After a long wait for the sidecar season to begin, due to the weather, the SMCA British Clubman Sidecar Championship has back to back meetings. The first round saw the teams head to East Anglia and now they come back down to West Sussex. The event hosted by the Twickenham & DMCC takes place at Stammerham Farm, Rusper on Sunday 26th May.
With 28 sidecars entered and ready to race all is required now is good weather! Six out of the top ten from 2012’s championship will be on the start line and wanting to take the top spot. With the first round having taken place at Wattisfield Hall last Sunday Shaun Mallows, with Steve Kirwin on the side, is heading the championship. Last year’s runners up Nick Bowers and Pete Batt will be hoping to make it onto the top step by the end of the season and after their second place overall in round 1, and Mallows not racing this weekend, their goal is on track. The local brothers, Steve and Chris Pannell, however will do their utmost to ensure the title will be theirs after two second places at Wattisfield Hall and only mechanical issues not giving them more points! They are lying sixth coming in to this round. Their younger brother Jonathon Pannell had an excellent start to the series taking third on the day ably assisted by Ian Sheppard as his stand in passenger.
The teams now look forward to round 2; and if last weekend’s meeting is anything to go by the crowd can expect some close exciting racing.
The programme also includes the SEMX Championship for expert and junior solos. All the action can be seen for just £5 and children are free.
Practice starts at 10.00 with racing at 11.00 and the track can be found at Stammerham Farm, Rusper, RH12 4PZ
Report and photo
Ann Reynolds