Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126548
~ ~ 1"""'4 M Sidecar Rally celebrates Ioth anniversary ~ ~ s ~ > o Z Tenth annual rally drew:rn registered sidecars and Iota of spectators. By Bob Jackson GRIFFITH PARK, CA, OCT. 24-25 Many of those attending the 10th Annual Griffith Park Sidecar Rally were having trouble remembering where those 10 years went. It hardly seemed that long ago that Doug Bingham. manufacturer of the Side Strider. and U.S. distributor ofWatsonian and Globe. organized a picnic as an excuse for IAbove) John Rosema's authentic 1943 BMW sidecar saw World War" action.IBelowl Organizer Doug Bingham and assistant Patty Kneffel. three·wheel devotees to gather. Some 40 machines gathered on the road· side in a comer of the park. Oh, there've been some changes. The hairline has receded another couple inches baclr. of the helmet visor, and shocks with a stiffer spring rate installed to compensate for added girth. And the sidecar "renaissance" of the 19705, fueled by the interest of such as Bingham, has resulted in the appear: ance of new makes such as California Sidecar, Equalean, Motorvation, Kenna, and Vetter; alongside the more established: Thompson, Continental. Harley·Davidson, Watsonian, Globe, and Bingham. But the reason for missing the pas· sage of time is simple, really_ The basic motorcyclist does not agel How else can you explain the annual arrival of Burbanlr.'s Freddie Ellsworth and daughter, Susan, on a 1950 Triumph with Flexi sidecar that does not look like it could cross your zip code; but which last year traveled to an event in Estes Park, CO, with side trip to Yellowstone? I mean, they invented the word, "ageless" for this cycle and rider combination. Or, bow about tbe timeless, yearly arrival of Pasadena's John Rosema on an autbentic 194!! BMW military sidecar, which saw service in Mrica and Russia during WW m The German·belmeted Rosema's entrance witb tbe machine gun-mounted sidecar, with the declaration that, "We come in peace," is always a highlight of the vent. With the cooperation of tbe park rangers, permits were arranged from tbe third year on, which allowed for overnight camping and parking the sidecars on the grass. The result has been the arrival of the Griffith Park rally as a motorcycle even t. " This year, there were !!27 sidecars registeredl And the solo bike parking area numbers were testimony to the increasing number of motorcycle enthusiasts now malting the annual pilgrimage H just to "look and see" some very neat machinery. And, there was something for everyone. The Southern California Sidechack Association had a wide variety of competition machinery on hand. From the sleek, monocoque road race kneeler; to the skeletal motocross and desen back. Tbe English bike parking area furnisbed a tantalizing mix of Triumpb, Matchless, BSA, and Ariel Square Four, fodans of the UnionJaclr._ There were row upon row of con· temporary motorcycle and sidecar combinations, from Vespa scooter to Yamaha Midnight Special to turbocharged Honda and BMW. But, as always, one of the most popular areas was that containing the classics and restorations. The bikes only seem to get more beautiful with age. And tbe stories of their find and procurement are as interesting and varied as the motorcycles themselves. Unhappy with tbe stock HarleyDavidson sidecar on his 1979 1200 FLH, Walker Edmiston found a beautiful 1944 Harley-Davidson through an ad in tbe Recyclerl The most exquisite restoration this year was probably the 1941 Harley. Davidson 61, witb Goulding sidecar, belonging to Del Du Cbene. Or, bow about tbe beautiful 1968 650 Triumph that Bill Gunmer, of Long Beach, CA, bougbt in Panama, new, while in the service? They were buying them then for $750, in the crate, with spare pans! Or how about the two 1955 Messerschmidts? Or, bow about the 1942 HarleyDavidson Navy Shore Patrol sidecar in its original "battleship grey?" Or, how about. .. ? Or, how about watching for the dates of, next year's Griffith Park Sidecar Rally, and catching it yourself. Saturday night's campout features racing movies provided by Clyde Earl, whicb are priceless. And Sunday's rally is just a lot of fun, and is still used as an excuse for a "get together." It's often the only time some of the "grand old men" of the span get to see each other.•