SIDECAR WORLD: WORLD SUPER REPORTS

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Sidecars a Hit at the World Superbike Championship - March 22nd
In excess of twenty thousand spectators were on hand to witness a huge
Sidecar field entertain the crowd with close racing, on-track drama, the
spectacular Shane Soutar outfit and the Kiwi assault on the first leg of the
F1 Trans Tasman Championship.
Qualifying. The qualifying field that amassed on Friday resembled the who’s
who of Sidecar Racing from both ends of the Tasman. No less than Three
Australian and four New Zealand National Champions took to the hot and
windswept Phillip Island Circuit in an effort to gain Pole. Early
indications had the Kiwi’s on the back foot due to difficulties in
converting the normally Methanol burning machines to petrol as required by
the Australian rules.
As was expected, the magnificently presented Soutar machine, resplendent in
Australian National colours for the event, blitzed the field with an
astounding 1:43.8 second lap, just one second outside the long standing
Andre Bosman track record, set when the track was actually smooth. Next in
line was the Messina/Scoullar combination with a respectable 1:46.8, the
team experiencing some handling problems. Following was a gaggle of outfits
around the low 50’s with the highest placed Kiwi combination being Andy
Scrivener and Rob Shorter.
Race 1: was scheduled to start at 5.15 because the Sidecars were not
permitted to start before the Superbikes due to the perceived possible oil
spilling issues. The only problem was that no Sidecars dropped oil, but the
Superbikes certainly did. The grid formed with Soutar and Messina on the
front row, in what was going to be a close encounter with Soutar not
expected to start well with the peaky 500 cc ADM. Prior to the lights
hitting green, the Soutar machine encountered problems with gear selection,
and the bike was pushed aside with frantic work being performed by the
fanatical Soutar pit crew. At the start, the crowd was greeted by the sight
of four howling machines negotiating the awesomly fast turn 1 side by side.
The front runners were Arnott/Hutchinson, Porteous/Deslandes,
Messina/Scoullar and surprisingly, Ray Spence (ex-Bosman LCR) at his first
meeting.
Soutar joined at the rear of the grid, and managed to only complete three
laps before the air shift system (a necessity for the lion-hearted Soutar
after his horrifying crash in Italy in his first World Championship
attempt), broke it’s main pushrod.
The four changed lead on virtually ever corner, and the race settled down
to a precision demonstration of close racing, hard charging with millimeters
between the outfits. At the end of lap two, Messina fell back as it became
apparent that his passenger Alison was concerned with the machine. Two laps
latter and the pair had made up lost ground, in doing so posting the fastest
lap of the race. Messina then passed Porteous at MG corner on lap three,
only to be repassed by Porteous towing Spence down the straight. Approaching
MG for the fourth time, Proteous went in deep, under pressure from Messina,
causing Scott Deslandes to fling out in a dramatic 50 meter slide. The
action was now to be reserved for the remaining three outfits, with
Scrivener/Meads joining the stoush.
Lead changes were many, with Scrivener and Arnott adding further
entertainment by lofting wheels over Lukey Heights in an effort to keep the
two conventional machines ahead of the rear engine beasts of Messina and
Spence. Commencing the last lap, the crowd were on there toes as Messina
drafted Scrivener to take the lead, followed by Spence and Arnott. Messina
began to slow under the bridge, allowing Scrivener and Arnott past. The
events that unfolded next were almost incomprehensible to fathom. Firstly,
the normally 100% reliable machine of Messina blew (a radiator hose being
the culprit). Simultaneously, Arnott lunged under Scrivener, only to have
the front brakes fail, sending the sliding machine off into the Honda corner
escape road, just clipping the Scrivener machine. Messina rolled behind
Arnott, who, unaware that the AlVin Racing pair were behind, turned to
return to the circuit. Messina had no time to react and cannoned into the
bike, which flipped the Messina/Scoullar pair over, breaking Alision’s arm.
This unfortunate demise left Scrivener in front with Spence dropping back
somewhat, in the confusion. Scrivener crossed the line in first place,
Spence second and West/Shorter third, giving the Kiwi’s 1st and 3rd.
Race 2: was to be conducted on at 5.00 pm Sunday providing the officials
could clear the track from the expected crowd rush to the podium which
traditionally follows the end of the Superbike race. To the astonishment of
the officials, the crowd stayed behind the fence, and in fact, very few left
the circuit, a testament to the excitement and interest created by the long
over due inclusion of Sidecars to the program. The field was diminished
somewhat with the exclusion of the hard charging Messina and Arnott teams
due to the previous days accident. Once again, Soutar was wheeled off the
line, this time with a squeeling dry clutch. This allowed Porteous to take
the lead from lap1, Scrivener and Spence in tow. With Deslandes firmly
hanging on, Porteous cleared to a two second lead, but the crowd was not
disappointed with action applenty from the mid fielders. Mark Shafter
entertained with some fanatical braking, until he out braked himself later
on! The all-girl "Two Blondes Racing Team" was right up there as well,
Kareen proving that she is not at all hesitant to "mix it with the blokes".

Back at the front, Scrivener stopped on lap six with a lunched big end, a
traditional Phillip Island legacy. The race finished with Porteous
maintaining his lead to the end, Spence second and Murray/Abrahams pairing
third. Once again the Kiwis were first and third, however, the overall
victor was Spence with two second places.
Highlights were not contained to the riders over the weekend, with some
outstanding passengering positions demonstrated to the appreciative crowd.
Mike Kasparian "body surfed" on the rear of the Francis machine down the
straights, Karen Yeager (Blue) virtually slides along the ground on her back
around lefts to the amazement of on lookers, and Richard Lawence’s feet in
the air style had to be seen to be believed. All in all, the paying
spectators were the winners on the weekend, the sport of Sidecar racing
making a spectacular return. Lets hope that the organisers invite the
outfits back in 1998, as Avant Garde Promotions (Sidecar promotors) have
promised more Kiwi’s and a contingent from the States next time. I’d like to
see that!

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