View source for Sidecarcross

{{Short description|Type of motorsport}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2009}}
[[Image:July mx 2004 holeshot sidecar moto01 01 jamie clarke.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The [[Holeshot]] of a sidecarcross race]]

'''Sidecarcross racing''', also known as '''sidecar motocross''', is a branch of [[motocross]].   While regular motocross riders use solo machines, sidecarcross involves a different type of [[motorcycle]] [[chassis]] operated by a team of two people: a driver and a [[sidecar]] passenger. The earliest records suggest that sidecarcross began in the UK in the 1930s.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QdsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Science+1935+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&pg=PA57 "Grass Track Adds to Thrills of Motorcycle Sidecar Race" ''Popular Mechanics'', January 1936]</ref>

== Sidecarcross outfits==
Just as with road outfits, early sidecarcross outfits were little more than a solo bike with a sidecar<ref>^ Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989. "b. A vehicle designed to be attached to the (near-)side of a motor-cycle to accommodate one or more passengers. Occas. attached to a bicycle."</ref> attached to its [[motorcycle frame|frame]] by metal tubes. As the sport developed, sidecarcross outfits became more integrated, although most retained a tubular structure rather than a [[monocoque]] chassis. Sidecarcross outfit configuration tends to echo national road outfits, with the sidecar fitted to the "nearside":  UK sidecars are on the left, and European ones are on the right. Once riders are used to one arrangement, they seem reluctant to adapt the other layout.  Many sidecar outfits (particularly the heavier ones) have [[Motorcycle fork|leading link]] [[swingarm]] front [[Suspension (motorcycle)|suspension]], as conventional [[telescopic fork]]s are less capable of absorbing the [[Stress (mechanics)|stress]]es incurred.

Several sidecar manufacturers (for example [[Vruwink MotorCycles|VMC]], [http://www.bastechsidecars.nl Bastech] and [[EML Sidecars|EML]]) in [[Europe]] make special chassis, usually with corresponding shocks, except for the engine, wheels, plastics, and other components from commonly available large-bore motocross bikes such as the [[Honda]] CR500, [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] KX500, and large KTMs. There are also specialised "monster-size" 2-stroke engines such as the [[MTH Racing engines|MTH]] 630, and 700cc [[Zabel (engine)|Zabel]] which are made just for sidecar motocross racing. The Zabel and MTH are currently the top engines in the World Championship. HOCOB manufacturer of VMC chassis won the FIM award for the best manufacturer motocross sidecar 2007.

==Handling characteristics==
[[Image:July mx 2004 no003 martin guilford and colin dunkley 01 jamie clarke.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Zabel (engine)|Zabel]] engined outfit]]

Sidecarcross is carried out in the same way as regular motocross on broadly similar tracks. Just as with road [[Sidecar|outfits]], the handling of sidecars is very different from solos, as the driver cannot lean the outfit in the turns to counter the [[centripetal force]]s.  Instead, to ensure the outfit does not flip over, the passenger must lean out from the sidecar as much as possible in corners. The passenger (sometimes known as the "monkey") moves his whole body around continuously, and plays a much more physical role than the sedentary driver.

==Sidecarcross racing==
One of the most important aspects of sidecar racing is teamwork; the world's top sidecar teams have been racing together for many years.

A '''[[Sidecarcross world championship|World Championship]]''' is held over several rounds at top motocross venues throughout Europe, with a season-ending ''Sidecarcross des Nations''. The sport is very popular in Western and Central Europe, but the sidecarcross scene in [[North America]] and [[Australia]] is much smaller. The most successful sidecarcrosser in history is ten-time world champion [[Daniël Willemsen]] of [[Netherlands|The Netherlands]]. However, since Willemsen won six of his titles with four different passengers, the most successful team is [[Kristers Sergis]]/[[Artis Rasmanis]].

==See also==
* [[List of national sidecarcross champions]]
* [[Sidecarcross world championship]]
* [[The Sidehackers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.sidecarcross.com The Sidecar-Cross Racing Homepage]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080704072709/http://ozsidecarx.com.au/history.htm The Australian Sidecar-Cross Association Inc]

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[[Category:Sidecarcross| ]]
[[Category:Motorcycle racing by type]]
[[Category:Motocross]]
[[Category:Dirt biking]]
[[Category:Off-road racing]]