Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Today in motorcycle history, January 7, 1960

  

  


  




  The undisputed king of 3-wheels, sidecar champion Steve "Webbo" Webster M.B.E., is born.



  The most successful sidecar racer ever began his career in 1980 at  Elvington Airfield circuit, near York, and along the way he amassed wins and championships at every level, culminating in 2004's staggering achievement of an unprecedented triple crown of British, European and World titles.

  Out of the 172 Grand Prix and World Cup races Steve Webster entered, he has 57 wins, 37 second places and 27 third place finishes, as well as 78 pole positions.  Webster won the FIM Sidecar World Championship on 10 occasions, with Tony Hewitt, Gavin Simmons, David James and Paul "Woody" Woodhead.  

  In 1985 Webster and Hewitt had a massive crash at the Dutch TT at Assen, (a favorite crash highlight shown over and over on sport TV channels), where the sidecar left the track at high speed, slid along the grass before hitting a drainage ditch. 

  On Sunday, September 4, 2005, amid emotional scenes at the Circuit van Drenthe at Assen, Holland, the ten time World Champion announced he was going to hang up his leathers and helmet for good.

  His decision calls to an end a magnificent and unparalleled record-breaking career that had seen him rise from a 19-year-old club racer to the most successful sidecar racer in the history of the FIM World Championships.
  Grown men unashamedly shed tears in the Assen paddock on that chilly, September Sunday evening.

  The end of an era.