Vintage Racing Sidecar Build - Dry build video up

Pesky Boss Monkey.

Now to be fair neither Chloe or I know where the idea to race started. Publicly I put the blame on her.  She’s pesky.

Deep inside my own head where even I fear to tread,  I wonder if I didn’t bring it up first.  Either way the topic was raised and Chloe ran with it. 

She’s the monkey, I’m the driver.  So you know who’s the crazier one.  (and if you do, please tell me because she gaslights the living daylights outta me and I don’t know.  Or do I?  No, she tells me I don’t know and she’s probably right.)

What I can say is that this video really sealed the deal.  We watched this and went – "That looks like too much fun."

https://youtu.be/PNgYW5N95z8?si=MK1Iu8A4EPUMDZi_

Here’s our website https://www.hellbendersracing.com

Meeting a legend for dinner.

The frame for our rig was built by Canadian Sidecar Legend Paul Whittaker this year (2023).  We went to pick it up on his 82nd birthday and got treated to an evening of racing stories.  One of my top 10 evenings ever.

https://youtu.be/z6hCYk3k0mo?si=mT2wyj4dJhxwowgO

WOW!  what an epic project, and story to go with it.  Now I have more YouTube to watch.  🙂

Looking forward to follow along with your exploits.  Thanks for sharing!

Drew, we just took a secret poll, and 9.314159 out of 10 respondents agree that we really like Chloe.

To be your sidecar monkey, she really is the crazy one.

Miles -

I'd say count me in on the liking Chloe poll but then your results wouldn't come out to 9 point pi.

Mmm, pie.  Chloe makes the best pumpkin pie.

And just for the record that is her sanding the sidecar tub.  She's done most of the body filler/sanding/paint work.

Finding a 1500 mile engine.

While the frame was being built I went on the hunt for a power plant.  I stumbled across an ad for a 1500 mile R75 bike.  Many of the pieces were scavenged but the stuff I needed engine, transmission, final drive, and swingarm were still there.

I admit I was pretty skeptical about the mileage claim but I called the guy and A. He seemed pretty straight up and B. The story made sense.  So out to Long Island I went - despite absolutely hating driving through NYC.

Turns out Sonny and I know some of the same people and he knows Dave Roper.  First American to win at the Isle of Mann TT.

Here's the engine story

https://youtu.be/zHChDlFAuUk?si=WClA0WyWgNbHiBmZ

For a little more on Dave Roper check out this short video

https://youtu.be/FjG6GJw3huI?si=F-X0HxN6qc7ZVVdy

And here's a really great race (Dave's still pretty agressive) with Ari Henning (the monkey in the Vermont to Canada video above)

https://youtu.be/_A1Ax_mUq9g?si=6PCi3ypYt2tWXUHd

Quote from Drew on November 28, 2023, 8:23 am

Finding a 1500 mile engine.

 

While the frame was being built I went on the hunt for a power plant.  I stumbled across an ad for a 1500 mile R75 bike.  Many of the pieces were scavenged but the stuff I needed engine, transmission, final drive, and swingarm were still there.

I admit I was pretty skeptical about the mileage claim but I called the guy and A. He seemed pretty straight up and B. The story made sense.  So out to Long Island I went - despite absolutely hating driving through NYC.

Turns out Sonny and I know some of the same people and he knows Dave Roper.  First American to win at the Isle of Mann TT.

 

Here's the engine story

https://youtu.be/zHChDlFAuUk?si=WClA0WyWgNbHiBmZ

 

For a little more on Dave Roper check out this short video

https://youtu.be/FjG6GJw3huI?si=F-X0HxN6qc7ZVVdy

 

And here's a really great race (Dave's still pretty agressive) with Ari Henning (the monkey in the Vermont to Canada video above)

https://youtu.be/_A1Ax_mUq9g?si=6PCi3ypYt2tWXUHd

 

 

 

Don't know how I missed this until now, but WOW!  Epic.  The bike deal, meeting a hero in the sport, the line dance, and the race between Henning and Roper had me on the edge of the seat.  Sheesh, those two went at it hard.  Would like to hear the talk between them after that one. 

Congrats on finding the running gear for Helga, and thanks for the great post/videos. 🙂

This is the last part of the racing rig build that I have until I can do the dry build this winter.  But that's coming soon.

Ever wonder what a windage tray is or what it's for?

Want to see some beeeauutiful racing jewelry?

Click the video play button.

https://youtu.be/DoYlHzD1mik?si=KRxH8d0wGXST9QBK

Looking forward to more 

I seem to be a month or so behind here.

But when you really need to duck behind the tree.  

Stop the bike 1st.

Progress.

While I wait for a 60degree day to paint the tub on my street rig ( https://sidecar.com/forum/topic/2011-r1200gsa-with-ural-tub-build/ ) , I'm getting back on my race rig build.  Race School is right around the corner - May 24 at Nelson Ledges  https://www.hellbendersracing.com/racing/raceindex.html.

My buddy Craig from RDH Garage who helped redo the engine came over to be a second set of hands and brains (which we really needed).

Five hour day.  1/2 hour spent on mounting the transmission and swing arm, 4.5 hours spent on doing the spacers to line the engine up to the swing arm shaft.

True confessions.  The hardest part was getting the engine in the exact right spot to get the mounting bolts to go through.  Manual lifting = failure.  Creative strapping = 3 of the four frame mounts.  Hoe handle and feet = last one.  I'll have a video showing the antics soon-ish.

Drew, is that an olde school KTM racing frame ?

I only ask, because it has a burnished Orange color on the frame.

Forward Progress!  Woo Hoo!!!! Working with a buddy is always more fun than working alone.  If nothing else the comic relief makes it a good time. 🙂

Quote from FlyingMonkeys on February 15, 2024, 9:27 am

Drew, is that an olde school KTM racing frame ?

I only ask, because it has a burnished Orange color on the frame.

No.  That's a handmade, purpose built frame by Paul Whittaker.  He apparently has a lot of that orange primer because the one he made for my buddy  - 8 years ago -  has the same primer!

If anyone wants to know more about Paul and the frame watch the video - Picking up Helga's Race Frame

https://youtu.be/z6hCYk3k0mo?si=Zz7kHYShWjTDcPo0