pimped-up tea tray, would you want to?
