Veteran shares his love of sidecars

The Brisbane local served as an infantry soldier in the Army for 42 years and during the 1990s competed in the Army’s official motorcycle racing team. John raced Grand Prix motorcycles until a crash in 1996 necessitated his move to racing sidecars.

John’s service, combined with his racing efforts on two and three wheels, have brought him a great deal of personal satisfaction and purpose. Because of this, he believes the sport is perfect for veterans.

John Swensen has rediscovered has passion for sidecar racing

“It’s something to focus on, and it allows you to engage and socialise with different people and even learn some new skills,” John says.

John is hoping to form a team of local veterans to restore and race his old sidecar, believing it could be a great engagement tool and serve as an introduction to the sport.

Where it all began

John was first introduced to sidecar racing in 1997 while recovering from injuries incurred when he crashed competing in the Australian 125cc Grand Prix Championship.  

After racing as a passenger in a civilian team for a short period, John rejoined the Army’s team with his own sidecar. One of John’s fellow soldiers, David Hille, volunteered to be the passenger. From there, it wasn’t long before the pair were competing at a state and national level.

Despite enjoying the sport, John says his first sidecar had the ominous nickname of the ‘Devil’s Shopping Trolley’ due to the way it handled. Much like an old supermarket shopping trolley, it had wobbly wheels that steered you in a direction you were not intending to go.

Sidecar racing has been a passion of John's since the 1990s

“It was hard to steer and control and people would often call it ‘twitchy’ when they watched us race,” John recalled.

“It had a bad reputation and was sadly involved in an accident that killed its designer and builder, Alex Campbell, back in 1980. Other people in the sport back then told me they believed it was cursed or haunted.”

Undeterred by the sidecar’s history, John and his passenger Dave raced it for several years. The duo was lucky to escape serious injury, even when the sidecar flipped upside down at high speed in a wet race in South Australia.

In the early 2000s, the pair decided it was best to take the Devil’s Shopping Trolley off the track and it was sold for display to a hotel owner in Darwin. When the establishment closed in 2004, the sidecar essentially vanished. Neither John nor Dave realised how bad the Devil’s Shopping Trolley handled until they drove a different sidecar. 

“The first sidecar I raced after this one was like riding a comfy leather lounge chair in comparison,” John says with a chuckle.

Ready to ride again

In between deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan, John decided to hang up his helmet and retire from racing. However, in recent years he felt the urge to get back into the sport and saved up for a new sidecar.

“I was never a frontrunner on the sidecar, but Dave and I loved the challenge, and I felt I gave up sidecar racing before I was ready,” John says.

“I am almost 60 years old now, but life is too short not to do everything you want to do.”

John says he was surprised when the hotel owner in Darwin messaged him about the Devil’s Shopping Trolley, asking him if he wanted the vehicle back. He happily agreed to the reunion.   

After 23 years, John was amazed to see it was still painted in its original team Army livery and even had both his and Dave’s names still on it. After sitting in the tropical north for over 20 years, however, John is looking forward to refurbishing the vehicle. 

“I am grateful for the assistance of 1st Brigade Headquarters, who organised the transport from Darwin to Queensland,” he says.

“My hope now is to get some South East Queensland veterans connected to the hobby and restore the Devil’s Shopping Trolley. It would also be great for myself and Dave to return to the track for one last ride together.”

For those interested in joining John’s sidecar team, please contact John at: john.swensen@defence.gov.au or call 0434103078.