Classic camera

Sidecar ace and passenger, plus a future winner, learning the TT’s Mountain Course.

In 1960, the Sidecar TT returned to the Mountain Circuit for the first time since 1925. There’d been no Sidecar TT from then until 1954, when it resumed, held on the shorter Clypse Circuit. For 1960, though, it was back on the full course.

Here, experienced sidecar driver Bill Boddice has borrowed Reynolds’ Ken Sprayson’s Ariel Huntmaster and sidecar, for a bit of pre-event – the start of May – familiarisation. Joining him in the sidecar is Graham Stokes, his regular passenger, while riding pillion is Bill’s boy Michael – ‘Mick’ Boddice, nine times a TT winner, who made his own debut in 1966, recording his first win in 1983 and last in 1991. He earned over 40 silver replicas during his TT career, which lasted until 1998.

Though he never won a TT, Bill Boddice was second (1955) and third (1956), both times on Nortons, though he never really acclimatised to the Mountain Circuit, recording a personal best of 18th, twice (1961, Norton, and 1965, BSA). Despite his preparatory efforts for 1960, it was all in vain, as work commitments meant he had to scratch his entry. Though all the practice laps may well have helped young Mick.

The 1960 Sidecar TT was won by Helmut Fath, BMW, with Alfred Wohlgemuth partnering him, in front of like-mounted

Pip Harris/Ray Campbell. Several top runners dropped out, while returning hero

Eric Oliver – fresh out of retirement and partnered by Stan Dibben, the experienced duo much fancied owing to Oliver’s long career racing solos on the Mountain Course – crashed his Norton heavily in practice, thus ending his challenge and TT career.

And Ken’s 1957 Ariel? Fitted with Reynolds’ fork, it had been borrowed by Vic Willoughby, of The Motor Cycle, for a 500mile trip to Italy to visit the Italian racing factories, the sidecar – incidentally, not the one in our picture – occupied by John Marsden, staff artist. Then the hard-working Ariel was sent to the IoM with Boddice.

Not an easy life; perhaps it enjoys a more sedate existence now, as it is still registered and taxed.