Leeds garage owner Robin Luscombe won the two day Australian Sidecar Championship staged near Adelaide on Sunday and Monday. The Cullingworth multi British sidecar trials champion jetted to Australia immediately after the Yeadon-Guiseley clubs’ Mel Harrison national trial at Pateley Bridge on September 26 landing in Adelaide late on Tuesday night with his wife Jennifer.
No rest though for Jennifer and Robin who were up early and travelling to the Barosa Valley to contest a South Australian sidecar championship trial on Wednesday morning. They were on the road at 07.00 with Australian sidecar passenger Steve Sparks. The debut ride, in searing heat, on a 290cc Sherco machine, loaned by Adelaide dealer Don Murray’s Motocentral Group, resulted in a victory over Australian championships Justin Gough and passenger Maurice Blanchard who rode a Montesa 4RT machine. After a three day respite, and it rained heavily, Robin and Steve hit the road for the Australian Sidecar Championship two day event. “ We won on Wednesday, 54 to 58 penalties over Justin Gough and Maurice Blanchard. Sunday and Monday were more challenging. The heat was a factor.
On Sunday the scores were 10 and 18 in favour of us. Monday was harder and we almost blew our chances on some very large rocks and a trailer which cost us three marks. Gough and Blanchard were right on home ground and got round lap one to lead on 7 penalties to our 18. By this time we were getting to grips with the dry sections, the oppressive heat and the new Sherco and it’s power and handling. The scores dropped to 5 and 6 for the second and third laps while rivals Gough and Blanchard posted a 12 and 7 score. The final score was 39 to Gough’s 44. We have had a great visit and enjoyed the competition.