Isle of Man TT

[Rooter]

Anyone into it? I love it, personally for me its the pinnacle of bike racing, huge names have branded it too dangerous, Barry Sheene probably the biggest!

Anyway, it was my family holiday through my entire childhood as my dad was a sidecar passenger from about 1982-89. I always vowed i would race there, but i gave up my racing career a while back now, plus knowing me well I probably wouldn't have come back!

Anyway, for the un-educated, here is a sidecar complilation! My dad was the idiot hanging off the back!!

Anyone going this year? been before? My Fav place to watch from was Rhen Cullen.


[video=youtube;Bp28Dev-pOc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp28Dev-pOc[/video]

 

[Jimaroid]

Incredible stuff.

I love the TT but life events have conspired against me and I've not been to the island yet. It's on the bucket list though as it's pretty much my favourite motorsport event and I've a huge respect for anyone involved in racing there. Nothing else comes close to beating the simple formula of man, machine and mountain in my opinion.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Not into motorbikes at all but this is the only time I will watch them on tv.

Watched the program on ITV4 last night and its incredible the speeds they get to when there is a dry stone wall only a few feet away.

 

[Rooter]

Really good documentary called Closer to the edge which was on ITV last week, a fascinating insight into the riders lives, thoughts etc etc. Full version on youtube here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds9Of4qw-M

 

[Stegsie]

I love it - never ridden the course though. Not been on a bike for about 5 years and regret selling them on most days (especially like today when the sun is shining!)

Every year I think about buying another bike, usually around this time to be honest, but am a bit past it now. A cracking sport, and one I think I'll always love to watch.

 

[Hobbit]

Love It!

Got a call this morning to fly to the IOM tomorrow to meet a customer... I've had to pass it on. The final bike went two summers back, which was probably wise. Even then, at 54, I still rode it like I'd stole it!

Looked at a Triumph America last summer but the thought of cruising just did nowt for me. Cranking it till the toes scrubbed, HELL YEAH!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I've been to both the TT and the Manx in my biking days, fantastic experiences that should be on every biker's bucket list.

Never forget watching my first race when Joey Dunlop was first guy to come past me. We were past Kate's Cottage on the descent from the mountain, about 150 yards before the sharp right hand bend, about a 30mph corner. He came past us doing about 180mph AND STILL ACCELERATING!!!!!

On the looney scale, those guys are right off the end of it

 

[Alex1975]

Love it, never miss it... Consider it like Monaco, Spa, La Mans, Indy 500 or any other blue ribbon event.

 

[delc]

I've done bits of the TT course on the Manx Trophy Rally, but that was in a car with a full roll cage and seat belts, and at relatively slower speeds. Those bike riders are totally nuts in my opinion!

 

[c1973]

Ach, doing 60 on a Lambretta on a windy day requires more bottle.

 

[Heavy-grebo]

If you love your bikes there's no better place than IOM on TT week, I went there in the 80's with me bike and I don't know how they do it now but back then they made the track one way and took away the speed limits, apart from the 30 limits (but they were very strict on the 30 though) so you could pretty much ride as fast as you wanted. The mountain was mostly flat out on me 600. Brilliant but it saddens me to see so many deaths on the island, hopefully none this year.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

If you love your bikes there's no better place than IOM on TT week, I went there in the 80's with me bike and I don't know how they do it now but back then they made the track one way and took away the speed limits, apart from the 30 limits (but they were very strict on the 30 though) so you could pretty much ride as fast as you wanted. The mountain was mostly flat out on me 600. Brilliant but it saddens me to see so many deaths on the island, hopefully none this year.

Only part of the circuit and only on Mad Sunday.

Trouble was too many spectators thought it was the whole circuit, all week!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Never into bikes but watching them throw themselves around the course is fascinating and a little scary

 

[JustOne]

So I was watching that video and was waiting for the finale where someone crashed and died.... THAT'S how dangerous it is.

I don't watch it but couldn't care less if 100 people died.... 100 less loonies on the road.

 

[Foxholer]

...
I don't watch it but couldn't care less if 100 people died.... 100 less loonies on the road.

They may be lunatics (and sidecar passengers a total lunatics!) on the track, but they are probably completely different on the road! That was certainly my experience after a bit over a season of club track racing!

There is something absolutely magically intoxicating about the aroma of burnt/hot Castrol!

Not been to IoM, but used to follow it back in the days of Agostini and Hailwood!

 

[CliveW]

Unfortunately there was a fatality last night during qualifying.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/tt-road-races/2015/june/franck-petricola-loses-life-in-tt-crash/

How long 'till H&S ban it???

 

[Rooter]

Sad news Clive. lets hope that the last one for this year. All the riders are fully aware of the risks.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I caught the tail end of a film called Road the other night, all about the Dunlop family. Very good viewing for any fans of road racing, great insight into the mentality of racers. They fully understand the risks yet are happy to carry on taking them. 2 days after the death of his father and the day before the funeral, Michael Dunlop took incredible risks in his attempt to win the TT in tribute to his father.

Respect to the guy!

 

[Rooter]

I caught the tail end of a film called Road the other night, all about the Dunlop family. Very good viewing for any fans of road racing, great insight into the mentality of racers. They fully understand the risks yet are happy to carry on taking them. 2 days after the death of his father and the day before the funeral, Michael Dunlop took incredible risks in his attempt to win the TT in tribute to his father.

Respect to the guy!

It was the NW200 and he did win, but yes. those Dunlop boys are bred differently! I met Joey in 1985 aged 6. he was staying in the same hotel as us in Douglas. Shame i was so young, would have loved to have met him when i was older!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It was the NW200 and he did win, but yes. those Dunlop boys are bred differently! I met Joey in 1985 aged 6. he was staying in the same hotel as us in Douglas. Shame i was so young, would have loved to have met him when i was older!

There have been some true legends at the TT's but I think Joey stands out. Ref my post above, he was the first guy I saw in race mode when I went over. Never forget that moment, I thought the guy had a death wish