The Place

Does anybody know why yesterday's race was red flagged?

Oil from Sidecar #71 at Montreal (as quoted from the Live Timing screen).

2 races, 2 lots of oil. That's not really acceptable in the modern world is it.

Thanks Dave. Why have we got oil containment trays? A daft question I know,but why was it dropped on the circuit?

Your spot on there with the oil containment rule Daph.Having been at Knockhill scrutineering and having seen how well covered the sidecars are and the capacity they hold I just dont know what has gone wrong.I must be honest I am an advocate of oil containment for all 4 stroke bikes especially classics.The classic club introduced this for this season and if it saves delays in the program it's worth it.

I don't know in this case but oil containment doesn't work when pipes come off - or more likely fittings break/strip, or even the oil filler cap comes off. Sounds daft but it happens.
Twice in two races, questions will be being asked. Don't be surprised if sidecars are put back to last race on the back of it.

The oil filler cap should be lock wired!!

Steve they were the last race of the day. second please realise that most f1 at outfits at BSB are dry sump and at present there is no regulation for containment under the dry sump tank or the hoses to and from nor under the oil cooler

wingnut wrote:Steve they were the last race of the day. second please realise that most f1 at outfits at BSB are dry sump and at present there is no regulation for containment under the dry sump tank or the hoses to and from nor under the oil cooler

Exactly........... Why not, as this is the area that is letting sidecars down.
I cringed when I heard the commentators talking about it on TV, as it shows the sidecars in a bad light that in fairness they don't deserve anymore. I know the high standard of preparation that goes into a top line sidecar, but I'd bet 99% of the other people listening to that commentary don't and they just think the worst (as indicated by a fair amount of criticism on social media straight afterwards indicated).

They have already been shuffled through the pack so that they are usually last race of the day and I'm guessing that you all know where the next stop on that particular route ends.

Sorry, a little off topic, but still sidecar racing.
Dave, dropped oil from sidecars might make clubs think of dropping the sidecar class, but there is another reason for the clubs to drop them,
dwindling grids!!
Club grids last weekend- Darley 9 outfits
Aintree 7 outfits
Pembrey 12 outfits.
This seems to be becoming the norm!
Just been looking at a race programme for an Aintree club meeting from the early 90's, 29 outfits entered across 2 heats.

That was the point I obviously didn't make very well Mike, no containment where most of the oil in a dry sump bike is kept - not in the engine but the tank, cooler and pipework. They weren't last race of the day on Saturday unless it was a very short day

That was the point I obviously didn't make very well Mike, no containment where most of the oil in a dry sump bike is kept - not in the engine but the tank, cooler and pipework. They weren't last race of the day on Saturday unless it was a very short day

The bike we are about to get has dry sump. Weve not had this before but surely it must be easier to contain any leak from the tank than an engine with rods flying around inside. The pipes and fittings will need to be checked regularly though.

It was Unfortunate what Happened to Martin at Snett. A genuine Component Failure on lap 12 of a 12 lap race.. after completing all of Practice and Qualifying with no issues!
I'm Sure there are lessons to be learned from that, and others running similar set ups and I'm sure Roger and BSB make recommendations based on each issue that evolves.... it is an evolution. As for Phillipe dropping oil in Race 2 .... it may have been for maybe 50 metres / and off of race line before he pulled to grass is safest place possible. Well Done Phillipe I'm sure I passed him parked for 2 or 3 laps before Red Flag came out at about 6PM

Sidecars are not only machines to sometimes drop oil, unfortunately we can probably travel past the next corner unlike a 600 SOLO (which seemed worst at oil spills) which can dump everything (oil, Fuel, and rider) at next corner!

Everything can be sorted by discussion and sharing issues