Is it really that hard?

I cannot emphasise enough just how demanding Steve explained that the day was for him and his son James and so I came round to thinking ‘is sidecar trials really that hard?’ It was time to call my good friend Scott Rowland.

After starting sidecar trials in 1982 with his friend Antman King in the chair using a Fantic 200 model as the solo machine to pair to the chair, they finished second in the British Trials Championship in 1983, winning the series in 1984 and 1985 before taking a break from the sport. He returned with Robin Morewood as his passenger to win again in 1990 on a Beta.

We asked Scott about sidecar trials: “One word, Triangulation; yes you all remember the triangle at school, I am sure; if you can get this mindset into your thinking you will soon be able to master the art of sidecar trials. Every move is about three-way coordination and implementing the thought that every move is a three-way thing. It does not matter whether you are riding up a river or a muddy bank, you have to always take three elements into your thinking. Turn left or right or ride in a straight line, you have to be aware of this triangulation in your thoughts.

“In my opinion, the rider has 95% control and the passenger the remaining 5%, be it good or bad. ‘Antman’ was an ideal passenger as he was so light, and on many occasions, I could ride ‘solo’ as he had the natural knowledge to move where and when he should do. Sidecar trials are tremendous fun, and one of my best achievements during my championship years was never getting beaten by my biggest rival Robin Luscombe; happy days indeed”.

It’s not always the driver who determines the outcome, as the passenger does all he can to keep the outfit the correct way up!

Sidecar trials has a strong social side to the sport.

A calm passenger is a definite asset in even the worst of circumstances.

Scott Rowland and Antman King in their 200 Fantic, seen here during their winning days in the mid-eighties.