5 days at the TT

[sagalout]

Thought I’d do a quick write up of this years pilgrimage to the TT.

I usually take my teenage son, but he’s had GCSE’s this year, so I decided to take my dad. To give you a bit of background, he’s the reason I’m into bikes - one of my earliest memories is me sat on his MZ250 aged about 4! Anyway, mum passed away last year and I thought it would be good to do a trip with him, partly to just spend time with him, as you never know how much you’ve got, but also to encourage him to buy another bike. He ended up buying the same as his last bike, a Virago 535. Wouldn’t be my choice, but it’s light and low, so suits him!

IMG_8033 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

So, we headed off to Heysham at what would only be described as a ‘relaxed’ pace, but the sun was shining so all good The ferry was packed and there was the usual stress of being packed in like sardines and trying to judge it so the bike doesn’t lean into the next one on the sidestand. The crossing was super smooth, unlike two days ago when it had been a biblical storm!

IMG_8036 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

Untitled by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

I love seeing the Island come into view. We lived here for 5 years and it always feels a bit like coming home - it’s a stunning place when the sun is shining on it.

Untitled by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

We’d hired an apartment near the prom in Douglas for 5 days so headed straight there, dumped the luggage and walked straight up to St Ninians for wednesday practice. I think this is a great place to experience the bikes for the first time as the noise and sense of speed is awesome. Dad was impressed

Next day we did some tourist stuff. Rode to Laxey and did the electric railway to Snaefell, then went for an Ice Cream before riding down to Murrays Motorcycle Museum, which is a proper old school museum packed to the rafters with interesting bikes and junk! On the way back I thought we’d take the coastal road via Port Soderick, but the connecting road turned from minor road to gravel to grass and mud for a mile before we finally hit tarmac again. There can’t be too many people that have green laned a Virago! That night we watched Practice from the Creg Ny Ba straight, sat on a hedge.

IMG_8075 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8094 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8116 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8144 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8149 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8163 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8167 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8172 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8174 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8237 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

On the friday the weather was a bit poor in the morning so walked into town to visit the Manx Museum and buy presents. It faired up in the afternoon but Dad was a bit knackered I think so I left him in the Apartment and did a couple of laps of the course. Amazingly the Mountain road stayed open - it had been constantly open and closed for the two weeks as people ran out of talent and crashed. At one point there were literally no beds left at Nobles hospital due to idiots throwing themselves at the scenery. In the evening I’d bought some VIP tickets for the final practise session and interview with the riders, which turned into a good night.

IMG_8292 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8302 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

Racing on saturday was cancelled so we toured the Island, starting at the new Manx Motor Museum at Jurby. I’d recommend this place - some interesting cars and bikes to look at.

IMG_8308 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8314 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr


Then headed off to Peel where we went round the Manannan Museum and had a cracking lunch at the pub next door, before heading off to the Calf of Man. The scenery between Peel and the Calf is just stunning.

IMG_8324 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8325 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8331 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8334 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8358 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8396 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

Sunday was all about the racing. We watched from Ballacrye, which was a decent enough spot and it was a great race. I love the actual race and listening to all the timings on the radio - its very different to normal motorsport and more like watching a cycling Time Trial event where it’s all about waiting for the next time check whilst watching and hearing bikes screaming past at 180mph! After the race we headed down to Onchan to watch the Purple Helmets stunt show before going for a final meal at a good steak house down the road.

IMG_8430 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

IMG_8521 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr

Now, I’d gambled on dad enjoying the trip as I’d already booked for next year when the ferrys were released on the 1st June, but hadn’t told him, so I was quite relieved when I asked him if he’d come again and he said he’d loved it

Overall a brilliant 5 days that I’ll always remember, and Dad is looking for a more powerful bike! Next year I’m taking my son too, so 3 generations of bikers

If you’ve not been to the TT then do it - it’s bloody brilliant I’ve tried to show some of the more touristy things as there are already so many great pictures of the racing, but there’s so much more to do on the island.

 

[wreck diver]

Thanks,I enjoyed that.
The airhead looked rather nice

 

[Edward]

Thanks, i enjoyed that too.

 

[Gerry atric]

Great read and yes really would like to go before it's too late. Your dads choice of bike was the last bike I had before the GS and agree, easy to ride with low seat height. Being nosey why did he not go pillion with you ? Really nice you and your Dad both enjoyed it together, enjoy it while you can. I missed that opportunity before I knew it .

 

[sagalout]

...Being nosey why did he not go pillion with you ? Really nice you and your Dad both enjoyed it together, enjoy it while you can. I missed that opportunity before I knew it .

He always had bikes up until he retired, but even though he was interested in them, and dreamed of one day owning a Goldwing(!) they were always a means of transport, so when he retired he no longer needed one for work and sold it. I wanted to encourage him to get a bike again for leisure as an interest to get him out of the house after mum passed, so I booked the TT for him last year and told him to sort one out for it!

The Virago performed OK to be honest, but he said the handling, especially with his home made top box rack which put the weight 2 feet behind the back wheel(!) isn't great on the country roads. He's looking for something else, but it needs to be light (no more than his Virago which is 180KG) as its a bit tight to fit on his driveway, and have a low seat. He was looking at the Enfields, but he's worried about reliability, and also the Mash bike, which are really light but maybe not powerful enough (and again theres a question over build quality).

It seems that the major manufacturers aren't offering much in this segment, so I've told him to maybe wait and see what BMW bring out next year as they are apparently bringing some smaller capacity bikes out.

Completely agree about missing the opportunity before you know it - that happened a bit with mum so I was determined not to make the same mistake again.

 

[ianboydsnr]

nice report, I liked that!

modern enfields are not to bad for reliability,

if your looking for a new one, give me a shout, I know where there are a couple of unregistered ones for sale at a discount!

 

[Lord Snooty]

Great report, lovely to see you enjoying some quality time with your pops and he looks as if he had a great time. Roll on 2016!

 

[JoeC gs1150se]

Great report,, ty . Congrats you made the right decision ref Dad - do it whilst you can , many don't and regret it for ever more . Love the Isalnd but then being born and bred there I might be a tad biased of course.. As you said it is a very different experience from the "normal" circuit type of event. Did you manage to catch "The Southern Hundred" race in Castletown ? Thats a great event also - much smaller circuit and a lot more "busy" lol..
Am booked for next year too - looking forwards to that . Got on the phone first thing on the day of release, took over an hour but got it in the end . Have to try to get my return changed though - or i'll miss some of the racing . Amazing to think that booking for the 2016 and 2015 had not even started and they were struggling to get me booked even then. What chance for the "late deciders" ?? Well done to yourself and Dad ,brilliant ...

Joe C

 

[sagalout]

Thanks for the kind words Joe. We lived there for 5 years in Onchan and our kids were born there so I have a real love for the place. My dad, being a tight Yorkshireman only ever came to visit in winter when the flights were cheaper so he'd never seen the island with the sun shining on it!

 

[Ash]

Cracking report......
Made better by taking your old dad along with you, perfic....

 

[Rich1960]

I really enjoyed that, a great read and some interesting things for me and the wife to do when we go to the 'Classic' in August. Thank you.

Rich

 

[Micky]

Good write up, quality photographs and most certainly some quality time with your dad

After mum died I dragged my dad across Germany on our MZ 250 Supafives. He was 74 at the time and he never stopped talking about it

He's been dead a few years now, but it was quality time for the both of us

 

[Dean]

Great report and pictures


Here's to next years three generation pilgrimage

 

[adventuredon]

Booked the ferry and paid the deposit. No idea on final costings yet or a return date when I booked. But the www.slumbertruck.com and I have a date on the Island for the 2016 TT and a campsite booked in Ramsey. Cant wait. Oh, and now all I need to do is sell the bunks on the slumbertruck to pay for it all!

 

[Troppo]

Thanks. A great report. I was there as well.

Please don't tell too many people about the school at the top of Bray Hill....a great spot, often not crowded, AND you can ride your bike right up there...

 

[hondated]

Great report and pleased to see you got your dad to go. I was fortunate enough to have three weeks over there this year so I got to see all of the practice and racing. I also saw the village being assembled and dismantled and boy is there some work involved. According to a fella I spoke to they store the timber each year for the next year as it is so expensive.
The other thing I noticed from visiting the pits so often was just how hard Milky Quayle works. If he is not driving a courtesy car, leading the new riders around on a bike, he is running around with deliveries on a trolley to concessionaires. A true ambassador for the TT indeed.
I too went to the new Transport museum and I thought it was worth the money. The Landrover you photographed I found out later belongs to a fella I marshalled with at Rhencullen . A spot well worth viewing from.
I had the advantage of being able to book next years ferry ticket when they first went on sale being on the Island but even then although the ticket office did not open until 8.30 and I was in the queue at 6.15am I still struggled to get what I wanted.

To those who have never been to a TT make sure that you do sometime because even though I have been a few times now I still marvel at just how fast they are going on public roads.