Isle Of Man Tt

I'm very new to the forum, and while I will not make the TT the first week in June, I will get to spend three days on the Isle the last week in August for what used to be the Classic TT. I'm a bit confused as to what they are calling it but I was told it is basically the same as previous. I'm coming from Minden, LA USA.
My wife and I will be with the LemonRock Bike Tour. Kind of a "Bucket List" thing for me, and my wife's birthday. I'm Doug Smith.

 

That'll be the Manx Grand Prix, run over the same Mountain course as the TT but with slightly different entry regs and classes. Still a great meeting!

https://manxgrandprix.org/mgp-entry-regs/

 

This year the Classic TT and the Manx gp are condensed into 4 days.

We originally booked 3 years ago for 11 days but covid made us carry it over to this year. But instead of stopping for 11 days we're now only stopping for 7 days due to the above.

Actually over in the IOM now for the Pre TT Classic races run by the Southern 100 club on the Billown 4.25 mile Road circuit and a few TT practice sessions.

 

Davey Todd in practice last night got his elbow down at the bungalow section, he was flying tonight (not literary of course). Hickman posted a 130 lap, session has been red flagged, hopefully nothing serious, sidecars awaiting to go out.

 

I went over in 68, 69 and 70. My big regret was not seeing SMBH ride, especially as I had often watched him when I marshalled for the BEMSE races at Brands and Snetterton.

 

Thanks for the info, @Pegscraper. Sounds somewhat complicated. But you're right about the cell phone videos changing things. Yes, Arizona's square land area is huge and there is a lot of open space. But I do very little off-roading of any kind be it mountain biking, hiking or "jeeping" which some friends of ours have taken up. I think it's still pretty fast and loose here in the "Wild, Wild, West", though!

 

Love reading everyone's input. Haven't been, maybe in a few years after the kids are out of the house; but thoroughly enjoying watching it for now. Handsome husband has been-there-done-that in '85 and '87, including riding on mad Sunday, so neat for me to hear his input. Pretty awesome they are broadcasting live for the first time in their 115 year history. Though it's hard to keep up with lots of the commentary...dear goodness, are these people speaking English?!?

 

Martine you will not regret a visit to the TT, my first visit was in 1967 and I usually attend 3 times a year for the road races, how things have changed, both in terms of spectating and the now corporate image. I recall Mick Grant in 1977 riding a KR750 Kawasaki, he was clocked at 191mph on the run from the Creg down to Brandish, although he denied reaching that speed, a lot of us knew the reason behind the denial (a fear of restricting machines). The bikes back then had no rider aids like today, whilst speeds and lap times have increased incredibly, when you consider it was 45 years ago on a machine known for fragility it was some feat, he was (and still is) a very talented trials rider. The races also used to be run in wet conditions, again I recall a number of riders coming into the winners enclosure and one saying "if they run the next race, I won't be in it" (and who could blame them), thankfully any iffy conditions and practice/racing will be postponed.
Joey Dunlop used to set off from Ireland in a fishing boat, the fishing trawler, Tornamona, was carrying Joey and Robert Dunlop, Brian Reid and all of their bikes when it began to sink on its way to the Isle of Man. Everyone on board had to abandon ship while the bikes sank to the bottom of the sea near to the harbour (joey could not swim). Incredibly, the bikes were salvaged, stripped down, rebuilt and taken over to the Isle of Man in time for the TT. If I get time I will post some pictures on the forum from back in the day. Ride safe all from an ageing Rocker.

 

A big part of the enjoyment for us was getting up early before the Police, supposedly, and riding round the course, especially at the Manx when crowds were smaller. Back then there were still large parts of the course which were unrestricted and gradually the 30 zones in the towns and villages were extended out to 40 and 50 zones leaving just the mountain section unrestricted. One year at the manx we had a Police Sierra Cosworth tail us from Ballaugh through to Ramsey, then still with unrestricted bits and then over the mountain where we lost him. We were obviously speed obedient where necessary and when we stopped at the Grandstand in Douglas, like we always did after a lap, the Police Cossy pulled up and the officers came over and praised us for our "safe and courteous riding"!! I think our heads swelled to twice their normal size!

 

I remember that well, it was 1986. They stripped the bikes, washed parts in diesel, then in petrol and reassembled them. IIRC Robert Dunlop retired in the Juniour TT after his footrest fell off! The BBC filmed a documentary on the races that year when coverage of the event was virtualy non existent. They followed Ballymena rider Neil Robinson on his first visit to the Island. He was being shown round the course and given tips and advice by Mick Grant and Billy McCosh but sadly he died 3 months later in a crash at Oliver's Mount.

 

Hi Pegscraper, yes happy days back then, there still are a fair few unrestricted sections, the coast road among others that is a great ride, what happens these days is the government put in temporary speed restrictions (50 mph) on many sections, including parts of the mountain and coast road, the restrictions are lifted after the conclusion of the TT races. I was over in July 2021 for the S100 Festival Of Motorcycling, work was already underway on road improvements etc. On the way over I was the only machine on the ferry and 6 machines on the return a week later (Strict Covid entry requirements needed), so I guess that was the reason why. It was interesting watching Dean Harrison last night going out on his Superbike with treaded Dunlop's, no Dunlop slicks due to what took place at the NW200, it was frightening to see the tyres delaminating on Hickys machine at 190 mph and bits hitting John McGuiness when he was at a similar speed, hence the withdrawal of the slick tyres for the TT, it's not slowed them down though, just goes to show how good modern road legal tyres are, I swear by my K3 RRs, they even work well in the wet. I did post some photos from the S100 Festival on the forum.

 

Another option for poor weather if at the Bungalow and on the inside of the circuit. The road that leads away from the Bungalow will take you to Sulby Glen and the crossroads where they set up one of the speed traps. So the Ole’ boys are coming past at a fair old lick.

We used to camp in Sulby Glen and to settle an argument as to which was fastest out of the Thruxton an the Lightning in our group we organised an impromptu drag race from Quarry Bends to the Sulby crossroads which was the only access to that stretch of road which we then “marshalled”.

The Thruxton aced it as I had seen 130 on the clock of that machine down the main runway at Duxford. It was a very rapid machine. And remember this was in the late 60s. .

 

I never saw that documentary, the early days that set them on the road race path was "The Armoy Armada" as they were known consisted of Mervyn Robinson, Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy and Jim Dunlop. The Armoy Armada covered 3 seasons of racing from 1977 to 1979, these guys were legends in Road Racing. It's fantastic to see Yvonne Montgomery and Melissa Kennedy, Veronika Hankocyova who travels from Prague and others who are current female riders on the Irish roads, Veronika also races the Manx, her fiancé "Indie" is racing at the TT, there is a very interesting and funny reason he is nicknamed "Indie", he has a good sense of humour. Yvonne hadn’t rode a bike until she was 47, and took it up following the break-up of her marriage, within 12 months she was racing, blooming awesome.

 

Fantastic Baza another Sixties Rocker I suspect, we certainly experienced the "glory days"

 

130 certainly earned you bragging rights back then. When the legendary Z1 was launched in '72 it touted a 130mph top speed and shortly after, Yvon Du Hamel set a lap record at Daytona of just over 160 on a 100bhp, Yoshimura tuned Z1.

 

The Armada were in friendly rivalry with the "Dromara Destroyers" of Brian Reid, Ray McCullough, Trevor Steele and Ian McGregor. A tribute to the quartet was unveiled in Dromara village a few years back. The craic back then must've been great!

 

Where will you be watching the race from on Saturday Dave, there's a slim chance I might be able to get over for a few days.

 

I'll be watching it at home Andy.

Came over primarily for the Southern 100 classic races and a few evenings TT practice sessions.
Got to be home tomorrow for medical reasons

 

Sorry to hear about the medical issue, nothing to serious I hope. Are you back for the S100 in July.

 

Not going to the S100 in July this year Steve. Booked to go to the Classic/Manx again so hopefully(fingers crossed) I'll be over for that.