THE supercharged Priestleys have done it again. Whitefield couple Spike and Judi Priestley have won the British Minimoto Sidecar Championship for a fourth successive year.

That's quite a feat for the 34-year-old HGV driver and his wife, a 34-year-old mobile hairdresser.

Their sensational season started on the weekend of March 25-26 at Rowrah in Cumbria.

It was a good start to the season and all the preparation that had gone on throughout the winter paid off with three first place finishes and one second, giving them the win on the day.

They were followed home by fellow Northener, Dave Bentham, formerly from Whitefield who now lives in Cambridge, and his passenger Bob Parry. Hot on their tails was the Tommy Hemmings and Jim Winters outfit. ROUND TWO was at Chasewater in Staffordshire on April 22-23. There was an excellent turn out of 11 sidecars on the grid, which, for a sport in its infancy, was most heartwarming.

The first corner after the flag dropped was going to be busy and Spike and Judi were glad to emerge at the front of the pack.

The Priestleys have always liked Chasewater and it was another good meeting for them as they took all four wins. Chasing them were Radcliffe pair, Paul and Tracey Qualters, who finished second on the day.

ROUND THREE at Kinsham in Powys, Wales. They achieved pole position and another maximum points round had them thinking about the possibility of retaining their championship title for the fourth year running.

The Priestleys had scored a total of 356 points and their nearest rivals, Dave Benham and Martin Tuffnell were on 254.

Once again Paul and Tracey Qualters chased them home and they were keeping an eye on Dave Benham as he was only 48 points ahead of them in the championship. ROUND FOUR was at Swaffham, Norfolk and a new challenge appeared on the scene in the form of Mick Williams and Mark Ackroyd's newly-purchased outfit. At the start of round four they were lying sixth in the championship, but with their new-found speed they chased and battled with the Priestley's all day, sharing two wins and two seconds each, and it was the Priestley's fastest lap trimp card that gave them the overall win.

At the end of round four Mick and Mark were now lying in fourth position overall. Paul and Tracey were pushed into fifth place, with Dave Benham maintaining his second position overall.

ROUND FIVE was at Raceland, Edinburgh. A long journey, but well worth it for it is a superb circuit with the warmest of welcomes.

Mick and Mark's new-found speed helped the Priestleys championship hopes as they were now taking points from our nearest rivals. The Priestleys finished first overall and were now leading the championship by 118 points.

ROUND SIX was at Strubby in Lincolnshire on August 19-20. When the flag drops at Strubby it's a drag race to the chicane where, at most, there is only room for two sidecars at any one time.

In every race each of the 11 teams were determined to get there first.

In the first race of four the Priestleys were out in the lead when a wire dislodged itself from the ignition coil and the engine cut out.

Frantically trying to fix the problem while still rolling, the Priestleys inadvertently strayed into the path of the fast approaching Richard Guest and Gavin Richardson. The ensuing collision saw the Priestleys retiring from race one with no points.

A bad start to race two left the Priestleys in mid-pack at the chicane and with no option but to join on the back of the pack.

It was a hard battle, but they managed to recover and finished first. Coupled with another two wins, they finished first on the day by just two points from Mick and Mark.

ROUND SEVEN at Chasewater, Staffordshire on September 16-17 was the round were the championship was clinched.

With the threat of the meeting being called off due to the petrol shortage it was a tense time as the Priestleys could clinch the title with a round in hand. By some small miracle, the paddock turned out to have more fuel than we knew what to do with.

With two wins in the first two races, the Priestleys only needed a finish to win the championship. They did it in style by taking the win and the British Minimoto Sidecar Championship for the fourth time.

They ended up watching the final race from the sidelines for as they were going out on their warm-up lap as four times British Sidecar champions, the rear wheel spindle broke. Ironic really!

ROUND EIGHT was at Kinsham in Powys on October 21-22. What a way to start a meeting. Watching all those who haven't secured their championships stressing out, whilst the Priestleys walked round without a care in the world.

It was an excellent meeting with good battles with Mick and Mark and Tony Hemmings and Jim Winters.

The big surprise of the meeting was Dave Benham and Martin Tuffnell taking their first ever race win and the final race win of the 2000 season.