![motorcycle chariot races motorcycle chariot races](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/films/spark/ben-hur/mountain-bike-chariot-racing.jpg)
I see no reason why such a rig should not be street-legal and used for the weekly shopping trip. There would also be an emergency handbrake mounted in the chariot just in case of control failure. I suggest that for maximum effectiveness, the motorcycle controls are manipulated by electrical actuators, which are controlled through a kind of fly-by-wire system from the chariot handlebars and foot controls. The idea is that he can shift from one side to the other to balance the chariot as usual, whilst still having a sensible amount of ergonomic control of the motorcycles. This could be in the form of a bar running the width of the chariot.
#Motorcycle chariot races driver#
The driver would also have a foot plate mounted on the chariot floor which he could use for gear change etc. But at least there would be the ability to mount the usual throttle and brakes controls on these handlebars. Perhaps instead of being fixed they could be mounted on a free-pivoting arm attached to the chariot pole. So My suggestion here is that the driver is given a set of handlebars. Trying to control a motorcycle using reins would be a bit silly. There are straps and buckles which attach the yoke firmly but flexibly to the saddles, allowing just enough freedom of movement for banking and steering. So in Sensible motorcycle chariot racing, the two motorcycles are fitted to a specially shaped yoke which rests on the two padded leather saddles of the motorcycles. Stands, giving her or him a lot of control over the horses and vehicle. The sport of motorcycle chariot racing caught on during the 1920s. Mirrored after ancient Roman chariot races (the kind that tripped horses and sent men flying into the path of oncoming hooves as in Ben Hur), motorcycle chariot races followed the same principle, and the same level of danger and thrill. The reins run back, sometimes through guide-loops, to where the driver Yes, Motorcycle Chariot Racing Is a Thing. In real chariot racing, the horses are attached to the yoke of the chariot through straps and attachments so that they are actually quite well attached. "I'd be keen to get on a bike and have a ride around the track.Ignore the silly ideas posted on here. When we wanted to stop, we just had to coast around the track until they stopped," he said.Īndrews, who will attend the 75th anniversary of speedway in Palmerston North this weekend is hoping it won't just be as a spectator.
![motorcycle chariot races motorcycle chariot races](https://64.media.tumblr.com/abb83863f7ae5fefe786cdcdc60eebac/0a777c05e2339013-38/s500x750/c52036447c43f58c1eba9ab1529d230344a8d272.gif)
![motorcycle chariot races motorcycle chariot races](https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/06/29/14/motorcycles2906zd.jpg)
According to pictures taken around that time in countries all over the world like Australia, New Zealand, the USA and some parts of Europe, this unique sport took place. That sport was Motorcycle Chariot Racing. that was the end of our chariot racing."Īndrews said it was difficult controlling the two bikes around the cinder track "We had reins from the throttle back to us in the chariot and and when we wanted to turn a particular way, we opened up one of them by pulling on the rein. We are yet to see a sort of racing sport which is yet to gain popularity now but which was extremely popular during the 1920s and 1930s. Controlled by reins from the throttle to the charioteers, things didn’t go as planned "Unfortunately we didn't have brakes on them and when Laurie's bike headed to the wall, he couldn't control it. In 1935, Andrews and Laurie Burns turned up with Harley Davidson 794 motorcycles, welded together to form a chariot. Andrews has a special place as he is the lone survivor of one of the strangest – and shortest lived at one meeting – events at the venue. As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of speedway at Palmerston North, one of the guests will be Maurice Andrews.