AFTER finishing on the championship rostrum for the second successive year, classic sidecar racing brothers Keith and Dave Latheron are aiming for number one spot this year.

Both are at an age when for many men the most the competitive spirit might stretch to is a game of dominoes down at the local but the Leigh lads prefer the thrills of power sliding their immaculate three-wheeler around the nation's top race tracks.

Now in their 14th consecutive season racing their Imp-powered outfit, the brothers who together formed D & K Motors, specialising in bike repairs, have a few tricks up their sleeve which they hope might lift them from third to first in the Classic Racing Motorycle Club championship.

Keith explained: "We missed second place by a couple of points and could have been runners-up if we hadn't missed a couple of meetings during the season. We are looking at going one better this year -- maybe two places better."

Since teaming up for sidecar racing Keith and Dave have used the same machine, a Rob North framed outfit powered by an Hillman Imp car engine, itself derived from a Coventry Climax motor originally developed as a portable water pump. The much modified motor is coupled to a four-speed Norton gearbox, "because it chews-up flimsier five speed cogs" and dates from the mid 1960s -- one of the first Imp powered sidecar racing outfits.

Resplendent in its orange, green and white livery -- matched by the duo's race leathers and helmets -- the Imp has won CRMC Machine of the Meeting recognition for its high standard of preparation. That's a testimony to the brothers' enthusiasm and the skills of Leigh paint specialists Craig and Alex of Profuse in Westleigh.

It is a real local effort. Other firms have helped keep up the championship challenge which takes the Latherons thousands of miles each season travelling to UK circuits in a van supplied by Keith's employers ESB Motor Cycles.

In 39 races last year they used 240 litres of race fuel and went through four sets of Yokohama race tyres supplied by Leigh firm SMD Tyres. And the super reliable Imp runs on a diet of Valvoline from Dal at DK Motor Spares in Leigh.

Now they have another ace up their sleeve which they hope to drop on the opposition early season.

Their Weslake powered twin, with an engine built by specialist tuner Gary Bryans who prepared British championship winning machinery, is almost ready.

"I'm hoping we'll have it out early in the season," said Keith.

"It should pull better out of corners than the present outfit does and, being lighter, it should be easier to handle."

The race season kicks off at Easter and looks like being their best one yet.