50th Anniversary of first appearance by a Laverda powered sidecar at the TT in 1977

[Andy J]

2027 will be the 50th anniversary of not only the inaugural motorcycle Formula 1/2/3/4 World Championships, held in the IOM, in which the Laverda triple did so well in 1977, but also the anniversary of the first outings by Laverda engined sidecars at the TT.
Three intrepid pairs made it to the start line, but unfortunately only one pairing made it to the finish, and in both races.
The successful duo were Robert Philpott & Michael Buxton, scoring very creditable 10th & 17th places in the two races. The less successful pairings were Ron Coxon & Jeff Nixon and Geoff Davis & Lenny Pallister.
I will try to hold some sort of event to celebrate the occasion but I don't know very much about the history of these guys or their sidecars. If anybody has any information it will be gratefully received. It would be even better if anyone knows if any of the guys and/or their outfits are still around.

 

[Tippie]

I rode down to Oschersleben last weekend for the big sidecar meet with the final round of the world championships. The depot was full, all sidecars from every age from ancient to the newest, lots of classic sidecars. I was amazed that not a single Laverda powered rig was among them, although a SF/GTL hybrid solo was parked outside a closed pit bay. I have never seen so many BMW outfits, totally dominated the older classes, with Nourish engines second most common, one bike even had two!

 

[Exmoor beast]

I rode down to Oschersleben last weekend for the big sidecar meet with the final round of the world championships. The depot was full, all sidecars from every age from ancient to the newest, lots of classic sidecars. I was amazed that not a single Laverda powered rig was among them, although a SF/GTL hybrid solo was parked outside a closed pit bay. I have never seen so many BMW outfits, totally dominated the older classes, with Nourish engines second most common, one bike even had two!

. That’s my mate Andy Nourish on the double and the guy commentating is Big Harry Ross who I passengered for on an EML Jumbo-

 

[Tippie]

Here he is in person explaining all about its development through break, fix and try again. He left early with a broken special cast crankcase. Interesting the difference when he upped the capacity from 1000. I wanted to ask him about crank and motor phasing but he had left. So much innovation among the sidecar mob.

 

[Jota Rob]

I rode down to Oschersleben last weekend for the big sidecar meet with the final round of the world championships. The depot was full, all sidecars from every age from ancient to the newest, lots of classic sidecars. I was amazed that not a single Laverda powered rig was among them, although a SF/GTL hybrid solo was parked outside a closed pit bay. I have never seen so many BMW outfits, totally dominated the older classes, with Nourish engines second most common, one bike even had two!

Was great watching the sidecars at Mallory Park last month.
They had their share of DNF for various reasons. Looking at the spec for the More speed BMW flat twins based on the 70s onward, a quick search suggests up to 103 hp at the wheel, 9000 rpm?? chain drive, optional 6 speed transmission by Nova. I guess its easier to keep on top of these motors than Laverda motors under the loads experienced with sidecar racing.
"If" i heard right, the crankcase had failed on one not related to the above.

 

[Exmoor beast]

Here he is in person explaining all about its development through break, fix and try again. He left early with a broken special cast crankcase. Interesting the difference when he upped the capacity from 1000. I wanted to ask him about crank and motor phasing but he had left. So much innovation among the sidecar mob.

Andy Nourish is on classic sidecar racing Facebook page, he’s a lovely bloke and has bought back his Dads engine rights so is now making them again. I’m sure you could ask him any question via that. Crancases breaking has been a massive problem on those motors for years, PUMA built heavy duty ( 1”+ thick) cases back in the 70’s to overcome this. We both started racing grasstrack up in Spalding at the same time when we were teenagers. I rode a Kawasaki Z900 & he was on a Weslake (Nourish) - he was breaking frames back then!

 

[Exmoor beast]

Was great watching the sidecars at Mallory Park last month.
They had their share of DNF for various reasons. Looking at the spec for the More speed BMW flat twins based on the 70s onward, a quick search suggests up to 103 hp at the wheel, 9000 rpm?? chain drive, optional 6 speed transmission by Nova. I guess its easier to keep on top of these motors than Laverda motors under the loads experienced with sidecar racing.
"If" i heard right, the crankcase had failed on one not related to the above.

Billet crank weighing a ton, revving the bollocks off them- crank case is the weakest link. They are an expensive hobby which is why we all went Japanese in grasstrack, they don’t go bang. I’ve seen Weslake motors explode lifting the bike up..not pretty.

 

[Jota Rob]

A bit of research on the 1st duo, pulled up this, take it with caution .

Your memory is spot on. In 1976, during the Motor Cycle International Sidecar Championship, two unique Laverda-powered sidecar outfits did indeed line up on the grid at Snetterton. [1]
The complete programmatic details for both of these rare Italian-engined outfits from that season's race entry lists confirm your details: [1]

Outfit No. 19

• Driver: Robert Philpott
• Passenger: Michael (Mick) Buxton RIP.
• Engine: 980cc Laverda triple
• Background: This duo was arguably the most prominent and consistent pairing to camp out with a Laverda-powered outfit during this era. Just a year later, in 1977, they became part of history by being the first Laverda-engined outfit to officially tackle and finish the Isle of Man Sidecar TT (capturing 10th and 12th place finishes in the two legs). They continued racing the outfit through the late 1970s, including appearances at major events like Snetterton's Race of Aces. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Outfit No. 23

• Driver: Peter Tyack (often spelled Tyacke)
• Passenger: John Gay
• Entrant: Reg Allen Motor Cycles
• Engine: 998cc Laverda triple
• Background: Backed by the famous London-based dealer Reg Allen Motor Cycles, this outfit was using a slightly larger displacement 998cc version of the Laverda triple engine compared to Philpott's 980cc unit. [1]

The 1976 Snetterton Race Context
During the mid-1970s, sidecar racing was heavily dominated by two-stroke Yamaha TZ engines and standard water-cooled four-cylinder units. The thunderous, heavy four-stroke Laverda triples stood out massively on British grids. [1, 2]
At that specific Snetterton round, the race was dominated at the front by Dic Greasley and Cliff Holland on a Yamaha. The sheer heat of the day caused massive reliability issues for many teams, but these heavy Italian triples matching up against the lighter two-strokes remains a legendary chapter for Laverda enthusiasts.

 

[Jota Rob]

Robert Philpott/Mike buxton 1978 tt apparently.

2nd pic, alistair lewis/ Jim Law 1976 Laverda.
Then i just got carried away, some are IOM TT and have some notes against them.

The rest, well i went off course.

 

[Jota Rob]

More Laverda sidecars, mostly twins

 

[The Sock]

I met a guy, at Pirtek in Strood, Kent, when I was getting a couple of hydraulic hoses made up.
He came over when he saw my Laverda.
Told me he had campaigned a Triple engined Grass Track outfit, back in the day. Sadly, struggling to remember his name.

 

[Jota Rob]

Knockhill featuring G Davies (Geoff)?/D Young #30 Laverda rear.
Alisdair Lewis/Jimmy Law Laverda upfront #31, also entered the 76 IOM TT - retired.
1976

 

[Exmoor beast]

I met a guy, at Pirtek in Strood, Kent, when I was getting a couple of hydraulic hoses made up.
He came over when he saw my Laverda.
Told me he had campaigned a Triple engined Grass Track outfit, back in the day. Sadly, struggling to remember his name.

Rob Wilson most likely but I think he sold it to Neville Penfold

 

[Andy J]

With apologies to Alistair Lewis and Jim Law, who I knew had raced a sidecar at the TT, but as they come up in the IOMTT database results for 1976 as having raced an unknown powered machine I overlooked, due to a senior moment, they were the first to enter a Laverda powered sidecar. Therefore, the 50th is this year not 2027.
Therefore, three cheers to Alistair and Jim.
However, 1977 is still the year a Laverda powered outfit first finished a race. In fact Bob and Mick went on to record another two finishes in 1978 which makes them, by far, the most successful Laverda sidecar duo at the TT.