HUSBAND and wife team Spike and Judi Priestley have completed a fantastic hat-trick of title successes in the British Mini-Moto Sidecar Championships.

Following on from their victories in 1997 and 1998, the Whitefield couple took the crown again, overcoming huge mechanical problems to race away with the title.

A cracked chassis and broken crank cases couldn't stop their march towards that fabulous treble and after a series of running repairs they amassed enough points from four wins to take the championship honours again.

It has been an eventful season for 33-year-old HGV driver Spike and his mobile hairdresser wife Judi in their 80cc Honda MBX-Delorto combination.

It all began marvellously in March at Kinsham in Wales with four wins from four starts. Then, at Red Lodge in Suffolk in April, disaster struck.

A fouled spark plug saw the Priestley's watching the first race and in the second race they had to start at the back of the grid due to mechanical problems.

In race three they discovered a snapped engine bolt and, to complete the catalogue of disasters, in race four - still with a snapped engine bolt, the carburretor fell off and Spike had to steer and brake with one hand, whilst holding the carb on with the other. And so to round three at Chasewater in May, hoping for better luck.

Two wins were followed by a shunt in race three, seeing them finish fourth, but they stormed back to win race four.

At Rowrah in Cumbria in June the pair got off to a good start in the first race and were leading when the front brakes locked on causing the brake fluid to boil.

They limped home in third and in race two had the opposite problem when the brakes faded and they had to finish the race without any.

By race four though everything was sorted and they were back with a win.

The next round at Langbarough was fast and furious and it was no disgrace to finish third in such close company.

At Warden Law in August they discovered the ignition was failing and the crank cases had cracked.

Spike managed to replace the crank cases, but could only get an ignition for an MTX 80, whereas their engine is an MBX 80. This meant they were down 1500 revs and to rely on their skills to compensate. No problem. The Priestleys finished with four wins.

And so on to Strubby in September and what turned out to be their day of destiny.

It was a lovely sunny day until the cloud of doom arrived in the shape of a cracked chassis and broken crank cases.

They had to hope the crank would stay together, but Paul Qualters and Aidy came to our rescue, bringing their welding skills and equipment with them.

They returned three times over the weekend, but everything held together and the Priestleys won all four races.

That clinched the championship - and the hat-trick. The next round is in Edinburgh next month. The Priestleys will be racing, but no-one can gain enough points to beat them.

The Priestleys are loathe to take all the credit for their successes and they pass on their thanks and gratitude to a number of people who have helped them throughout the season.

Frank Wrathall at FW Developments, all at On Ya Bike, John at Summer House Garage and Mr Buff, Roger Harvey of Honda UK - and the biggest thank you of all to Team Whoosh, Dave, Bob and Martin, who have been there in good times and bad and are part of a real champion team effort.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.