Grasstrack Top Tens: Top Ten 2nd Generation Sidecar Drivers

Words: Gareth Bemister
Images: Alan Whale

Grasstrack Banter, along with Alan Whale Photography, take a trip down memory lane with this Grasstrack Banter Top Ten List...

Top 10 2nd Generation Sidecar Drivers
Grasstrack is a family sport. And a quick glance through any list of riders at a meeting will confirm this with several familiar names appearing more than once. This list is the top 10 sidecar riders, and in this case drivers, who are at least second generation, following in their sidecar driving father’s footsteps.

10. Mick and Rob Cameron

Rob's finest performance at the 1991 Ace of Aces

Mick Cameron is something of a sidecar legend, particularly in the Kent region, where he competed at national level in both Lefthand and Righthand classes. Several centre championships are a sure sign that Mick was a fantastic racer throughout the 70s and 80s. And his son Rob, after a fairly successful solo career, followed in his father's footsteps onto three wheels in 1990, although it could be argued that he never reached his full potential. Rob was a tremendous racer, turning in some spectacular performances throughout the early 90s. However, in 1992, he left the sport to go road racing, and was never seen on the Grasstrack circuits again. This proved a huge loss for Grasstrack sidecars as there's no doubting Rob's ability on a sidecar, something which he was able to carry over to the asphalt. Rob now runs the highly successful 151 motorcycle clothing business, the name of course paying homage to father Mick's famous race number. He has more recently been in contact with Grasstrack through social media again, so who knows...perhaps we haven't seen the last of Cameron.

9. Gerry and Carl Squirrell

Gerry Squirrell in action

Gerry and Carl are well known names in the 500cc sidecar world, with Carl being a British Champion in 1990. Gerry was known to be an innovator of racing machines as well as being an all-round motorcyclist. Carl and brother Adrian began their racing careers on solos, with Adrian becoming a top 250cc rider. But Carl shot to stardom as British champion in 1990, winning virtually everything in that season. He competed in the European Championship in 1991 as champion but had a disastrous day. Several years later, Carl returned to the sport as a 1000cc sidecar passenger and even rode his own sidecar speedway outfit for a time.

Carl in action at the 1991 Euro Semi Final

8. Nick and Matt Fumarola

Nick Fumarola/Keith Wall on the ex-Smith Wasp

Nick Fumarola was a good sidecar racer throughout the 80s and 90s, although it was during the early 90s, where he turned to an ex-Steve Smith Wasp machine where he made a big impact on the sport. Throughout the 1991 season, Fumarola was making finals at national level and beating some of the best in the country. It was in this season, that he featured in the British Masters, having had a good day at the Qualifier in Cornwall. Son Matt began as a passenger, mainly on sidecar speedway with occasional appearances on Grasstrack. One of his most infamous Grasstrack appearances during this time, as passenger to Gary Jackson, left him with severe injuries to a rather tender area! After this, Fumarola Jnr left the sport but returned several years later to race his own outfit to great success. He very nearly won the British Masters title in 2002, having led the final for 3 laps. But his greatest moment came in 2003, when he beat the best riders in the world to win the World Sidecar Super Cup at Collier Street. What made the victory more remarkable was that he missed the start, and fought his way through the pack, passing the great Darrin Treloar to win a memorable race. Don’t bother asking Matt about it as he doesn’t like to talk about it! With Matt’s son Sam having already competed as a passenger, and younger son Jake had his first taste on the bars in 2016, albeit in a practice, it looks like it’s not the end of the story for the Fumarola name.

Crowning moment for Matt and Andi Wilson in 2003

7. Chris and Matthew Tyrrell

Chris Tyrrell/Alain Borlaise (69) lead

Now sadly it would seem that Tyrrell Jnr’s racing career is over, but the Tyrrell family has left a lasting impression on the sport. Chris Tyrrell was a fearless racer throughout the 80s and 90s. His no-nonsense, daredevil style of racing allowed him to grow quite a fan base. Clad in all-black and racing a low-slung sidecar outfit, Tyrrell and passenger Alain Borlaise reached the very top of the sport before several nasty accidents convinced Chris that it was time to pass on his knowledge to son Matthew, who had begun solo racing. To begin with, Matthew showed a similar, all-action style but as he progressed through his career, he became a far more calculated, tactical rider. Tyrrell’s greatest success came in the sidecar speedway world, where he won several British titles. That’s not to say that he wasn’t equally as quick on the grass. Although Matthew has now announced his retirement from the sport, having raced sidecar speedway across the world, the Tyrrell family connection has not finished. Chris’ Grandson’s Thomas and Dillon Newton look set to enter the sport, with Thomas already completed a full season in the old and new 500cc GS class.

6. Martin and Simon Heal

Martin Heal was one of the toughest Westcountry sidecar drivers to beat throughout the eighties. He was always a rider who could never be counted out at any meeting, often popping out of the start and beating riders who were expected to beat him. Therefore, this dark horse was always an exciting talent to see at any National event where he could cause an upset. In present day, Martin’s son Simon could almost hold the same praise. At any time, Heal Jnr can beat some of the country’s top riders, just like his father. Simon turned to sidecar racing in 2006 and didn’t take long to show his racing pedigree. And now he finds himself a regular in the British Masters lineup and the top Westcountry rider.

Simon Heal/Terry Madley at the Poacher

5. Reg and Colin Blackbourn

Reg and Colin in action

For many years, Colin passengered Reg and they made a good club team. However, in 1996, having gathered many years experience behind his father, Colin turned to driving his own outfit. His immediate speed was shocking as he started making an instant impact, beating much more established riders. Fast forward to the present day and Colin has collected two British Masters titles and has been one of the top drivers in the country since he burst onto the scene in 1996. Reg continues to make an impact in the sport, organising the annual Lincolnshire Poacher International Grasstrack on August Bank Holiday.

Image: Methanol Moments Photography

4. Gordon and Ivor Matthews

Gordon Matthews in action

Gordon Matthews was one of the top Midlands sidecar drivers throughout the 1970s, becoming Midland Centre Champion during a time where competition was ferocious in that region. And son, Ivor, became a 1x British Masters champion (and would-be 2x if it was not for a blown motor during a winner-take-all run off in 1994). Matthews Jnr began his Grasstrack career in the solo class, but standing well over the six foot mark meant that Ivor was never naturally built for the two wheeled machines. So he followed his father’s footsteps onto the sidecar scene. He went on to become one of the top riders of the 1990s, winning several championships. Ivor’s name is also synonymous with sidecar speedway, where he won several British titles and raced Down Under many times.

Ivor and Tony Miles in Vojens, Denmark

3. Mark, Tom and Andy Cossar

Image: Methanol Moments Photography

Cossar Snr, Andy, actually came into Grasstrack sidecar racing fairly late, but has left a legacy. Sons Mark and Tom have gone on to become British Masters champions. Andy’s wife Tracey has been secretary of ACU Track Racing for many years, so it perhaps was an inevitability that her family would become competitors. Andy rode for several seasons during 2001-2006 before passing the mantle onto eldest son Mark, who has gone on to be one of the finest sidecar drivers ever seen in the country. Youngest son Tom passengered Mark to a Masters title in 2009 and now has taken to the bars himself.

Mark and Tom Cossar in action

2. Rob and Robbie Wilson

This Kent father and son crew are still active, although Wilson Jnr had a long layoff after beginning his driving career in his teens. In 2016, Robbie had a nasty accident at Swingfield which has put a halt to his racing for now, but perhaps he’ll be back soon. As for Wilson Snr, he has been quite a Grasstrack racing stalwart, having competed in every British Masters since its conception. They are actually 3^rd generation, with Rob Snr’s father also a top rider many years ago.

Robbie Wilson during his first stint as a sidecar rider in 1996.

1. Rod and Gareth Winterburn

Image: Methanol Moments Photography

The Winterburn name has been synonymous with sidecar racing in the last few years, and these current drivers are the first names that come to mind when thinking of second-gen racers. What makes these two special is that they have competed against one another for a number of seasons now and are the fiercest of rivals. Gareth is still looking for his first British Masters title, in a hope that he can match his Dad’s record of 3 titles. The most memorable clash of these two must be their ferocious racing at the 2016 British Masters, where they tussled for four laps. These two are certainly the strongest father-son rivalry we’ve perhaps ever seen in the sport. Gareth is one of the quickest sidecar drivers ever produced in Britain, so surely the British Masters title is only around the corner.

So, who have we missed? With a family sport like Grasstrack, there are bound to be hundreds of father and son sidecar drivers that have been missed out. Finally, here's another few excellent Alan Whale images of some of the riders mentioned in this article...