A History of the Sidecar TT Races, 1923-2023

Jul 30, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

A History of the Sidecar TT Races, 1923-2023 by Matthew Richardson traces decades of sidecar racing at the Isle of Man TT, combining researched history with firsthand accounts and supporting imagery. The material acknowledges extensive contributions from drivers, passengers, historians, photographers, archives, and official sources, reflecting how the sport evolved through major eras. The introduction situates sidecar racing as a misunderstood “Cinderella” of motorsport, explaining early attitudes and the culture surrounding the three-wheelers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages260

Reading Time10 h 55 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

[OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) A History of the Sidecar TT Races, 1923-2023 [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) A History of the Sidecar TT Races, 1923-2023 Matthew Richardson [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) First published in Great Britain in 2024 by Pen and Sword Transport An imprint of Pen & Sword Books Ltd. Yorkshire-Philadelphia Copyright © Matthew Richardson, 2024 ISBN 9781399044547 ePUB ISBN 9781399044561 Mobi ISBN 9781399044561 The right of Matthew Richardson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. Typeset in INDIA by IMPEC eSolutions Printed and bound in the UK on paper from a sustainable source by CPI Group (UK) Ltd., Croydon. CR0 4YY. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. incorporates the imprints of Pen & Sword Books: After the Battle, Archaeology, Atlas, Aviation, Battleground, Discovery, Family History, History, Maritime, Military, Politics, Select, Transport, True Crime, Fiction, Frontline Books, Leo Cooper, Praetorian Press, Seaforth Publishing, Wharncliffe and White Owl. For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contact: PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED George House, Beevor Street, Off Pontefract Road, Hoyle Mill, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, S71 1HNE-mail: [email protected] [Website: ](Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk)[www.pen-and-sword.co.uk](Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk) or PEN AND SWORD BOOKS 1950 Lawrence Rd, Havertown, PA 19083, USA E-mail: [email protected] [Website: ](Website: www.penandswordbooks.com)[www.penandswordbooks.com](Website: www.penandswordbooks.com) [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) Contents [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) Acknowledgments T his book is the product of many years of interest and research into the history of sidecar racing at the Isle of Man TT races. During those years I have been fortunate enough to have met, spoken to and learned from many people whose knowledge of sidecar racing far eclipses my own. On the Isle of Man I must thank Helen Gibson, who has neverstinted in sharing knowledge and contacts from her many years of experience in the sidecar world. It was Helen who introduced me to the late great Stan Dibben, one of the unsung heroes of British motorsport. Also on the Isle of Man, Dave Molyneux allowed me access to his photographs and memories of three decades of success at the TT. It is fair to say that Dave is as much of an authority on the history of sidecar racing as he is an exponent of the current racing situation. I learned a tremendous amount from him when we worked together on his memoir The Racer ’s Edge in 2010 and I remain indebted to him. Ben and Tom Birchall were kind enough to help me with information and insights, and I thank them warmly. Kenny Arthur provided me with invaluable details of his racing partnership with George O’Dell. In Germany, Lothar Mildebrath helped me enormously with the heritage of BMW in racing and I am grateful to him for allowing me a copy from his limited print run of the book Münchener Meistermacher Maschinen. Likewise, former World Champion Max Deubel was generous with his time and assistance, as was Josef Ried, who for many years was a mechanic for another BMW ace, Georg Auerbacher. Also in Germany, Ruth Standfuss of the BMW historical archive helped me to locate the 1955 BMW poster that appears herein; I gratefully acknowledge BMW Group Classic as the source of this image. On the Isle of Man, Vanda Murray provided some marvellous insights into her father ’s career as one of the TT’s first sidecar passengers, and I thank her sincerel

FAQs

What is the book about?

The book documents the history of the Sidecar TT races at the Isle of Man, spanning 1923 to 2023.

Who wrote the book?

Matthew Richardson is the author.

What does the introduction emphasize about sidecar racing?

It frames sidecar racing as often treated as a “Cinderella” of motorsports and describes early beliefs about three-wheelers dropping oil on the track.

Jul 30, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick