Tracy's Side'line!
By TMX Archives on 27th Nov 08
WELL, it's that time of the year when new sidecar teams and partnerships are formed, decisions are beginning on what bike to ride next season and team colours are chosen.It is, however, also time to look back on this year's achievements and to recognise them at the annual awards presentation and the aim of the 19th annual Sidecar Motocross Association (SMCA) Dinner Dance was to do just that. The event was held at The Village Hotel, Bournemouth, and for some the celebrations started the night before! Most people, however, arrived during the afternoon and met socially in the bar before retiring to their rooms to get dressed up for the evening ahead.
With everyone in their glad rags' pre-dinner drinks were followed by a turkey dinner before the presentation of this year's awards.
This year's guest speaker was Tracy Thacker (pictured with Ben Blythe) who is a well known figure to most sidecar crews and their supporters. Tracy regularly reports in T+MX on The British Sidecar and Clubman Championship rounds and is invariably seen trackside with her camera trained on the action. She was a founder member of the SMCA, and press and social officer for five years. Her link to the sport came from her involvement, at an early age, helping her dad, Rocket' Ron Thacker, with his sidecar outfit, eventually doing a bit of passengering when the need arose and so as she explained Sidecars are in the blood'!
Three names featured more than once during the evening's proceedings. Nick Jarvis came away with three trophies, one being the Under 21 Driver of the Year even though it seems he has been around forever!
Like Nick, Dan and Joe Millard have certainly been names to watch this season and this was plain to see when they too picked up three awards. They were named as Driver and Passenger of the Year along with two team trophies. Nick Jarvis, with his passenger Josh Chamberlain, and the Millard brothers are definitely teams to watch out for next year.
Martin Guilford, SMCA vice chairman, presented the award to the best British International Team and this year Stuart Brown and Luke Peters took the honours. The tables were then turned when Martin, who is also the Sidecar des Nations team manager, was surprised with the three teams presenting him with a framed team photograph.
Another surprise presentation came when Scott Wilkinson made a presentation to his passenger of eight years, Gary Burt. Gary has decided to hang up his race boots and retire after many years at the top.
The evening continued with dancing and chatting in the bar' which, by all accounts, went on into the small hours. I'm sure they were raising a toast to a good 2009 season.
AWARDS
Ian Durston British Sidecar Championship: 1 Stuart Brown/ Luke Peters, 2 Dan and Joe Millard, 3 John Lyne/ Pete Girling.
British Clubman Championship: 1 Nick Jarvis/ Josh Chamberlain, 2 Colin Philpott/ Stuart Dance, 3 Nick Bowers/ Paul Young.
Centriplant Four-stroke Championship: 1 Dan and Joe Millard, 2 Mark and Gary Kinge, 3 Andy Breacher/ Adam Hillyard.
Driver of the Year: Dan Millard.
Passenger of the Year: Joe Millard.
Under 21 Driver: Nick Jarvis.
Under 21 Passenger: Dan Chamberlain.
Best Newcomer Driver: Ben Blythe.
Best Newcomer Passenger: Charlie Ide.
Best British International Team: Stuart Brown/ Luke Peters.
SMCA Award for Services to Sidecar-cross: Chris Helm.