Sidecar Gathering?

[pmdave]

At the Spokane rally, I hosted a gathering of sidecarists. This was just a time and place where all the sidecarists at the rally could gather in one place for a show and natter. We were given a Saturday afternoon time slot, which worked out fine.

Such a gathering also gives anyone else who wants to know more about hacks a time and place to look over different solutions, talk with owners, or ask for advice.

So, for those of you who are sidecar enthusiasts, would you like to do this again at the '05 rally?

pmdave :brow

[DrRaoulDuke]

My analogy has always been: "sidecaring is to motorcycling what biplanes are to aviation". They are a part of our history that should be preserved. When I got the itch to pick up a rig I almost foolishly cut a deal with a guy with a nice rig in St. Louis. We talked about meeting 1/2 way between Chicago & St. Louis and swapping bikes. Mind you this was BEFORE taking the basic MSF sidecar class......I mean after all I had been riding cycles for 30 years! WRONG, I would have killed myself in probably less than 50 miles. I would be glad to do anything to help promote sidecar "driving" skills and knowlege.

Regards,
Dr. Raoul Duke

[pmdave]

For many of us, yes a sidecar is to motorcycling what a biplane is to aviation. But then there are some high performance three wheelers that are more like what a fighter plane is to aviation. A big part of the interest in three wheelers is the wide variation in age, style, or performance.

I hadn't anticipated doing a skills seminar on sidecar driving at the rally, merely an informal get-together where we could bring our various outfits. However, your response causes me to think that it would be possible to include a seminar on sidecar driving. I've done seminars before on building, and we actually did a one day sidecar/trike driving course at the Redmond OR rally. As you've discovered, when you first hop on a rig you're a sidecar novice--regardless of HOW many years or miles you've been riding two-wheeled motorcycles.

In retrospect, I think that doing training courses during a rally requires too much time away from the other rally events. But shorter seminars are potentially valuable, since the major part of successful motorcycling (whether on two or three wheels) is mental, not physical. Typically, courses for experienced riders (or drivers) are focused on emergency avoidance practice, but the way I see it, what's really important is to be sufficiently aware of the situation to avoid riding into a trap.

I'll give this some thought. Perhaps we could have the sidecar get-together, followed by a skills seminar where various techniques (both mental and physical) could be discussed.

BTW, the novice sidecar/trike course is not an MSF course, but rather, administered by the Evergreen Safety Council. For whatever reasons, the MSF has steadfastly ignored 3 wheelers. For anyone thinking about a sidecar or trike, access www.esc.org and look for course information. Or telephone 800 521-0778. The book "Driving A Sidecar Outfit" is available at 800 736-1117.

Thanks for the idea.

pmdave

[James.A]

Well Dave, one of my personal goals is to put together a sidecar rig at some point before I'm too old. If you have a sidecar discussion, I'll be there front row, center. When I was out riding on new years eve day, I found myself instinctively using some the the concepts you have written about in Owners News. Many thanks.!