Oldest bike is a classic in more ways than one

A fantastic year in the Classic Series for sidecar racing faded into the background for racing team Will Williamson and Julie Loveridge last week.

What mattered most to them was that after 12 months of thinking about it, they did not want Cemetery Circuit to once again become their graveyard.

As seen from the file photo in this story, the pair had helpers "scrape them up" to go for an ambulance ride after a fiery crash into the hay bales during practice at the 2011 Tri Series.

Their bike the 1955 Triumph Tiger 110 was the oldest in competition as they came back this year for another go to get rid of that Pink Elephant in the room.

"It was a pretty big elephant, I must say," said Loveridge.

"We thought we'd go back so the bike doesn't end its days in the crash wagon,' added Williamson.

In the Classic Sidecars, which combines the pre-1982 and pre-1963 classes for two eight-lap races, the Wanganui pair came fourth overall.

They were the highest placed fully-local pair, while Wanganui's Charles Bilby tasted victory as the swinger for the winning team.

Williamson and Loveridge were just happy to put the nightmare of 2011 behind them.

"It takes a lot to keep it going, it's museum racing really," Williamson said of the Triumph.

"We did a good lap time, but had no breaks after the first race."

"It's got the aerodynamics of a barn," Loveridge laughed.

The pair had a great 2012 winning the Classic Series for pre-1963 sidecars, competing at 11 meetings from February through to November.

Winning the series came down to the final round in Manfeild.

They also compete throughout the year at other one-off Classic events like at Paeroa.

Williamson brought the Triumph in 1973, after it had already been racing for 10 years in both solo and sidecar racers.

He has raced it for 39 years and although doing well with series points totals, has never actually won a race.