One of the most exciting Sidecar races in the history of the Southern 100 was witnessed by thousands of fans who had spread themselves out around the Billown Course on Championship Day 2016, Thursday 14th July.
The outright Sidecar lap record had stood to Nick Crowe and Dan Sayle since 2007, just shy of the ‘magic’ 100mph at 99.778mph, a time of 2m 33.341 s.
In ideal conditions 19 Sidecar crews lined up on the grid on Castletown By-Pass ready for the challenge of eight hectic laps around the 4.25-mile course - certainly not one for the feint hearted!
As the race unfolded the action became as hot as the conditions with the lap speeds edging ever nearer to the what appeared for the last eight years to be the elusive 100 mile per hour lap.
Lap six of the eight will go down into the annals of Southern 100 history, as not one but three Sidecar teams smashed the barrier; first the then race leaders Ben and Tom Birchall at 100.682mph, followed by second place crew of Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance at 100.749mph and then third place outfit of birthday ‘boy’ John Holden with Andy Winkle joined the ‘club’ with a lap of 100.179mph!
Ultimately, Tim and Patrick’s time of 2m 31.862s on the sixth lap will be the one to be improved on in the future, as Tim Reeves retained his Manx Gas Sidecar Championship Title and his third in total, having won his first Southern 100 Championship crown in 2013.
You can watch Southern 100 Sidecar history being made in the hour-long prime time broadcast on ITV4 on Wednesday evening starting at 8.00pm. Defiantly not to be missed - history in the making as well as the finest of the close racing action of the other races at the 61st running of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 International Road Races.
Photo courtesy of Gavan Caldwell.