The world of motorsports is inherently dangerous. Even with great advancements in safety equipment every year, the combination of high speed and stationary objects still seems to find a way to take the lives of professional racers on an almost annual basis. Recognizing that base level of universal danger, some take it to one step further by opting out of the four wheel, steel caged racecar and hopping onto a motorcycle.

Jay Leno really seems to be enjoying his late-night retirement, engaging in riskier behavior as of late. Remember the Hemi Under Glass Barracuda that unexpectedly turned into a tumbler with Jay inside last month?

In this clip from Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay takes us out to the 2.5-mile road course “Big Willow” at Willow Springs International Raceway. He brought along his shop foreman and championship winning sidecar racer Bernard Juchli, and sidecar “monkey” Kevin Kautzky, to teach him how to drive a sidecar for the first time, using Kautzky as his monkey. Cheesy Hollywood style editing aside, Jay does a great job of presenting his viewers with the dangers and skill involved in sidecar racing.

Bernard Juchli (left) and Kevin Kautzky (right).

The crazy sport of sidecar racing has been a part of organized motorcycle racing since at least the late 1940’s and covers many styles of riding, including motocross, enduro, grasstrack, time trial, and road racing. It’s a high speed sport that requires a driver and sidecar “monkey”, who is responsible for keeping all three tires planted on the track at all times. The monkey achieves this by disregarding all of their natural instincts and leaning across or hanging off either side of the bike (at over 100 mph at times) in an effort to increase cornering speed.

Jay Leno piloting a sidecar with Kevin Kautzky as his monkey.

Sidecar racing requires perfect harmony between the driver and monkey. Without that harmony, it’s almost impossible to race one of these, and the chances of wrecking or throwing your monkey off of the bike increases dramatically. We’re glad to see that this adventure left Jay in one piece (minus some trimmed toenails) and didn’t have a similar outcome to the Hemi Under Glass video.