Aussie Sidecar Stories

Kristy Schultz has been racing sidecars for 20 years and in that time she has ticked off so many bucket list items for off-road racers. The 24 Hour Reliability Trial is one of her favourite events, testing participants physically and mentally as they do all they can to even finish the gruelling race. In this episode we talk sidecar cross, off-road sidecar races, endurance events and even a bit of...

We talk a lot about how sidecar racing is like having a second family, one that understands you and supports you no matter what is going on on track. Our chat with Adriana Thompson is a perfect example of what this community means to so many people who are a part of it. Adriana is a third-generation speedway racer, second generation on a sidecar, and she even met her husband through the sport. We...

Zac Campbell came into sidecar racing with a view to learn as much as he could and was prepared to take the slow path to success. He started out as a passenger on a period 5 road race sidecar, and over time found himself transition to speedway where he is now a rider. We chat about his experiences along the way and what it is like now to support juniors and other newcomers to the sport, just like...

We all have different dreams and goals in racing, and DJ Turner and his brother Corey are a perfect example of what can happen when you are willing to put everything into making those dreams come true. DJ started racing sidecars as a passenger with his dad doingspeedway in Victoria. He then did a few seasons with his brother Jamie on the bars before he and Corey gave road race sidecars a crack. Th...

Tilo and Riley are a junior speedway sidecar team from South Australia, and they are keen as to get as much track time as they can. The pair had their first ride together in November 2024 with things clicking instantly, they are looking forward to honing their skills together and the future when they step up to senior outfits. Family plays a key part in their ability to race, we talk about how the...

Catching up with Shane ‘Crash’ Schiller was a wild ride, and not just because he is an off-road sidecar rider. For 32 years the South Australian has moved between sidecar endurance racing and sidecarcross, going from paddock bashing to flying through the air with an outfit under his feet. Before that he had a pushbike sidecar, time on that pushes him to over 40 years on three wheels. We talk endur...

There is not much in sidecar racing that Jeff Rowe has notdone, starting out as a speedway passenger in Sydney in the 70’s and doing the rounds since then. He has travelled Australia racing speedway, road race, anddirt track, chased titles and been a part of some iconic events. There are so many names from the Australian sidecar racing history books in this episode we have no doubt it will bring m...

Off-road racing is all Max Hutchesson has ever known, and that is why barrelling through bushland on a sidecar is where he is most comfortable. Since they were kids Max and his brother Sam have beenripping it up through paddocks and testing their physical and mental limits in unpredictable terrain. They were teenagers when they took part in their first 24-hour enduro, an event they have now comple...

Hugh Briotti started racing speedway sidecars in the 80’s, joining the family sport that his dad, uncle and sister were all involved with. He has been a rider and a passenger on speedway outfits,doing the rounds of Western Australian circuits for a number of years. Then another of his dad’s outfits called for him, so Hugh jumped on his dad’s period 4 outfit around 10 years ago. The frustrations of...

Donna Probin started out like many sidecar enthusiast’s, inthe pits as a kid watching her dad. At 17 Donna took a leap of faith and asked one of the womenshe had watched race for a shot – and the rest, as we often say, is history. Donna and Lisa raced together for a few years before life took a different path for a while. In a full circle moment Donna has been able to take ownership of thatvery si...

While she may only be a newcomer to sidecar racing, Irene Baksheev has become a passionate advocate for the sport. Part of the Tasmanian road race sidecar revival movement, Irene has one of the most unique introduction stories we have encountered – and one that might inspire some clubs promotional tactics moving forward. Despite only having been racing for around three years, Irene has already vis...

Steve McQueen grew up at speedway tracks across WesternAustralia, following his dad and uncle when they raced. It comes as no surprise that eventually he would find himself racing sidecars as well. At last count he has over 40 outfit and rider pairings that he has raced with on speedway, but in recent years he has been spending time riding a F2 road race sidecar. Steve shares with us some stories...

Terry Brooks built his first sidecar from a wrecked solo inthe 1970’s and hasn’t looked back. There may only be two tracks in Tasmania but back in the 70’sand 80’s there was a booming sidecar competition. Sadly as happens, entries dwindled for a few decades, but in recent years there has been a rumbling amongst the orchards as sidecar grids begin to grow once more – and Terry is out there helping...

Darryl ‘Dags’ Rayner stated racing F2 sidecars in the late 90’swhich kicked off an obsession that has seen him do a lot of travelling around Australia, New Zealand and over to the Isle of Man TT. He has done six years over at one of the most recognised motorsport events and was the first Aussie sidecar to break 100 miles per hour in a race at the TT. Dags shares some insight into what it was like...

Kate and Josh started racing speedway separately, before they knew each other, but when they met there was a third wheel – in the form of sidecars. Over the last couple of years, they have cut laps around tracks in their home state of Victoria,  visited South Australia and made the occasional trek further afield racing a variety of eras of speedway sidecar, and Kate jumping on her dirt track sidec...

Gavin Porteous started racing sidecars in the 70’s and has ticked off a number of sidecar racers bucket list items since then. He has competed from one coast to the other of Australia, including the Laverton TT in 1976, chalked up some laps around Mount Panorama, and did a couple of years at the Isle of Man in the early 90’s. It was an honour to chat with Gav, about his time racing andbuilding sid...

In this episode of Aussie Sidecar Stories we try somethingdifferent. While helping out at the Annandale-Leichhardt MotorcycleClub Come and Try Day we caught up with a few of the attendees about their experience on the day. Come and Try Days are an opportunity to welcome anyonewishing to have a go as a sidecar passenger on a road race sidecar. It is a big day for anyone involved, especially the rid...

Royce and Leonard are the 2025 Sidecar Masters of Mac Park,a prestigious title they earned in September after success at a race meeting they have grown up attending. The South Australian bothers have only been racing sidecarsfor a few years, but they have a long history on two wheels, and are actually third generation sidecar racers. We have a great chat about the Masters of Mac Park, howdramas at...

Juniors are the future of racing, and Aerian and Storm havejumped on a speedway sidecar to forge their way in the sport. The brothers from Queensland have only done a couple of club days on an outfit, but they share with us a bit about their experience so far.

Margaret Halliday is a name very well known in road racesidecar circles, and for very good reason. From the late 70’s to the late 80’s she was Doug Chiva’s passenger as they raced in Australia, New Zealand, America and the UK, winning a number of races, championships and setting records along the way. In 1984 the pair won the Australian Grand Prix at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, and Margaret’s name w...

Jim Jobling is a dirt track sidecar racer based in New SouthWales who has had quite an eventful eight years of racing. The Quirindi Long Track race meeting has been run and wonfor 2025, but the sidecar racing at the event will be remembered for the number of crashes that happened – and unfortunately Jim found himself not far from the action whenever it happened. We chat about injuries, recovery, a...

Ian’s Aussie Sidecar Story Ian Milton is a name very well known in historic road racing in Queensland. He was racing solos, but the lure of sidecars drew him in and after 40 years he is still as passionate about them today. We caught up with Ian at the 2025 Queensland Historic Titles, where three outfits he owns were helping make up the period 3 grid. Ian loves his historic machines, but recognise...

Clarissa Mitchell only ever wanted to race speedway sidecarswith her dad, and when she turned 16 he got her a race licence to do just that. As he moved towards retiring he wanted to keep the familyracing journey going and got his son Stephen in the riders seat – much to Clarissa’s initial disgust. But the pairing worked and Wild Child Racing was born. After many great years racing together a crash...

Tom Northey first got on a dirt track sidecar when he wasabout 18 years old, having grown up around them with his dad and uncles racing. He would jump on with anyone who needed a passenger, he hastried both speedway and road, but is most comfortable on dirt. When he pairedup with Matt Davies 18 months ago they discovered it was a perfect match andhave been racking up the wins and titles since. Tom...

Peter Searle started racing sidecars in 1978 and hasn’tlooked back, even returning to the sport after almost two decades withoutstrapping his helmet on. He currently races period 3 and period 6 road race outfits,and is the president of Queensland Early Motorcycle Sports Club. Peter shares with us some highlights of his time in theriders seat, as well as giving an insight into what goes on behind t...