Camathias Cup Assen 2023 | Classic Sidecar Racing

May 25th Camathias Cup Assen 2023

It has now struck the racing season and so to re-launch the team we had our first race of the season. Assen!

Apart from some issues around the timing of the ferries (which is part of the learning curve for us), we made it to the circuit on the Friday evening.

Following the usual scrutineering fun it was soon time for the qualification session. Whilst being unsurprised at being last (as we were still trying to remember which corner was next) the session went well, with some discussions and lessons learnt on trying some new lines, and the fact that some corners could be taken flat out. The other shock was hitting the rev limiter in top on the back straight due to the tail wind.

Race 1 in the evening of the Saturday did not go well at all. We could tell on the way to the grid something was up with the sidecar, and it failed to make it to the grid with the front emergency brake sticking on! Nevermind DNF this was DNS, once the brakes had cooled it was OK, and the interval over night was spent cleaning out the brake master cylinder.

Sundays race had some issues too.. For some reason they stuck the red lights at the end of the pit lane on for us and 1 other team on the way out, so we missed the warm up lap! Trying to not let this rattle us we were soon off and into the race. Taking up our now usual position at the back! On the 4th lap at the end of the back straight we carried on straight not round the corner as the emergency brake had stuck on again! Fortunately no injuries and a controlled stop in the run off area. By the time the race had finished the brakes had cooled sufficiently to allow us to be pushed back by the recovery van to load up with a heavy heart. DNF was not the desired result but these things happen, it was a shock especially after the sidecar had been so good at Val De Vienne. But we now have the T shirt of being international classic sidecar racers (all be it unsuccessful at present).