So in effect the (so-called) passenger adds: active weight transfer, active aero (incl. DRS, air brake and air vectoring) I already see F1 team gabbing their FIA rule books looking for a legislation on so-called passengers 🤣
I feel this is one of the only sports that honest to god should have participation trophies - if you just make it through the course that's one hell of an achievement!
"should have participation trophies" It does. I bet any participant in IOMTT gets more credit on any bike rally than a local champion. I mean, a guy in the comments mentioned his dad used to ride monkey on two IOMTTs. He didn't bother mentioning any championships he's likely got along the way. They hardly matter in comparison.
@@alaeriia01 and all horse competitions. You have to control a sentient 1000+ pound animal that may or may not disagree with your judgement. Bonus if it’s a jumping horse because they can only see the jump as they are approaching from far. Once they are close they can no longer see the jump and you just have to hope they judged it correctly. (Horses cannot see things directly in front of them so they have a massive blind spot.)
@@EstellammaSS no airbags, and that incident was at Braddon Bridge. Must be a good few years old, because they not attach plywood sheets to the railings on the bridge
On some tracks, there are experience days where people are invited along to try passengering sidecars. There are always more drivers and teams than there are passengers.
For me there's 2 of the most insane and dangerous event in motorsports, First is Isle Of Man with it's insane speed and danger, Second is Pikes Peak with the altitude and insanity of the cars built for the event
Thats the most active aero I have ever seen! Jokes aside, those passengers are mad lads. This breakdown really helped me understand just how insane sidecar racing is. Thank you, -Luis
@@frank_calvert Both, the driver is in a kneeling position. We steer the outfit with the handlebars and change gears and brake with our feet. Throttle is on the handle bars like a motorbike. The other person is called a passenger, they shift their weight around to change the grip levels and cornering ability depending on the corner / circuit.
As a passenger I can honestly say it’s easier than what it looks providing you move at the right time and know where your handholds are the G Force will help you out… BUT there is no way I’m doing the TT 😂
It seems like once you've gotten into a rhythm, and the driver knows what to expect, and the passenger understands the track as much as the driver does, it becomes a well-oiled machine. But based on each of those crashes showcased in the video, it can go south really suddenly and really quickly.
Back in the mid 70s I had a T110 with a Watsonian double adult chariot. On a visit to Burgess Hill the bikes primary chain let go. It was a Sunday, so no bike shops available. Someone told us of a guy who might be able to help. I walked up to the impressive detached house, which had an enormous garage. Looking in the garage I saw a number of state of the art racing sidecar outfits. The guy was really nice and helpful. He had the appropriate link and wouldn't take any money for it. He gave me a lift back to the bike and made sure all was good. I never found out his name. I've often wondered who he was. Ta.
I always thought this was the coolest form of racing, definitely requires two to think and act as one. Congrats on hitting the 700K subscribers milestone, You'll get that 1st million soon enough. First came across your vids explaining how F1 gearboxes worked and was hooked on from day one.
My father (who had the same name as me) was a passenger and fell out (near where Joey Dunlop fatally crashed) in 2001 few days before my birthday. Broke pretty much all his bones and died on the way to the hospital. It sounds crazy but I would like to try it... never got to ride it. I think I would be great at it too.
I can understand. Road racing has taken Joey Dunlop, Robert Dunlop and William Dunlop but Micheal Dunlop still races inspite of losing two uncles and a brother. For those families road racing in part of their DNA.
as an ex motorcycle rider i always thought having a sidecar would make it easier as you dont have to lean into the corner or play dodge the stone with your knee. then i drove a bike and sidecar and how wrong i was. those things are mental and scary as hell! taking a corner at speed was a no no and even going over 70mph was a scary experience, and id been riding for over 10 years!
Being a sidecar enthusiast myself enjoy this video to the bone. A few times in a year I am acting track commissioner by the SAM (a ‘vintage race bike’ association in the Netherlands) They race from 50cc two-strokes up to 1000 cc old(er) bikes. The part I most like are the sidecars. Believe me, not only the bikes are vintage. A 70 + years couple in the sidecar. The elderly lady is the passenger. Participation is topic.
I have absolute admiration for the isle of Mann tt racers! It's the purest race in existence. To know that death is a moment away yet the racer has the confidence to believe in oneself enough to mitigate that danger and display amazing feats of courage. To end the races would dishonor those who have passed away whilst racing. Bless that race.
"To end the races would dishonor those who have passed away whilst racing." It would dishonor us the most. Because we'd be the ones who'd allow for this to happen.
I'm way late, but your analogy of the mad-lad passengers being "rock climbers at 150mph" really 'reach out and touched me' as a viewer and connected me to how mad these mad lads are. 👌 I'd watch the heck outta this motorsport.
Great stuff. My dad raced as a passenger in the 60s with Fred Hanks Motorcycles, including 2 IOMTT. It is worth mentioning Rose Hanks. There were female passengers too.
Wasn't Rose the first woman to stand on the podium at the TT? She was always very active when it came to fund raising for the TT Rider Benevolent Fund too I seem to remember. There have been many fantastic women racing sidecars at top level. Two that spring to mind currently are both French. Emmanuelle Clement (Passenger usually on F1s) and Estelle Leblond (rides an F2, very quick at the Isle of Man) being the other, there are many more.
Man, i remember when these were a part of the motorcycle grand prix weekends. My favourite to watch of the categories for sure. Glad to see its still around. Great video!
I have vague memories of seeing them on grandstand as a kid, in the very early 90's. You still saw the occasional sidecar on the road, too. They're pretty much extinct these days.
Incredibly grateful to have been to the TT myself to experience this first-hand as a team mechanic. I have taken my time to speak to several sidecar teams there and hats off to them..
My Great Grandfather used to be a passenger for Sidecar racing during the late 40s and early 50s in east germany. From what I can remember him telling me before he passed, it was utterly insane even back then. So much respect to the bravery of these people.
I once got a ride along on one of those, its mental. I have a Ducati 1098s as track bike, so I'm used to going 'fast' on track, but sidecars are just insane. I had to tap out after 4 laps or so, not being used to hold on to the bike in such an awkward way, and this was on a regular track. I can't imagine going trough Ballascary on this heap of madness.
Thank you SO much for these videos. I've wanted to actually learn about motorsports for so long but had no idea how to, and finding this channel has been a massive step for me.
Props for covering this....I used to work in a motor cycle shop way back, and the owner had a collection of the old video tapes of 500cc/ 250cc GP racing + the old HAVOC series of racing crash videos and these all had side cars in them.... I remember being completely blown away at them 40 years ago ! And couldn't understand why I'd never heard of or seen it before and why it wasn't happening here in USA.... 40 yrs later it's still Insanely badass and crazy as all hell to watch..
A sidecar driver once told me "I just turn the throttle and press the brakes. The passenger chooses how fast we go". What he meant was, in acceleration, the passenger's weight helps to improve traction to the drive wheel, and as you said here, the passenger's weight is essential to cornering particularly on left-handers. Another thing to note is that throttle application is different on left and right handers, when and how much the driver accelerates is dependent on the direction of turn. It's a fascinating sport that, while not as popular as it once was, is still impressive to watch.
Yep, did a job shooting a race weekend w multiple World Champs and TT winners (recognised them in this vid;) and saw them demolish the competition, some of whom got some nasty injuries just trying to keep up. Was in absolute awe of bravery and skill, regardless of where any ended up finishing. And super humble and nice guys all round, esp. considering the massive balls they carry around 24/7.
Brilliant video Scott. I'll watch your F1 content all day but I love videos like this that give a bit on insight into new types of Motorsport. More please 😁
I sponsored a side car team once 20 years ago here on California they ran 180 mph the guy on the back or monkey is the most important and balance is everything . I watched them run at Thunder Hill race track . There is no other sport like this or more dangerous.
@@bremCZ Grasstrack sidecars are insane. Real Madmax. Engines with tuned road superbikes, accelerate faster than an F1 car....and that`s on grass/earth surface. My favourite spectator sport after the IOM .Last attended the European Championships a few year`s back.
When we make Jaegers we're going to have to check these guys out first for drift pilots. Being that in sync with someone in that sort of environment takes a special kind of person.
@Driver61 To have an idea of how lethal being a sidecar passenger is look up the incident at TT Assen that cost Sandor Pohl his life at T1 when the driver lost control. Sandor got flung out of the passenger seat and onto the racingline with one coming up right behind him. I was present on the track that day and on the other side of the paddock. The sound of the impact still haunts me to this day and remembering the immediate dead silence on the entire track makes me shiver down to my bones. So I really felt that when I saw someone like Romein Grosjean hit that barrier in F1 last year. Sidecar racing is probably the most dangerous motorsport we have today compared to any other sport.
Thanks very much for the excellent video. Another fascinating one might be made about the technology of the sidecars - EG brake balance not just front to rear but side to side as well! As a sometime TT marshal and bike owner I find them actually more interesting than the regular bikes. Their cornering speeds are quite a bit faster.
I used to flag marshal at my local track for bike racing. All the competitors were nice but the sidecar guys and girls were extremely friendly and welcoming. They were always open to questions, used to let anyone sit on the machines and take photos and were always encouraging people to join them and have a go
It's active aero, active suspension, and active mass distribution, but "active" is not electronics and hydraulics, it's a dude and he's completely rad. What's not to like?
I have been a life long Sidecar fan. the only race that can be the most Elegant run you have every seen but if not done correctly, can be devastating. Isle of Man is the peak of the sport.
I know they are going significantly slower than an F1 car but considering where they are racing and the absence of carbon fiber around them that seems much faster. Another great video! Thank you !
Whenever I am asked if I like sport, I always respond with "Unless it involves three or more wheels, I'm not interested" Those _three_ wheels I refer to, are these!! Love it!!
@@HRM.H To me racing like that would be super scary. If im not 100% in control then i find it scary. And if im 100% in control and crash then thats on me only and there isnt anyone else to blame.
I once spoke to a sidecar-racer at Assen, he told me about The Isle of Man, and how the bumps on one of the straights are so extreme you lose focused vision, EVERYTHING is a blur. So I asked him: “How do you know where to go then?” ‘Aim for the grey bit.’ He dryly said. I couldn’t believe it, but that is what he said, asif it was an everyday thing like brushing your teeth…
Used to go to Mallory Park with my dad to watch the motorbikes. The sidecars always amazed me. Remember a particularly nasty crash where the passenger went over the top of the bike and had his hand crushed between his bike and another bike. These guys are a different breed.
I was a passager for a privateer F1 outfit in the late 90's in the uk. Our driver had amazing intuition and skill. You build an understanding that is like a sixth sense. For me the scariest bit was scrutineering and sitting on the start line. Once the lights go green it was almost like being in a dream. I never raced at the IoM TT but remember going as a spectator (on two wheels). One of my clear memories of the sidecars (you had to get out a bit earlier to catch them) was actually the ambulance crews working on the poor souls that had stacked it. Great video and brings back great memories (apart from the horrific crashes!)..
I'm in my mid 40's and I remember this from the 80's. In my recollection they were in the motor sports section of the Sunday sports on Dutch TV every week. I think there's a motor cross version as well. Great stuff and thank you for putting them in the spot light!
I want to thank you for this video as I never did when I watched it at the time. I now am a fan of the British Sidecar Championship and have been following for the last year and a bit.
When he said "How do you build up to sidecar racing? How do you first learn the ropes of hanging off a sidecar?" I was expecting a Skillshare commercial to follow
There is definitelly no money in the world that would convince me to ride one of those things. Seems like a coffin for 2 with weels. Huge respect for these guys.
Imagine a racing game where you rely on another player to manage the balance of the vehicle throughout the race. Fluctuating the center of gravity as you’re driving. That would be crazy. Holy shiz man.
The guys in the sidecars must have supreme fitness and agility. They have to act as a counterbalance through the corners to stop the bike tipping but then be tucked away, nice and aerodynamic for the straights. Insane and impressive in equal measure.
Well explained👍 I drove as well as passengered in the '90's on a vintage 1965 BMW kneeler. I'm 72 and retired now. I raced solos for 30 years. Sidecars are the ultimate thrill ✌️🏁🇺🇲
Loved the video! Hello from the Isle of Man 🇮🇲 TT has been cancelled due to COVID the last 2 years and everyone here can’t wait for its return in 2022!
A great video and I’ve enjoyed seeing sidecars racing at Donington, Oulton and Mallory over the years. They are something unique. It goes against the grain but, I dislike the IOM TT. It is far too dangerous. 1920’s safety standards and almost guaranteed fatalities do not make for an event that I care for. I used to live in the IOM and flew injured riders in the air ambulance. I could see first hand the suffering they inflicted on their relatives with racing at this insane course.
Part of me feels that way. The other part wonders why sponsors want to be involved in an event synonymous with tragedy. The TT, is too much like gladiatorial combat for my liking, a blood sport Circuit racing is like mixed martial arts, definite danger, but very rarely lethal. The former, makes me feel uncomfortable watching.
And yet never appears in any list of "most dangerous sports". Soccer (football) is far more dangerous. Every competitor at TT knows it could be fatal, every family knows this and yet the consistent theme is that the lives would be empty without it. Better to live your life, than just exist. When you also look at the amount of track time at the TT, classic, manx GP, with practice, and number of races and classes, each lap is 37+ miles. It compares well to other motorsports fatalities on short "ultra safe" circuits.
Thanks mate, brilliant video as always! I tought that superbike guys were lunatics in the Isle of Man... but 120 mph AVERAGE in these tricycles just put the term lunatic into another level!!
KaWow!!! 🤯 Super interesting and crazy! Thank you for this and all of your content. I can’t actually say that I’m anything even approximating a true “race fan”. That said, I do appreciate the sport and I had to subscribe (and regularly like and share) your channel because your content and delivery of this subject is so very informative and enjoyable!
For comparison, the sidecar lap record is just under 19 minutes for the 37.5 mile circuit. If I stick to the speed limits (where there are any; the circuit does have significant amounts of derestricted roads), I can get around in an hour in a domestic car with open roads. The TT circuit is by turns amazing and totally insane at the same time. It runs past my home, I drive sections of it on a daily basis, and most of the time we completely forget that it's a racing circuit.
The adjustable brake balance is interesting, not only is it front to rear but also side to side! Another point of interest is that the rules negate the use of helmet to helmet communication systems.
As a teenager I was taken to Mallory Park to watch the bikes. When the sidecars came out I was mesmerised. Wanted to be the passenger, and then become the rider (yeah, I know). Needless to say it never happened. Sort of glad about that now. Still love watching them though. Mad lads, and lassies. Takes some bloody nerve. And yes, they are mad. But I bet they feel more alive during the race than most of us ever know.
What's crazy is that this got developed to the extent they have bikes with aerodynamics and a junior series. One could think this is just a gimmick, but no, people actually devote themselves to doing it. Honestly it's so cool--and way too terrifying.
A friend of mine, a now ex-warrant officer in the REME, races sidecars. He’s quite insane. The thing is that the insanity only comes over him when he’s racing. The rest of the time he can blend in with normal people and you’d never suspect he takes himself off to circuits at weekends and takes part in races where he’d come back to work on Monday and tell me how people were killed in his event. He used to get wrecked on a regular basis but it never put him off. He went off to the Isle of Man one year with his passenger to learn the course. He thought it would take him two years before he could get it properly learnt, and then get racing in the TT.
Don’t know if you have ever seen the dirt version of side car racing. Back in the 80’s at Ascot Park in Gardena California some Australian guys came over to the 1/2 mile dirt oval and for a summer put on some great racing with those machines it was something I will never forget!
Aren't these guys mad? The Isle of Man TT course, plus a rapid three-wheeled bike - mental. Nothing but respect for these guys!
These guys are absolutely mental, and top athletes as well. They put complete trust in each other.
Madmen, total respect, but I think I'll stick to 4 wheels!
So in effect the (so-called) passenger adds: active weight transfer, active aero (incl. DRS, air brake and air vectoring)
I already see F1 team gabbing their FIA rule books looking for a legislation on so-called passengers 🤣
Yeah…. Seen it every year since I’ve been alive as I’m from there and I still don’t understand how they do it
What happened to that driver at 7.23 ? He was thrown into a stone wall ! Did he survive it ?
I feel this is one of the only sports that honest to god should have participation trophies - if you just make it through the course that's one hell of an achievement!
"should have participation trophies"
It does. I bet any participant in IOMTT gets more credit on any bike rally than a local champion. I mean, a guy in the comments mentioned his dad used to ride monkey on two IOMTTs. He didn't bother mentioning any championships he's likely got along the way. They hardly matter in comparison.
U r right
That and running marathons/triathlons.
@@alaeriia01 No, Literally anyone can get through a marathon as long as they pace themselves
@@alaeriia01 and all horse competitions. You have to control a sentient 1000+ pound animal that may or may not disagree with your judgement.
Bonus if it’s a jumping horse because they can only see the jump as they are approaching from far. Once they are close they can no longer see the jump and you just have to hope they judged it correctly. (Horses cannot see things directly in front of them so they have a massive blind spot.)
Just when I thought that there is nothing more mental than Isle of Man TT I see this. This is just ridiculous on a completely new level, I love it.
This is the Isle of Man TT. Sidecars racing there is far more mental than racing at a circuit
@@taskforceknight9336 If im right Isle of man TT is the race in basic bikes. This is the same track but different event.
@@EmilAhvenainen no, it's still the TT. Two sidecar races are part of TT race week. 👍
@@hakkalocken Hi hakkalocken. How are you tonight? Fine?
@@EmilAhvenainen yes. TT Races has 10 different events including TT SBK SSP 250 125 etc.
This looks like something people would try while they're drunk and it actually become a sport 🤯
Seeing as it's on the Isle of Man, I'm sure that's how it's created
Just like Golf, according to Robin Williams. not invented by the Scottish, but close..
yep !
Every nascar official: (slowly backs away) Yeah why would you do stuff like that hahahahaha
You'd have to be drunk to think that this was a good idea
That passenger getting bounced off a wall was nuts, I can't believe he got up after that
I suspect they are packed with some shock absorbers. Or at least I hope.
Lol I thought you were going to say what I thought, which is that he got up out of shock and adrenaline and is probably pretty fucked
@@liam2134 pretty sure those have airbags built in, but yeah probably broke a few bones
@@EstellammaSS good to know, that was just my first reaction having not really known anything about the safety
@@EstellammaSS no airbags, and that incident was at Braddon Bridge. Must be a good few years old, because they not attach plywood sheets to the railings on the bridge
Those mini sidecar races look so fun, I'd love to try it. Looks way less scary than the pro league races.
yeah i could see me and my mates doing that for fun
I instead still see myself lying on the tarmac in a pool of my own blood
@@davonmulder8458 hi Davon. How are you in this rainy day?
On some tracks, there are experience days where people are invited along to try passengering sidecars. There are always more drivers and teams than there are passengers.
@@GuzziHeroV50 really? Do you have any links in the UK? I’ve always wanted to get in the side of one of these
I think the Isle of Man is the most insane event in all of Motorsports.
For me there's 2 of the most insane and dangerous event in motorsports, First is Isle Of Man with it's insane speed and danger, Second is Pikes Peak with the altitude and insanity of the cars built for the event
1) Isle of Man TT
2) Rallye
3) Marathon de la Route (aka 84h of the Nürburgring)
@@dominuscircensis3645 Isle of Man, Daytona 500, and Indy 500 should be number 1.
@@mikblues_146 pikes peak lost a lot after the dirt was removed.
1) Isle of Man TT
2) Northwest 200
3) Ulster GP
Thats the most active aero I have ever seen!
Jokes aside, those passengers are mad lads. This breakdown really helped me understand just how insane sidecar racing is.
Thank you,
-Luis
As a driver of a formula 2 sidecar, this was actually a pretty decent video, nice work.
You’re an absolute mad lad. Respect to you mate!
RESPEKT
How can you move with such heavy balls?
question, is the driver the one pushing the pedals or the who aims it? what is the other person called?
@@frank_calvert Both, the driver is in a kneeling position. We steer the outfit with the handlebars and change gears and brake with our feet. Throttle is on the handle bars like a motorbike. The other person is called a passenger, they shift their weight around to change the grip levels and cornering ability depending on the corner / circuit.
As a passenger I can honestly say it’s easier than what it looks providing you move at the right time and know where your handholds are the G Force will help you out… BUT there is no way I’m doing the TT 😂
Mate how do you not get scared 💀
How many times have u crashed?
Including in training
Move righ time you go fast and stable
Move wrong time you go fast while flying
It seems like once you've gotten into a rhythm, and the driver knows what to expect, and the passenger understands the track as much as the driver does, it becomes a well-oiled machine. But based on each of those crashes showcased in the video, it can go south really suddenly and really quickly.
5:58 trust isn't the only enormous thing it takes!!
@OFFLINE YT yes indeed..
Yup, he compared it to rock climbing at 150mp. As someone who loves rock climbing these guys have easily 10x the size of balls that any of us have....
Big hairy ones hanging really low.
Back in the mid 70s I had a T110 with a Watsonian double adult chariot. On a visit to Burgess Hill the bikes primary chain let go. It was a Sunday, so no bike shops available. Someone told us of a guy who might be able to help. I walked up to the impressive detached house, which had an enormous garage. Looking in the garage I saw a number of state of the art racing sidecar outfits. The guy was really nice and helpful. He had the appropriate link and wouldn't take any money for it. He gave me a lift back to the bike and made sure all was good. I never found out his name. I've often wondered who he was.
Ta.
That's just what the biker family is like 🙂
For the passion of it.
Saw sidecar racing at a BSB weekend at Thruxton. It was absolutely insane. Seeing it on a street circuit would blow my mind
Please not
Thruxton is fucking fast too, it must've been insane
Coming from a family of sidecar racers, I've got to say they are just insane as they seem
I always thought this was the coolest form of racing, definitely requires two to think and act as one. Congrats on hitting the 700K subscribers milestone, You'll get that 1st million soon enough.
First came across your vids explaining how F1 gearboxes worked and was hooked on from day one.
That manly urge to go 130+ mph with your bro hanging off the side of your bike
My father (who had the same name as me) was a passenger and fell out (near where Joey Dunlop fatally crashed) in 2001 few days before my birthday. Broke pretty much all his bones and died on the way to the hospital. It sounds crazy but I would like to try it... never got to ride it. I think I would be great at it too.
🤨
Estonians, I swear to God... You are a bunch of crazy drivers.
Well if you do try and be a bit more careful
I can understand. Road racing has taken Joey Dunlop, Robert Dunlop and William Dunlop but Micheal Dunlop still races inspite of losing two uncles and a brother. For those families road racing in part of their DNA.
Sorry I should say an uncle, a father and a brother.
RIP
as an ex motorcycle rider i always thought having a sidecar would make it easier as you dont have to lean into the corner or play dodge the stone with your knee. then i drove a bike and sidecar and how wrong i was. those things are mental and scary as hell! taking a corner at speed was a no no and even going over 70mph was a scary experience, and id been riding for over 10 years!
I'd have my T3 and side car back in a hart beat and I road it all over the SW of England contracting.
Being a sidecar enthusiast myself enjoy this video to the bone. A few times in a year I am acting track commissioner by the SAM (a ‘vintage race bike’ association in the Netherlands) They race from 50cc two-strokes up to 1000 cc old(er) bikes. The part I most like are the sidecars. Believe me, not only the bikes are vintage. A 70 + years couple in the sidecar. The elderly lady is the passenger. Participation is topic.
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how GOOD! They sound
I have absolute admiration for the isle of Mann tt racers! It's the purest race in existence. To know that death is a moment away yet the racer has the confidence to believe in oneself enough to mitigate that danger and display amazing feats of courage. To end the races would dishonor those who have passed away whilst racing. Bless that race.
"To end the races would dishonor those who have passed away whilst racing."
It would dishonor us the most. Because we'd be the ones who'd allow for this to happen.
I'm way late, but your analogy of the mad-lad passengers being "rock climbers at 150mph" really 'reach out and touched me' as a viewer and connected me to how mad these mad lads are. 👌 I'd watch the heck outta this motorsport.
Great stuff. My dad raced as a passenger in the 60s with Fred Hanks Motorcycles, including 2 IOMTT. It is worth mentioning Rose Hanks. There were female passengers too.
I met Frank in 1981 at the TT, when i had my first visit and spannering for a friend who raced sidecars
Wasn't Rose the first woman to stand on the podium at the TT? She was always very active when it came to fund raising for the TT Rider Benevolent Fund too I seem to remember. There have been many fantastic women racing sidecars at top level. Two that spring to mind currently are both French. Emmanuelle Clement (Passenger usually on F1s) and Estelle Leblond (rides an F2, very quick at the Isle of Man) being the other, there are many more.
@@deanbrown9454 Husband and wife team Dennis and Julia Bingham, 2nd place at 1982 TT, behind Jock Taylor who was killed in Finland two month later.
@@rattusnorvegicus4380 Being responsible for the life of my wife would make me too nervous to drive fast enough to win anything, lol.
@@wilhufftarkin8543 what if she were the one egging you on?
Man, i remember when these were a part of the motorcycle grand prix weekends. My favourite to watch of the categories for sure. Glad to see its still around. Great video!
I rate this video 100.
I have vague memories of seeing them on grandstand as a kid, in the very early 90's. You still saw the occasional sidecar on the road, too. They're pretty much extinct these days.
Why they got rid of the sidecar division?
Incredibly grateful to have been to the TT myself to experience this first-hand as a team mechanic. I have taken my time to speak to several sidecar teams there and hats off to them..
My Great Grandfather used to be a passenger for Sidecar racing during the late 40s and early 50s in east germany.
From what I can remember him telling me before he passed, it was utterly insane even back then.
So much respect to the bravery of these people.
Thanks for covering this. It's badly underrepresented and is so awesome to see live. The corkscrew at Laguna Seca is epic sidecar action, trust me.
I once got a ride along on one of those, its mental. I have a Ducati 1098s as track bike, so I'm used to going 'fast' on track, but sidecars are just insane. I had to tap out after 4 laps or so, not being used to hold on to the bike in such an awkward way, and this was on a regular track. I can't imagine going trough Ballascary on this heap of madness.
The ultimate active suspension
Active weight transfer + active aero (incl. DRS, air brake function, drag vectoring)
@@stephanvelines7006 Rear tyre does its bit too
This is balls to the wall insane. Much appreciation to any person for risking massive injury or death from such a rush of competition.
Thank you SO much for these videos. I've wanted to actually learn about motorsports for so long but had no idea how to, and finding this channel has been a massive step for me.
Props for covering this....I used to work in a motor cycle shop way back, and the owner had a collection of the old video tapes of 500cc/ 250cc GP racing + the old HAVOC series of racing crash videos and these all had side cars in them.... I remember being completely blown away at them 40 years ago ! And couldn't understand why I'd never heard of or seen it before and why it wasn't happening here in USA....
40 yrs later it's still Insanely badass and crazy as all hell to watch..
A sidecar driver once told me "I just turn the throttle and press the brakes. The passenger chooses how fast we go". What he meant was, in acceleration, the passenger's weight helps to improve traction to the drive wheel, and as you said here, the passenger's weight is essential to cornering particularly on left-handers.
Another thing to note is that throttle application is different on left and right handers, when and how much the driver accelerates is dependent on the direction of turn.
It's a fascinating sport that, while not as popular as it once was, is still impressive to watch.
Insane to think there's still entire sects of racing I've never heard of. Humbling, and fascinating
There must be a multiplayer co-op game on this sport will be a big fun!
Yep, did a job shooting a race weekend w multiple World Champs and TT winners (recognised them in this vid;) and saw them demolish the competition, some of whom got some nasty injuries just trying to keep up. Was in absolute awe of bravery and skill, regardless of where any ended up finishing. And super humble and nice guys all round, esp. considering the massive balls they carry around 24/7.
Brilliant video Scott. I'll watch your F1 content all day but I love videos like this that give a bit on insight into new types of Motorsport. More please 😁
I get nervous when I ride passenger in the car with my spouse, or friends… these guys have balls of steel!
I sponsored a side car team once 20 years ago here on California they ran 180 mph the guy on the back or monkey is the most important and balance is everything . I watched them run at Thunder Hill race track . There is no other sport like this or more dangerous.
Speedway sidecars.
@@bremCZ Grasstrack sidecars are insane. Real Madmax. Engines with tuned road superbikes, accelerate faster than an F1 car....and that`s on grass/earth surface. My favourite spectator sport after the IOM .Last attended the European Championships a few year`s back.
When we make Jaegers we're going to have to check these guys out first for drift pilots.
Being that in sync with someone in that sort of environment takes a special kind of person.
@Driver61 To have an idea of how lethal being a sidecar passenger is look up the incident at TT Assen that cost Sandor Pohl his life at T1 when the driver lost control. Sandor got flung out of the passenger seat and onto the racingline with one coming up right behind him. I was present on the track that day and on the other side of the paddock. The sound of the impact still haunts me to this day and remembering the immediate dead silence on the entire track makes me shiver down to my bones. So I really felt that when I saw someone like Romein Grosjean hit that barrier in F1 last year.
Sidecar racing is probably the most dangerous motorsport we have today compared to any other sport.
Thank you. At last a sidecar video that wasn't sensationalist.
As a former TT sidecar competitor, it's appreciated.
Thanks very much for the excellent video.
Another fascinating one might be made about the technology of the sidecars - EG brake balance not just front to rear but side to side as well!
As a sometime TT marshal and bike owner I find them actually more interesting than the regular bikes. Their cornering speeds are quite a bit faster.
I used to flag marshal at my local track for bike racing. All the competitors were nice but the sidecar guys and girls were extremely friendly and welcoming. They were always open to questions, used to let anyone sit on the machines and take photos and were always encouraging people to join them and have a go
It's active aero, active suspension, and active mass distribution, but "active" is not electronics and hydraulics, it's a dude and he's completely rad. What's not to like?
I have been a life long Sidecar fan. the only race that can be the most Elegant run you have every seen but if not done correctly, can be devastating. Isle of Man is the peak of the sport.
I know they are going significantly slower than an F1 car but considering where they are racing and the absence of carbon fiber around them that seems much faster. Another great video! Thank you !
Hi steve M.
They are nearer to the ground as well and can see the ground beneath them. They also have to hold oon in a hurricane-force wind.
Whenever I am asked if I like sport, I always respond with "Unless it involves three or more wheels, I'm not interested" Those _three_ wheels I refer to, are these!!
Love it!!
I know all to well how crazy these sidecar races can be.. sadly have seen two people pass away in the sport.
It looks scary af, you have to be a madman if you want to be the driver or the other guy. And rip to those who lost their lives racing
@@queefqueefington yeah this and dirtbike sidecar racing is completely nuts.
@@HRM.H To me racing like that would be super scary. If im not 100% in control then i find it scary. And if im 100% in control and crash then thats on me only and there isnt anyone else to blame.
@@HRM.H yes. Way mad.
Yea, unfortunately also saw a passenger die once, straight in front of the stands I was in.
Memorable day for the worst of reasons to be sure.
I once spoke to a sidecar-racer at Assen, he told me about The Isle of Man, and how the bumps on one of the straights are so extreme you lose focused vision, EVERYTHING is a blur. So I asked him:
“How do you know where to go then?”
‘Aim for the grey bit.’ He dryly said.
I couldn’t believe it, but that is what he said, asif it was an everyday thing like brushing your teeth…
When you love racing but jungle gym is life.
Used to go to Mallory Park with my dad to watch the motorbikes. The sidecars always amazed me. Remember a particularly nasty crash where the passenger went over the top of the bike and had his hand crushed between his bike and another bike. These guys are a different breed.
"The passenger makes up for the uneven weight of the side car" is only a problem that exists because they've decided to race with sidecars
I was a passager for a privateer F1 outfit in the late 90's in the uk. Our driver had amazing intuition and skill. You build an understanding that is like a sixth sense. For me the scariest bit was scrutineering and sitting on the start line. Once the lights go green it was almost like being in a dream.
I never raced at the IoM TT but remember going as a spectator (on two wheels). One of my clear memories of the sidecars (you had to get out a bit earlier to catch them) was actually the ambulance crews working on the poor souls that had stacked it.
Great video and brings back great memories (apart from the horrific crashes!)..
the sound of those sidecars are pretty amazing
I'm in my mid 40's and I remember this from the 80's. In my recollection they were in the motor sports section of the Sunday sports on Dutch TV every week. I think there's a motor cross version as well. Great stuff and thank you for putting them in the spot light!
me: about to go to work
scott: i'll post this little video about sidecar racing
me: o'raigh, i'll be late.
I want to thank you for this video as I never did when I watched it at the time. I now am a fan of the British Sidecar Championship and have been following for the last year and a bit.
7:59 AND LEWIS HAMILTON TAKES THE LEAD OF THE RACE
Honestly, sidecar deserves to be in Olympics!!
It kind of reminds me of Bobsledding in winter olympics
When he said "How do you build up to sidecar racing? How do you first learn the ropes of hanging off a sidecar?" I was expecting a Skillshare commercial to follow
There is definitelly no money in the world that would convince me to ride one of those things. Seems like a coffin for 2 with weels. Huge respect for these guys.
I raced sidecars in the early 80's they were pretty sketchy back then, like how much more advanced they've become.
But that is nearly all homebrew. Its a small pure privatiers scene.
Imagine a racing game where you rely on another player to manage the balance of the vehicle throughout the race. Fluctuating the center of gravity as you’re driving. That would be crazy.
Holy shiz man.
Thats a really great idea tbh
That role name of the Passenger sounds really strange. Just imagine you drive a car and your passenger suddenly starts doing THIS haha
The guys in the sidecars must have supreme fitness and agility. They have to act as a counterbalance through the corners to stop the bike tipping but then be tucked away, nice and aerodynamic for the straights. Insane and impressive in equal measure.
I live on the Isle of Man 🇮🇲 seeing them live is mind boggling
By "seeing them live" do you mean "seeing them as it happens," or "seeing them not die" ?
Well explained👍
I drove as well as passengered in the '90's
on a vintage 1965 BMW kneeler. I'm 72 and retired now. I raced solos for 30 years. Sidecars are the ultimate thrill ✌️🏁🇺🇲
Can you describe how they meassure timing in F1? How do they know the real-time gap between drivers? How can they meassure everything so precisely?
F1 cars have transponders, they report their position on track all the time thts how.
Thanks for your accurate, intelligent and correct explanation of what happens with an outfit, it doesn’t happen often.
This is as close to Mario Kart Double Dash as we're gonna get without resorting to actually throwing shit at each other. xD
Congrats on 700,000 subscribers!!! I’m excited to see 1,000,000😀😀. Love your videos! 🏎🥰
"It really is like rock climbing at 150mph" As someone who rock climbs, these guys have 10x the size of balls we do....
Loved the video! Hello from the Isle of Man 🇮🇲 TT has been cancelled due to COVID the last 2 years and everyone here can’t wait for its return in 2022!
A great video and I’ve enjoyed seeing sidecars racing at Donington, Oulton and Mallory over the years. They are something unique. It goes against the grain but, I dislike the IOM TT. It is far too dangerous. 1920’s safety standards and almost guaranteed fatalities do not make for an event that I care for. I used to live in the IOM and flew injured riders in the air ambulance. I could see first hand the suffering they inflicted on their relatives with racing at this insane course.
The machines are too fast for the track now. But they choose to race, so who am I to judge!
Part of me feels that way. The other part wonders why sponsors want to be involved in an event synonymous with tragedy. The TT, is too much like gladiatorial combat for my liking, a blood sport Circuit racing is like mixed martial arts, definite danger, but very rarely lethal. The former, makes me feel uncomfortable watching.
And yet never appears in any list of "most dangerous sports". Soccer (football) is far more dangerous. Every competitor at TT knows it could be fatal, every family knows this and yet the consistent theme is that the lives would be empty without it. Better to live your life, than just exist. When you also look at the amount of track time at the TT, classic, manx GP, with practice, and number of races and classes, each lap is 37+ miles. It compares well to other motorsports fatalities on short "ultra safe" circuits.
Having passengered for a number of years. Nothing better than the thrill of doing this. You know you are alive for sure. 🙂
They've already made an anime about this
how it is called
@@dshaprin hentai
Or
Hang tight
@@dshaprin it's called Two Car
Thanks mate, brilliant video as always!
I tought that superbike guys were lunatics in the Isle of Man... but 120 mph AVERAGE in these tricycles just put the term lunatic into another level!!
Lets wait, till he discovers Speedway/Longtrack Racing.
No brakes, one gear, whilst going 60-80 mph on a methanol fueled bike.
Pretty dangerous but IoM is another level,
KaWow!!! 🤯 Super interesting and crazy! Thank you for this and all of your content. I can’t actually say that I’m anything even approximating a true “race fan”. That said, I do appreciate the sport and I had to subscribe (and regularly like and share) your channel because your content and delivery of this subject is so very informative and enjoyable!
Still have better sound than f1 v6 engines.
Yes. By a countrymile. Even the 1992 Sidecars sounded way better.
Dude I just saw a random reel of this on Instagram today and I’m absolutely amazed how these guys can fit their balls on these side cars.
so, Mario kart double dash
Now THIS is the pinnacle of motorsport
The explanation of the relationship between the driver and passenger in this video was pretty well spot on,. (ex F1 sidecar driver here)
Balance and centre of gravity made very well visible by sidecars and mainly their passengers in this video. 👍
Imagine the people who go "Hey, I wanna be a motor racing professional. How about a sidecar passenger?"
Absolute madlads.
For comparison, the sidecar lap record is just under 19 minutes for the 37.5 mile circuit. If I stick to the speed limits (where there are any; the circuit does have significant amounts of derestricted roads), I can get around in an hour in a domestic car with open roads.
The TT circuit is by turns amazing and totally insane at the same time. It runs past my home, I drive sections of it on a daily basis, and most of the time we completely forget that it's a racing circuit.
The adjustable brake balance is interesting, not only is it front to rear but also side to side! Another point of interest is that the rules negate the use of helmet to helmet communication systems.
This sport makes Roman chariot racing look tame.
Anyone racing at the isle of man has my deepest respect! Doing it with a sidecar looks like insanity!
I thought American Super Modifieds were mental cars. This may just be the most utterly insane and fascinating motorsport I have ever seen. Respect.
As a teenager I was taken to Mallory Park to watch the bikes. When the sidecars came out I was mesmerised. Wanted to be the passenger, and then become the rider (yeah, I know). Needless to say it never happened. Sort of glad about that now. Still love watching them though. Mad lads, and lassies. Takes some bloody nerve.
And yes, they are mad. But I bet they feel more alive during the race than most of us ever know.
Makes my day that you're doing a vid on sidecars. Thanks so much!!
What's crazy is that this got developed to the extent they have bikes with aerodynamics and a junior series. One could think this is just a gimmick, but no, people actually devote themselves to doing it. Honestly it's so cool--and way too terrifying.
A friend of mine, a now ex-warrant officer in the REME, races sidecars. He’s quite insane. The thing is that the insanity only comes over him when he’s racing. The rest of the time he can blend in with normal people and you’d never suspect he takes himself off to circuits at weekends and takes part in races where he’d come back to work on Monday and tell me how people were killed in his event. He used to get wrecked on a regular basis but it never put him off. He went off to the Isle of Man one year with his passenger to learn the course. He thought it would take him two years before he could get it properly learnt, and then get racing in the TT.
I’m glad you’re as perplexed as me when watching these guys…sheesh!
The mini ones look really fun going round Whilton.
Thanks
Don’t know if you have ever seen the dirt version of side car racing. Back in the 80’s at Ascot Park in Gardena California some Australian guys came over to the 1/2 mile dirt oval and for a summer put on some great racing with those machines it was something I will never forget!
Absolutely insane. - More please!