He
might be the sidecar pilot the most famous of all times; by his world titles as
well as by his revolutionary driving and by the changes it brings to that
strange 3 wheeled machine. He has won 4 World titles: in 1949, 1950, 1951
and 1953.Eric Oliver
'Eric Oliver was without a doubt the
biggest sidecar pilots of all times'
'Oliver was not only a prestigious pilot, but also a genuine precursor who
"invented" the modern sidecar'
He
might be the sidecar pilot the most famous of all times; by his world titles as
well as by his revolutionary driving and by the changes it brings to that
strange 3 wheeled machine. He has won 4 World titles: in 1949, 1950, 1951
and 1953.
Eric Oliver was born in 1912 at Stratford-upon-Avon. He started to race sidecar only after few years of solo motorcycle riding and racing; solo racing which was honorable but which never brought him a Champion reputation.
The Beginning: His start in racing was in 1937, at the TT of the Isle of Man, with a Vincent HRD 500, and was an unlucky start where he had to retire from the race. The year after, the same fate pursue him when he took the start in 350 and 500cc, on single Norton. Meanwhile, he got some good success in English local races; in 500cc with the Norton and in 350cc with a Vélocette. But it was'nt remarkable results and Eric Oliver stayed in the shadow in the whole pre-world war 2 period.
World Champion: In 1948, at the Belgian Grand Prix,
beside his participation on the usual 350cc Vélocette, he took also the start
of the sidecar race, with an old Sarolea, making an excellent race. He
finished second, being admired by the Swiss and Italian veterans for his
outstanding driving.
From that moment starts a fast climb that made Eric Oliver the absolute Champion
in sidecar races. Beside him, as passenger, many different partners took
places, such as the beared-journalist Jenkinson, the Italian Dobelli and Nutts
the English (quite a name for a sidecar passenger).
In the years 1949 and 1950, with the rigid framed 600cc Norton, he ketch easily
the titles. His strongest opponent was the Italian Frigiero, with the 4
cylinders Gilera. For 2 years, he won the Grand Prix in Switzerland and in
Belgium, showing an undisputed superiority. In 1950, at Monza (Italy), he
took also the 'Grand Prix des Nations', after a hard race against
Frigerio. In 1951, although he was beaten on the Monza's track by the
Italian Milani on Gilera, he kept the world title because of the victories he
got in France, Belgium and Spain His passenger is Dobelli. We should
notice that at the beginning of the season, Eric Oliver was the first sidecar
racer to adopt a back suspension and a telescopic front fork.
In 1952, he is again winner in Belgium and Spain, but have to concede the title
to his countryman Cyril Smith. The year after, he adopt other new
technical solutions on his machine, such as: lowered frame, gas tank in the
passenger seat, third wheel with a smaller diameter. He won in Belgium, in
Switzerland, at Monza and in Ulster, getting his 4th world title. His
passenger is Nutts (it surely helps).
The
'Frog' drive style: At the end of 1953, he is again the first sidecar
pilot to experiment on his Norton - again lowered and with an integral fairing -
a new driving position that will be called 'as a frog'.
In 1954, he won the 3 first races: the Tourist Trophy (TT at the Isle of Man),
the Ulster Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix. But a crash will set him
aside for the rest of the season. In 1955, after having raced the TT
without success, he officially declare that he retirs from the races.
Nevertheless, he reappear in 1960 at the Isle of Man, but the bad luck which
stick to his come-back pushed him to definitively abandon the races.
(Cartoon graciousely offered by Robert Wiles)