The SMC take on sidecars

[Danae]

The first of November...Spring is in the air (most of the time); the birds are chirping, the sky is blue and cloudless....and it is Sidecar Have a Go Day! The SMC decides to head down to Taupo to fill the clear air with the glorious sound of the litre+ sidecars. Fuck you, nature! The crew consists of Squiggles (learner driver extraordinaire), Hanne (the one-armed menace and driving instructor), Slyer (the new professional passenger), Renegade Master (official gangsta) and myself (cranky backseat driver-ess).

Now, the SMC are always up for adventure (taking inappropriate things to out-of-the-way places) but this journey was a little more cramped than usual...

<img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/9ld7nr.jpg"></img>

All of our gear shoved into the back of the celica leaves almost no room for the ghetto blaster (highly important) but we manage to fit everything. The only sacrifice had to be my coffee.

We leave bright and early (8:30 am) and head for Taupo! Wanting to avoid the Tron, RM recommends a great shortcut (SH39). Great for bikes, that is. Admiring the twists and turns of this road would be a lot more fun on a bike. Unfortunately we were in the back of a cramped celica, which couldn't take the turns as fast as a bike. Progress was slow.

After a while we began to lose feeling in our legs so we pulled over to enjoy a picnic of leftover BBQd sausages and listening to the mad beats of RM's boombox.

<img src="http://i33.tinypic.com/2cen7zb.jpg"></img>

Hanne buys some <strike>st</strike>RAWBERRIES and then we are back on the road.

Having left at 8:30 we expected to be there by aroundabouts 11...but thanks to RM's shortcut we arrive at a timely midday.

Soon the racetrack comes into sight and we impatiently park and head towards the spectator's area, where the unmistakable sound of...motards...echoes around the area. Have we missed the sidecars?!

<img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/of6iyv.jpg"></img>

[Danae]

Fortunately we haven't missed the Have a Go Day, we were just at the wrong entrance. After finding the right entrance, we park up and check out the sidecars. They are absolutely blasting around the track, drowning out the sounds of the races on the other track. Sidecars of different colours, years and capacities abound, and we eagerly sign up.

Hanne, having induced an injury prior to the sidecar racing (not motorcycle related) is unsure whether she will be able to Have a Go with a cast on. Fortunately she finds a kind enough rider who was willing to take her around for a blat and the journey was not for naught!

Everybody gears up and heads over to choose a sidecar...

<img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/352n9rk.jpg"></img>

Squiggles is first and chooses Racing Red, as does Slyer.

<img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/34qkz0g.jpg"></img>

After stiffly removing themselves from the sidecar they both complain of sore arms, and that holding on to a sidecar is akin to Rodeo Sex.

Renegade Master is next and chooses one of the more insane sidecar racers...

<img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/25jwh0j.jpg"></img>

It turns out he almost falls off the back!

Hanne is next up, and the racer promises to go slow at first to account for her cast.

Each lap is faster and faster, and Hanne still manages to hold on! She comes back grinning from ear to ear, proudly showing us that sidecar racing is possible with a cast!

<img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/24oxc02.jpg"></img>

Then it is my turn! I choose the orange one, as I saw it blasting around at a moderate pace, and noticed it also had bungs to brace your feet against. As I climb in, the rider turns to me and says, "This is my first time actually riding one of these things." I nervously laugh and and hold on a bit tighter to the bars.

<img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/303grir.jpg"></img>

As we move off towards the entrance to the track adrenalin starts to pump around my blood system. We get the go ahead and the rider guns it. I will admit, my sidecar went a bit slower than the others, but I had fun nonetheless. There is something thrilling about having your head a few inches off the ground, with the only thing stopping you from falling backwards is the friction between your arse and the seat, and your hands gripping onto the bars.

We go for 5 laps and I come back unable to stop smiling; if I had ten more bucks I would have had another go.

Overall the mission was a success, and we will be doing the same next year.

[Hanne]

Totally worth going down! Better not let my mum see these pics though! ><

[old rig]

the orange sidecar is mine and the guy riding it was his first time riding one so he wasn't lying to you im the guy in the black top with my back to the camera i hope you had fun

[Kickaha]

im the guy in the black top with my back to the camera

That black is so slimming on you:whistle:

Next year I'll shout the piss if you toss RM on his arse :shifty:

[The Pastor]

that black is so slimming on you:whistle:

Next year i'll shout the piss if you toss rm on his arse :shifty:
im so glad i didnt fall out i couldnt afford new gear!

[Squiggles]

T'was so awesome i went out twice XD

[rie]

sounds like so much fun! what is the restriction on gear? can you just have armour-fitted draggins, for instance?

[Danae]

Yeah people were going in jeans. Twas awesome fun!

[old fartz]

I had a touch of food poisoning a dodgy pie so the rat carried on taking people out it was his first time out as well ,he is normally the swinger on another sidecar,i am pleased you had a good day out so come and say hi at any race meeting as we are a good group of guys and girls trying to promote an amazing sport.:rockon:

[insane1]

there may even be another run on sidecars sooner than you think just got to talk to a few people whos up for trying the same thing on dirt.

[Chrislost]

Soon the racetrack comes into sight and we impatiently park and head towards the spectator's area, where the unmistakable sound of...motards...echoes around the area. Have we missed the sidecars?!


Heyyy! i can see my van, hope you watched some of the racing as well as passengering some 3 wheeled go carts.
yo should have gone on #666 or #50, they were the real nuts cuntz

[Hanne]

there may even be another run on sidecars sooner than you think just got to talk to a few people whos up for trying the same thing on dirt.

Yesss pleasssse :D

[Danae]

Yesss pleasssse :D

omgzzzz yusss

[DMCD]

Would love to attend this time, now that im part of the club :-P

[rat]

I had a touch of food poisoning a dodgy pie so the rat carried on taking people out it was his first time out as well ,he is normally the swinger on another sidecar,i am pleased you had a good day out so come and say hi at any race meeting as we are a good group of guys and girls trying to promote an amazing sport.:rockon:

Thanks for the ride Alan, had a blast. Cheers.
Rat

[Danae]

Today I got a letter in the post with a little note saying thanks for having a go :eek:

[insane1]

hopefully i get to talk to some of the sidecar guys if their there tonite but maybe to busy got tolook after 2 cars 1 ltd saloon the other one an breathing 800+hp super will see what happens and all going well should be able to get a few a run on the dirt.

[sidecar bob]

Today I got a letter in the post with a little note saying thanks for having a go :eek:

Yep, its a new idea someone had this year. And seriously, how did you feel about getting that?

[The Pastor]

Yep, its a new idea someone had this year. And seriously, how did you feel about getting that?
kinda nice, had bit of a laugh

[Danae]

Yep, its a new idea someone had this year. And seriously, how did you feel about getting that?

Warm and fuzzy! :love:

[Slyer]

The first real mail I've had for ay least a year!