Tooele, Utah: An exciting battle shaped up in the SRA-West Formula Sidecar Championship this past weekend, with usual championship contenders Team Becker Moto Works and Team Johnny Killmore having an unusually close battle both days. Host organization AHRMA put on a stellar event with a large turnout of riders, and the largest grid of sidecars so far this season, with both vintage and modern machines taking to the track, with teams from as far away as Norway gracing the starting grid. While the veteran father/son team of William and Eric Becker getting right up to speed in Friday practice, Team Johnny Killmore’s driver, John Wood, would play “passenger roulette,” finding a match with Michael Root, who had to serve double-duty while racing his vintage Honda in multiple races as well. Saturday’s race saw Team Johnny Killmore get out to an early lead from the front row, as Becker Moto Works took a mid-pack grid position from the 4th row. Three laps into the six lap race though, the Becker duo would make their way to second position and catch the fleeing leader as they crossed the stipe on the halfway point. Applying immediate pressure, Becker’s #84 machine seemed bolted to the back of the leaders, showing a nose several times on the brakes. Finally giving in to the pressure, driver John Wood went wide in turn 1. Becker took advantage and shot into the lead while Wood floated on 2 wheels in the off-camber turn 1 and pulled out a small lead. Lap traffic would tighten the gap at Tooele Turn, a high speed left hander. As Becker moved to the inside of the lapper, Wood threw his machine onto the inside curbing in a desperate move for the lead. A drag race ensued to Clubhouse Corner, another left, and the pair picked up the white flag with only 2 lengths between them. Lap traffic appeared again and it was anyone’s guess as to how things would play out, but a huge cloud of dust appeared in the aptly named “Gotcha.” Becker Moto Works was seen on the other side, but it was several seconds before Team Johnny Killmore would appear, at reduced pace after their soil sampling was complete. With less than a lap left, Becker took an easy win of almost a straightaway, though Team Johnny Killmore managed to hold onto second. Asked after the race, driver John Wood conceded that he had over-driven himself. “[Passenger] Mike was doing so good I forgot it was only his second day on a sidecar, and I was making him work too hard. Taking a defensive line means the passenger is stuck hanging out longer and they have to transition much faster. I could tell he was getting tired but I didn’t adapt. It’s way more physical, and you have to manage your passenger’s endurance like you manage tire wear and engine temp. We’ll sort it out for tomorrow.” Sunday’s race seemed a carbon-copy at first, with Team Johnny Killmore taking the holeshot from the front row, but Bad Cat Racing’s Michael Jones and Brandon Parish tucked in behind and began to make a serious bid for the lead. The pair were using their 2002-spec Becker/Suzuki Formula 1 machine to its full potential, losing ground and then regaining it through the first two laps of the six lap race. Attempting to out-brake the leaders in “The Attitudes,” the pair would sample the curbs through the famous chicane, losing ground and coming under attack from behind. Having moved through the field, Team Becker Moto Works fired themselves into second place and began working on the leaders. It would take a surprising amount of time though before the gap would close, and it became apparent the Beckers were putting their 2008-spec Becker/Suzuki through its paces to close the gap. By lap four the gap was closed though, but the pace between the two machines seemed very close, and it was anyone’s guess as to whether or not a pass could be made. Into The Attitudes on lap four, Becker locked his wheels and almost went straight, allowing a five-length lead to reappear. As the final lap began it looked as though Team Johnny Killmore might hold on for a victory but, as in Saturday’s race, they went wide on the exit of turn 1. Spinning the rear wheel while floating the chair, the door was left wide open and Becker shot into the lead. Lap traffic appeared in The Attitudes, with Becker making it through and Team Johnny Killmore making a banzai move on the curbs to prevent the leaders from escaping. Closing the gap, there was still too much room in the final corner for a final attack, and the two machines finished about 4 lengths apart. After the race, Wood seemed happy with his performance. “We have been trying a Hoosier DOT on the rear all weekend, and it really worked for us. The stiffer sidewall makes it easier to steer when on two wheels. Mike [Root] got even more confident since yesterday, and hardly set a foot wrong. I can’t believe it’s only his third day on a sidecar. We put in maximum effort and I’ve got no complaints about our run. I’ve had mechanical issues every year I’ve been here, and I’ve done nothing but check tire pressures and add fuel all weekend. I think I finally broke the Miller curse,” he said, referring to brake fade problems in 2009 and a faulty ignition switch in 2010. When asked about the race, driver Bill Becker of Becker Moto Works had this to say, “We started another row back, but we broke out a lap earlier. Still, it took a lap longer to catch [Team Johnny Killmore]. I could see a big difference in their riding, smoother and a lot faster. We were getting big rear-wheel slides by the end and couldn’t get the drive out of the corners to challenge on the brakes. When we saw them go wide in Turn One, it was all I could do to steer it inside and still get a drive out. It was a great show.” As of press time the official results were not available. Those interested can check the standings page at www.sra-west.us. The SRA-West championship will meet again at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Classic Course on October 1-2 with host club WERA. The championship still looks as though it is Becker Moto Works to lose, but the recent speed shown by Team Johnny Killmore and Bad Cat racing mean nothing will be certain until the final round in November.