Celebration of Ian’s 60th Birthday

The family of Ian Bell will celebrate Ian’s 60th birthday on Saturday 17th June on the Start - Finish line of the Southern 100 Course.

Headed by Ian’s wife Trudy, the family will release 60 balloons at 4.00pm from the Castletown By-Pass in memory of the popular Sidecar Driver who tragically lost his life whilst racing in the 2016 TT Races.

Ian Bell holds an unique record at the Southern 100, being the only rider/driver, (so far) to have won the prestigious Southern 100 Solo Championship and the Sidecar Championship.

The popular Bedlington man won the Solo Championship in 1987 and took the first of three Sidecar Championships in 1999, retaining the title in 2000 and regaining the Sidecar Championship in 2009.

Ian & Carl Bell
Southern 100 Sidecar Championship Race 2015
(Glynne Lewis)

Ian Bell’s illustrious Southern 100 racing career began in 1979 where he secured a second place in his first race, the 1300cc Solo event, following that with a third place in the Solo Championship race.

Returning annually he reached the pinnacle of the ‘friendly races’ the Solo Championship in 1987.

A racing incident curtailed his solo racing career - undaunted, Ian returned to racing as a Sidecar Driver and won his first ever Sidecar Race at the Southern, the F2 race in 1998 and took runner-up spot in the Sidecar Championship race.

1999 saw Ian Bell set a unique record when he took the chequered flag in the Sidecar Championship Race with Neil Carpenter in the chair - a feat they repeated in 2000.

Ten years later, 2009, with son Carl as ballast the pair once again lifted the Southern 100 Sidecar Championship Trophy.

2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 saw the father and son crew take second, third, second and third in the championship races.

2014 saw the ever popular team win the opening Sidecar race, but gained a rare and unwanted DNF in the feature race.

2015, in what unknown to all would be Ian’s last Southern 100 appearance, with Carl in the sidecar he took a fine third place in the Southern 100 Sidecar Championship race.

An invitation is extended to all race fans and enthusiasts to be present at the Start - Finish Area on the Southern 100 Course at 4.00pm to celebrate the 60th birthday of one of the most popular sidecar competitors who entertained the Southern 100 crowds for 36 years.