Affectionately known as “Mr. Sidecar,” Doug Bingham passed away on January 27 at the age of 76. He was a 50-year AMA member and Charter Life Member, and he received the 1998 AMA MVP Award for advancing the cause of motorcycling and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2003.Since the 1960s Mr. Bingham raced, designed, manufactured and distributed motorcycle sidecars. He also developed new uses for sidecars, organized events that were enjoyed by enthusiasts and the general public, and served as an ambassador for both the business and pleasure sides of motorcycling.

Mr. Bingham captured the inaugural AMA Sidecar Road Racing Championship in 1968 with co-pilot Ed Wade aboard a Harley-Davidson-powered, Bingham-designed racer. They captured the title again in 1969.

In 1969, Bingham incorporated his sidecar business, Side Strider Inc., in Van Nuys, Calif. He then began production of the Bingham Mark I, which was the first new sidecar design in decades. The sidecar was featured in the December 1969 issue of Popular Science as being innovative, handsomely designed and reasonably priced.

ABC television contacted Mr. Bingham in 1984 about constructing a mobile camera platform to be used for Olympic event coverage. Bingham modified an electric motorcycle and attached a sidecar camera platform.

Television producers and the sports and film industries called on Mr. Bingham to develop and pilot camera sidecars. He was recognized with multiple Emmy Awards for Outstanding Videography and Live Event Coverage.

Additionally, in 2014, he donated more than 600 motorcycle-themed toys, which are currently on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.

To learn more about Mr. Bingham, see his biography at