Sidecar racing in 1954 at Crystal Palace in London.
I picked up this little photograph in a pile of old pics at a motor museum a while back. It mainly caught my eye because of the brightly liveried transporter in the background (the restoration of my similar lorry can be seen here). The sponsor logos are for Lucas - Ignition & Electrical Equipment, Notwen Oils for Dependability, Ferodo Brake Linings and Avon Tyres. In the foreground is the rider and his co-rider, the latter who would hang precariously in the streamlined Watsonian side-car attached to his low-slung motorcycle during a race. A note on the back says "Peter & Len, Crystall Palace, 1954". Does anyone recognise these two sidecar racers seen at this old London venue? or the bike which is partially visible?
Watsonian were a prominent manufacturer of sidecars many years ago, although I hadn't realised that they did versions for competition as well as road use, unless this is a road-going model that has been converted? Mr Watson made his first sidecar in 1912, and amazingly his company, which merged with a similar outfit in the early 1980s, is still in existence - you can read about their current sidecars on this website.
Return to the Vintage transport photos - Page 5.
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