Last stammtisch I was asked whether I was going to the EGT?

EGT? WTF?

Ahso … Euro-Gespann-Treffen!

European Sidecar Meet

 

EGT poster

 

S’posed to be the biggest in Europe. Asked the boy (8) if he was interested – ‘If it’s not wet’

Meant a little maintenance. Chain set, Oil n filter, rear tyre, clutch pack, kickstart: spring, ratchet, guide, stopper and oil-seal, cleaned last winter’s salt rust off the forks and sidecar frame, checked the brakes, lube, packed a tool-kit … clutch made a big difference

He had football-school til 14.00 … left about 16.30’ish … took a long-motorway-short-cut around Mainz – bad choice! … STAU … big single, aircooled – oil temp rose, clutch didn’t react well … got a bit better rolling over the Hunsrück, across the Mosel, quickly through the Eifel, spanned the Kyll and over into Luxembourg

As soon as we arrived the football disappeared. Reappeared once the tent was up. Hungry. And it rained.

 

looking down over the camp … between the trees is a lake … more       camping on the other side and to the left .. 900++ sidecars, around 1700 people

 

‘the football’ in motion … wheelchair friendly access around the lake and up to the main tent

 

‘The football’ was constantly on the go

Plenty of getting together and talking, looking but I missed some organised activities, tours, music etc … maybe I just blinked … anyway we took off on our own (with ball), exploring … rained … had forgottten my rainpants-at home … took shelter in a wonderful old-time hardware store, the type that has pretty much everything (except metal cups) – got a cool livestock medicinal syringe for fork-oil level adjustment and a pair of waterproof overpants

Prizegiving on Saturday night. Oldest rider .. 88y, Youngest rider .. 17y, Longest ride .. from Sweden (around 1700km each way)

 

cool tent

 

beware – quicksand

 

us, hiding from the rain

 

schwenker … flexibly mounted sidecar … bike rides similar to a solo machine

 

trad-  triumph ‘n watsonian GP

 

triumph/ Zero … nice pair

 

triumph rally

 

guzzi and … and … (also a ‘schwenker’ … can be separated in 5 minutes … no self-respecting ‘hollander’ would be seen without his trailer)

 

dogs on tour

 

guzzi, watsonian ‘n house … mmm, dont snails and tortoises bring their own houses? … the germans here would also say ‘the hollanders’ too (most caravans here have NL plates)

 

hot guzzi

 

zeus … rear transverse peugeot 206 S16 4 cyl 2 ltr engine

 

honda … from the island

 

another from across the water

 

eyecatching honda and what looks like a Stoye replica (?)

 

AWO/Stoye

 

W650 ‘n russian ural sidecar

 

beemer ‘n steib

 

cool

 

Just a taste of what was to be seen

Maybe with an XS Gespann next year

And a good part of the way home – it rained. Of course

I’m a big fan of sidecross. Motocross with a sidecar. As a youngster (not sure if I have memories of this or if it’s just wishful thinking) I raced amateur motocross. Later I raced speedway and street meets with a kneeler. Branched out into sidecross and even filled-in while living in Canada, ice racing.

Here, I follow the Veteranen Cup. Sidecross for twin-rearshock, aircooled, 2/4 stroke machines, pre 1984 up to 1000cc and min 250kg. Monkey must be at least 16yo and riders age must fit with the spirit of the race.

I’ve been working on one of my best mates. Trying to convince him to become actively involved. I have most of the kit. We both qualify as riders. All 7 of the races are easily reached from here.

Last Saturday my son and I rode the sidecar up to Schotten for the 25th Classic Grand-Prix – Classic solo and sidecar racing. Always a great weekend getting close to bikes you can drool about.

On Sunday my mate and I rode out to Laubuseschbach for the 5th leg of the Veteranen Cup – was a fun day, He’s hooked now, Poor bastard.

Most sidecars in this class are 2 cylinder units using the XS650 power-plant and WASP or EML frames. This year there are other Yams on offer. An XT and a TR1. Some 4 cylinder Hondas, a CZ, a Norton, 4 BMWs and 2 EML Jumbo powered units (2 cylinder 2 strokes (air or water cooled, 1000 and 800cc) developed by EML specifically for sidecross-can easily get over 100hp).

 

1984 EML Jumbo – air-cooled 1000cc twin cylinder 2 stroke

 

EML Jumbo water-cooled Sidecross motor

 

Unfortunately the batteries in my camera were flat after Schottenring and I didn’t have any spares with me. Hopefully better luck next month in Hennweiler.