Back on track
This year sees the BSSO back at Three Sisters race track, a welcome return to the place that was once the epicentre of scooter racing
Ever since scooter racing first took off in the late 1960s, a whole host of tracks around the country have been used to accommodate the sport. Over time they have varied from big venues such as Donnington Park to small go-kart tracks like Langbaurgh in Teeside. However, there was a period when one place was used more than any, that being Three Sisters. Situated near Haydock Park, just outside Wigan, primarily its intended use was for kart racing. It became popular for scooter racing in the 1980s and at one point hosted several rounds of the British championship each season. Many racers were quoted as saying it was like their second home, and understandably so. The track became popular with both racers and spectators alike, but just what exactly was the reason for its appeal?
From a racers’ point of view, there were those that loved it while others loathed going there. With a total track length of just under a mile there are no long straights, so those with a power advantage don’t have the chance to exploit it as much. This makes the competition much closer and rider ability comes to the fore. There are overtaking opportunities, but the timing has to be exactly right to exploit its potential. More challenging are the corners, and none more so than the sharp right-hander on the far side from the start line. The track’s longest straight sweeps up over the brow of the hill, with a gentle curve continuing back downhill where by this time the riders are flat out. This is where they are faced with a sharp 90-degree right-hand corner.
More often than not it would be the scene of many an incident, as those who were brave enough could gain an overtaking advantage. If anyone got it wrong though, then chances were they were off, usually taking others with them in the process. Certainly, on the first lap when the group were closely bunched together it could be complete chaos, and almost like a jump at the Grand National,
seeing who comes out the other side unscathed. Over the years there have been countless Lambretta handlebars snapped there, almost as if the corner demanded it as a sacrifice.
From a spectator’s view it was great close racing to watch and perhaps that was what appealed to those that wanted to see action close up. The majority of race tracks, and certainly the bigger ones, don’t have close-up viewing. Instead, often several metres from the trackside is the closest you can get and then usually with a catch fencing in between obstructing the view. Three Sisters isn’t like that and because a spectator can be closer to the track, it makes the whole experience far more exhilarating. It also helps that there are vantage points around the majority of the circuit, enabling a person to watch the action wherever they want.
With a pit area situated close to the track, it’s far less hassle for the riders. In the days of Dave Webster where he ran in multiple classes, it was the ideal location, finishing a race and coming into the pits, ready to jump on another Lambretta and be ready for the next race almost instantaneously. The pit area is also quite compact, so at times it could be quite frenetic. With scooters coming into the pits while others were going out to the start line, there could be complete mayhem. This made it good for spectators, as there was always something to keep them occupied between each race.
The compactness both on the track and in the pits was what really set off the fireworks. Riders quite often battled closely during several laps of each race, and though it’s not a contact sport at Three Sisters, in some ways it was. There were plenty of times when the fight on the track would continue in the pits. Having finished a race, the close proximity of the pit area allowed a rider to run over and vent their fury at another competitor in an instant. Regularly this was done in front of those in attendance, happy to see the extra entertainment that was being put on.
So that’s why Three Sisters had such appeal back then. Not only was it a competitive track, but it was also spectator friendly. During the 1980s there were several hundred licence holders and it would be a scooter only meeting.
With up to 15 races on a day it was good value for money and would attract large crowds. There were even two-day meetings where scooterists would camp overnight, almost making it like a rally. Times change and slowly the heyday of the sport went in to decline. So, too, did the track and its bumpy, uneven surface began to put riders off.
Thankfully, the track has now been resurfaced and once again it is fit for purpose. Though the halcyon days of scooter racing may be gone, slowly it is coming back from the lean years and looking healthier than ever. So even though you can’t experience how a meeting was 30 years ago, that shouldn’t put you off from going. Far from it, for with speeds greater than they were back then, it is just as exciting, perhaps even more so. If you are going to go to watch the racing this year though, make sure you go to Three Sisters. It may not be as frenetic there as it once was, but never the less it will be a worthwhile scootering experience.