Eldon "Sy" C. Sidebotham
June 3, 1936 — April 6, 2009
Eldon "Sy" C. Sidebotham
Eldon “Sy†C. Sidebotham, 72, died on Monday, April 6, 2009, in Bedford.
Mr. Sidebotham was born on June 3, 1936, in Newton, MA, the son of the late Gordon and Eleanor “Ma†(Work) Sidebotham. He was a resident of Bedford since 1972. Prior to this, he resided in Nashua, NH. As a teenager Mr. Sidebotham resided in Reading, MA.
Members of his family include; his wife of 6 years, Dorothy M. (Woods) Sidebotham, of Jacksonville, FL; 2 daughters, Laurel Carey, of Wakefield, MA; Linda Groom, of Agawam, MA; 2 sons, Darius Sidebotham, of Boston; Tallis Sidebotham, of Manchester; and 4 grandchildren. He also had an extended family of 3 step-children, Wendy, Marc, and Todd Steves; and 5 step-grandchildren.
IN HIS LIFE:
Sy was involved in drag racing for 60 years. His passion for hot-rods and racing began in the 1950s. In 1955 he built a crude B-modified drag roadster and in 1958 an Olds-powered roadster with partners Dave Crehan and Harvey Richardson. In 1959, he drove a gas-powered dragster at a record-breaking 161 mph, setting a record for his team on the East Coast at that time. In 1957 Sy founded the Orientals Hot Rod Club out of Reading, MA and in 1966 he and his mother "Ma", along with the Brock family, built New England Dragway in Epping, NH. He continued on with New England Dragway as the majority shareholder and operator until the late 70's when his majority share was bought out by the track corporation. He still maintained a minority share in the track up until today. In 1977 Sy started Seal Tech Associates of Manchester, NH, a mechanical engineering and contracting company. In 2000, Sy purchased the original frame of the 1973 King & Marshall front-engine top-fuel dragster. He completely restored the dragster and began touring throughout the country, often participating in old model dragster exhibits and racing events. Sy most recently sold Seal Tech Associates to Eastern Bearing and was planning to retire in Florida.
SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Saturday, April 11, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover Street, corner of Union Street, in Manchester. A funeral service will follow at 6:00 PM, in the funeral home chapel. The Reverend Douglas Ricard, minister of First Presbyterian Church, will officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, 2 Commerce Drive, #110, Bedford, NH 03110 or to Breathe NH, 9 Cedarwood Drive, Unit #12, Bedford, NH 03110, in memory of Mr. Sidebotham.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium.
Mr. Sidebotham was born on June 3, 1936, in Newton, MA, the son of the late Gordon and Eleanor “Ma†(Work) Sidebotham. He was a resident of Bedford since 1972. Prior to this, he resided in Nashua, NH. As a teenager Mr. Sidebotham resided in Reading, MA.
Members of his family include; his wife of 6 years, Dorothy M. (Woods) Sidebotham, of Jacksonville, FL; 2 daughters, Laurel Carey, of Wakefield, MA; Linda Groom, of Agawam, MA; 2 sons, Darius Sidebotham, of Boston; Tallis Sidebotham, of Manchester; and 4 grandchildren. He also had an extended family of 3 step-children, Wendy, Marc, and Todd Steves; and 5 step-grandchildren.
IN HIS LIFE:
Sy was involved in drag racing for 60 years. His passion for hot-rods and racing began in the 1950s. In 1955 he built a crude B-modified drag roadster and in 1958 an Olds-powered roadster with partners Dave Crehan and Harvey Richardson. In 1959, he drove a gas-powered dragster at a record-breaking 161 mph, setting a record for his team on the East Coast at that time. In 1957 Sy founded the Orientals Hot Rod Club out of Reading, MA and in 1966 he and his mother "Ma", along with the Brock family, built New England Dragway in Epping, NH. He continued on with New England Dragway as the majority shareholder and operator until the late 70's when his majority share was bought out by the track corporation. He still maintained a minority share in the track up until today. In 1977 Sy started Seal Tech Associates of Manchester, NH, a mechanical engineering and contracting company. In 2000, Sy purchased the original frame of the 1973 King & Marshall front-engine top-fuel dragster. He completely restored the dragster and began touring throughout the country, often participating in old model dragster exhibits and racing events. Sy most recently sold Seal Tech Associates to Eastern Bearing and was planning to retire in Florida.
SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Saturday, April 11, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover Street, corner of Union Street, in Manchester. A funeral service will follow at 6:00 PM, in the funeral home chapel. The Reverend Douglas Ricard, minister of First Presbyterian Church, will officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, 2 Commerce Drive, #110, Bedford, NH 03110 or to Breathe NH, 9 Cedarwood Drive, Unit #12, Bedford, NH 03110, in memory of Mr. Sidebotham.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium.
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