The feat of going sub 2 minutes around Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough is a major milestone for all Sidecar teams.
The long standing three wheeling lap record holders at England’s sole closed roads course are Nick Crowe/Mark Cox, who in 2008 set a blistering lap time of 1 minute 53.495 seconds.
Nearest challengers pace wise to Crowe/Cox are Ian Bell/Carl Bell (1.54.107), whilst third quickest overall following this year’s Gold Cup meeting is Team A.R.C’s Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (1.54.225).
Just two more crews have recorded lap times under 1 minute 55 seconds, Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance (1.54.444) and the Ramsden’s Steve & Matty (1.54.755).
Rounding out the current top ten fastest crews at North Yorkshire’s ‘Mini TT’ are the following:
Dave Molyneux/Ben Binns (1.55.121), ten times TT winners Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall (1.55.276), Conrad Harrison/Lee Patterson (1.55.735), Dave Wallis/Harry Payne (1.56.428), Tony Elmer/Darren Marshall (1.56.684).
Driver/passenger pairings not mentioned yet who have dipped below the 2 minutes barrier at Scarborough (including Farm Bends), read as follows:
Dean Lindley/Robert Bell (1.56.887), the Lowther’s John & Jake (1.57.012), Carl Fenwick/Mark Sayers (1.58.200), Nigel Connole/Jamie Winn (1.58.596).
Eddy Wright/Rod Pearce (1.58.800), Tony Thirkell/Nigel Barlow (1.59.087), Dave Atkinson/Phil Knapton (1.59.163), Greg Lambert/Jason Slous (1.59.169).
19 times solo TT winner Michael Dunlop/Dan Sayle (1.59.229), fastest overseas driver Frank Lelias/Mike Aylott (1.59.604), Simon Neary/Craig Hallam (1.59.939).
Special thanks to John Newton for supplying the statistical information to make this article possible.
Words by Stevie Rial – Sidecar teams best lap time at Scarborough located near their names