Rosamond, California: The AHRMA Moto Classica at Willow Springs International Raceway once again was host to the SRA-West Formula Sidecar series, bringing together thirteen teams for the double-header weekend. Among the racy modern 3-wheelers were 2 vintage class machines, giving a striking visual display of the speed increases made in the past 50-plus years. Saturday’s 6-lap race saw familiar holeshot artist Team Johnny Killmore (#187 John Wood/ Giorgina Gottlieb) take the lead, but a host of machines immediately stacked up behind him. The freight train only lasted one lap, as 3 machines drove around the Wood/Gottlieb duo, and began a 3-way battle for the lead. Eventual race winner Team Excalibur (#21 Frank Riolo/ Rory O’Conner) would muscle their way into the lead, while defending champion Team Becker Moto Works (#84 William Becker/ Eric Becker) began a charge to retake the top spot. Excalibur’s Wurth-tuned engine was singing strong though, and they continued to pull away. Making another showing from semi-retirement was Team RGM’s driver- and multi-time champion- Rick Murray (#175), and veteran passenger Gary McEwen, taking the final spot on the podium. Further back were rookies Cat On A Leash Racing (#284 Michael Troutman/ Heidi Neidhoefer) in 4th, who had an amazing back-and-forth battle with Team Johnny Killmore, who settled for 5th. The Moto Classica again proved AHRMA’s ability to host an event worth remembering, when they once more made time for sidecar “taxi rides” during Saturday’s lunch break. Following an amazing parade lap of vintage race machines of all types and eras, modern sidecars took willing and/or unwitting fans out for a few laps as passenger, at reduced speed, to give them a first-hand perspective of the challenges and physicality needed to “drive from the chair” of a Formula Sidecar. With opportunities like this, plus a vintage bike show and a pit lane full of gorgeous machines, the AHRMA Moto Classica is undoubtedly a must-attend event. Sunday’s 6-lap race would see the same holeshot from Team Johnny Killmore, but a miscue would send them wide into turn 1, just managing to stay on the pavement while Becker and Excalibur darted away to rehash Saturday’s battle. All three machines would stay together again for the first lap, but on the front straight the power-to-weight ratios of the three different designs would again show themselves. As the race progressed, it would be Excalibur, Becker, and Killmore taking the top three spots with wide margins between them. However, by lap 3, Bad Cat Racing (#3 Mike Jones/ Brandon Mathews) would begin to sneak up to take a stab at the final podium spot. After working hard from a difficult start, the duo- who have only been racing as a team for a month- would lay down some impressive times, pulling out of the draft on the final lap to just miss out on the podium by a nose. The real battle to watch on Sunday, however, was the vintage sidecar class. An unknown mechanical glitch was slowing Team Campbell (#95 Larry Campbell/ Larry Campbell), which allowed Dutch Trash Racing (#27 Nol VanZwieten/ Cissy Johnston) to close in with their Harley-Davidson powered, home-built machine. Team Campbell wasn’t about to concede to the rookie team, and a back-and-forth battle ensued for the majority of the race, with Team Campbell leaving with the vintage class win. At the end of the weekend the driver points still had defending champion William Becker (Becker Moto Works) in the lead, followed by John Wood (Team Johnny Killmore), and with Mike Jones (Bad Cat Racing) jumping up into the 3rd spot. For the official standings for driver and passenger points, plus a full calendar of events, visit www.sra-west.us. The SRA-West would like to thank AHRMA (www.ahrma.org) for graciously inviting the Formula Sidecar series to their event, and also Barnett Tool and Engineering (www.barnettclutches.com), for their continued support of sidecar racing. Sidecars take a three week break before returning to Willow Springs Raceway May 14-15 with WSMC. RESULTS: Driver/ Passenger, (chassis/ engine) RACE 1, Saturday April 23: Formula Sidecar: 1. #21 Frank Riolo/ Rory O’Conner (LCR/ Suzuki) 2. #84 William Becker/ Eric Becker (Becker/ Suzuki) 3. #175 Rick Murray/ Gary McEwen (LCR/ Suzuki) 4. #284 Michael Troutman/ Heidi Neidhoefer (CSR/ Suzuki) 5. #187 John Wood/ Giorgina Gottlieb (Windle/ Suzuki) 6. #3 Mike Jones/ Brandon Mathews (Becker/ Suzuki) 7. #66 Sean Bakken/ Roger Preston (Spike Taylor/ Yamaha) 8. #60 Hans Shultz/ Steve Stull (Baker/ Suzuki) 9. #29 Leon VanOrsdale/ Kevin Starr (Baker/ Honda) 10. #321 Don Sayre/ Julie Godman (Baker/ Suzuki) Vintage: 1. #95 Larry Campbell/ Larry Campbell (BMW/BMW) 2. #27 Nol VanZwieten/ Cissy Johnston (“Dutch”/ Harley-Davidson) RACE 2, Sunday April, 24: Formula Sidecar: 1. #21 Frank Riolo/ Rory O’Conner (LCR/ Suzuki) 2. #84 William Becker/ Eric Becker (Becker/ Suzuki) 3. #187 John Wood/ Giorgina Gottlieb (Winlde/ Suzuki) 4. #3 Mike Jones/ Brandon Mathews (Becker/ Suzuki) 5. #321 Don Sayre/ Hannah Mathews (Baker/ Suzuki) 6. #66 Sean Bakken/ Roger Preston (Spike Taylor/ Yamaha) 7. #69 Hans Shultz/ Steve Stull (Baker/ Suzuki) 8. #29 Leon VanOrsdale/ Kevin Starr (Baker/ Honda) 9. #284 Michael Troutman/Heidi Neidhoefer (CSR/ Suzuki) DNF 10. #175 Rick Murray/ Gary McEwen (LCR/ Suzuki) DNS Vintage: 1. #95 Larry Campbell/ Larry Campbell (BMW/BMW) 2. #27 Nol VanZwieten/ Cissy Johnston (“Dutch”/ Harley-Davidson)