SRA-West Formula Sidecar Series Round 3: Chuckwalla Valley Raceway- Clockwise Desert Center, California, USA. May 26-27 For the first time ever the three-wheeled action of the SRA-West made its way to Chuckwalla Valley Raceway to join the CVMA for a double-header weekend at the 17 turn facility. Of note was a stand-in passenger for Team Johnny Killmore, normally comprised of driver John Wood and co-driver Giorgina Gottlieb. Filling in the vacant spot was rookie passenger Jason McCombie, who was thrown into the fire immediately. With all teams on a steep learning curve with a new course, Team Becker Moto Works (William Becker/ Eric Becker) wasted no time in setting the fast pace by a wide margin, throwing the gauntlet down without much apparent effort. Saturday’s 6-lap race would begin in normal fashion with Team Johnny Killmore taking the holeshot from the front row. Just a few rows back, up-and-comer team Wood Brothers Racing (Chris Wood/ Aaron McEwen) would stall on the line, losing a huge amount of ground on the field. Up front though Team Becker Moto Works found an easy path through traffic and settled in behind the leaders by the beginning of the second lap. Before the crossed flags they had easily moved into the lead and set out ahead of the field. With a large gap back to the final podium spot, all eyes would turn to the battle raging for 3rd. Leading the pack was Steve Stull and Heidi Neidhoefer, who were under fire from Team RoadKill Racers (Sean Bakken/ Gary McEwen). With a resurgent Wood Brothers Racing in tow, the trio stayed glued together despite trying to use lap traffic to break away from one another. The scrap would not sort itself out until the final few turns, when Wood Brothers used their overheating brakes to fight inside of RoadKill Racers at turn 14. Two-wide into the next left they remained side-by-side, with Wood Brothers finally taking the position on the brakes into the final right. A drag race to the checkers left Wood Brothers just short of the podium, with Stull/ Neidhoefer holding onto 3rd. Sunday’s would see Team Johnny Killmore out front again with Wood Brothers Racing in close pursuit. Again Becker Moto Works would hound the leader by the second lap. The gap would open to a few lengths and then they would be side-by-side, continuing this way for the better part of a lap. Becker would take the inside line into turn 11, but around the outside came Team Johnny Killmore to hold onto the lead. Flicking back to the left for turn 12, passenger Jason McCombie would lose footing and fold his left ankle. Unable to transition, the machine was barely able to stay on course while Becker Moto Works dipped through and into the lead. The gap would stay at just under three seconds for another lap, but McCombie’s ankle was already beginning to swell and the pair were forced to slow, finishing a lonely second to Becker Moto Works. Wood Brothers Racing also finished alone in 3rd. Probably the happiest in the field though was driver Donn Sayre, who worked out his own “arrive-and-drive” of sorts. Working for Selland Auto Transport of Seattle, Washington, Sayre was able to arrive at the track, race both days, and leave with a load of race cars and his own sidecar in tow. Mixing business and pleasure is rarely that easy for privateer racers. The SRA-West Formula Sidecar series will begin its summer sabbatical, with no championship events scheduled until they join host club AHRMA for the Bonneville GP at Miller Motorsports Park August 31- September 2. Three exhibition races will be held in the Pacific Northwest, however, allowing teams to keep sharp and battle it out in a region that rarely sees sidecar road racing. First up is Portland International Raceway, where host club OMRRA will make room for a sidecar double-header June 23-24. For a full schedule and standings visit www.sra-west.us. Results (Driver/ Passenger, Chassis/ Engine): RACE 1: 1. William Becker/ Eric Becker, Becker/ Suzuki 2. John Wood/ Jason McCombie, Windle/ Suzuki 3. Steve Stull/ Heidi Neidhoefer, Baker/ Honda 4. Chris Wood/ Aaron McEwen, ART/ Suzuki 5. Sean Bakken/ Gary McEwen, Spike/ Yamaha 6. Donn Sayre/ Kevin Kautzky, Baker/ Suzuki 7. Scott Lane/ Unknown, RGM/ Kawasaki (4 laps) Race 2: 1. William Becker/ Eric Becker, Becker/ Suzuki 2. John Wood/ Jason McCombie, Windle/ Suzuki 3. Chris Wood/ Aaron McEwen, ART/ Suzuki 4. Steve Stull/ Heidi Neidhoefer, Baker/ Honda 5. Sean Bakken/ Gary McEwen, Spike/ Yamaha 6. Donn Sayre/ Kevin Kautzky, Baker/ Suzuki 7. Scott Lane/ Unknown, RGM/ Kawasaki (5 laps)