sidecars at knock hill 50th anniversary race

Had a great day at the event which marked a milestone for Scottish motorsport as Knockhill’s Bike Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. One of the highlights of the festival was the presence of many Scottish champions from over the years, with some of their bikes. Held over two days, I missed the first day which by all accounts was spoilt a little by the weather. Even so, I would have liked to watched the 50 lap endurance race which took place on the Saturday. Day two was dry and featured some close racing, in particular the sidecars.

During the midday break, the track walk proved to be a popular and enjoyable activity. It offered a unique opportunity to experience the circuit from a rider’s perspective. Notably, some of the cambers appeared quite different when viewed compared to the spectator viewing areas. Additionally, walking the track highlighted the steepness of certain sections, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by riders.

John McGuinness and his Honda fire blade drew the crowds at Knockhill's Bike Festival
John McGuinness spent a lot of time in the paddock chatting to fans. Here, he’s sat astride the Honda Fireblade on which he broke the 130mph average lap barrier at the TT in 2007.
Ben Birchall with his sidecar that did first tt lap over 120mph
Ben Birchall had his sidecar on display. The outfit on which Ben and brother Tom completed the first ever lap of the TT at an average speed of 120mph by a sidecar
Sidecar racers, Sam and Jack Laidlow chasing opponent at Knockhill racing circuit
Sam and Jack Laidlow were the Jock Taylor Memorial Trophy winners in a race with lots of close action.
Mini Moto photo shoot
Mini Moto photo shoot
Track walk Knockhill circuit
The midday track walk was a very popular.
Barry Davidson and Torquil Paterson at Knockhill's Bike Festival
Barry Davidson (500 Honda) leading Torquil Paterson (350 Honda) in the Classic Solo race

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