A GS'ers view of the TT

[Timolgra]

Excitement mounts as we reach Douglas on saturday afternoon, the days racing has been postponed so we're missing none of it

More cockups by the Steam Packet but no one cares we're there

...despite one of their monkeys trying to tie my bike down by the rear brake pipe, I think I said something like "here my good chap, do you think that's a good place to tie the rope" or words to that effect check it yourself

The weather was dismal on Mad sunday so had a jaunt round some of my favourite places.

The Island offers great trail riding for a GS but today the mist added to the ride

It was only down at sea level where there was any visibilty

 

[Timolgra]

Some wacky garden ornaments

Coffee break at Port Erin

And down to the Calf of Man in the rain where everyone tries to spot..

..a seal

 

[Timolgra]

Castletown to see the classic bikes

Salami bike

Shiney bike

And many, many more

 

[Aidan1150]

A good thread this Tim. Keep them coming.

 

[LivNorway]

I can see you finally found a suitable place to put my elk sausage: Salami bike!

Good pictures!

Liv.

 

[Timolgra]

Then on Monday the start of what we had all come to see

I meet up with Bakerman for breakfast and we head off down some trails finding ourselves in the hedge just down from Barregarrow.
Shortly after, McGuiness and co. fly past our noses at 3 times the speed limit on the back wheel and as the wind from their passing hits us we both shout our first expletive of the day

My photos of the racing aren't good as I wanted to see..and feel the bikes passing by

Bakerman, the true original tosser and great company as always gets in the shade at Barregarrow

Later that evening we meet several other GS'ers at the pub in Ballaugh, we also meet this man who calls himself and the bike .....'The Cobra'

 

[Timolgra]

Another great days racing on Tuesday in brilliant sunshine, Bakes sadly had to get the ferry home and I made my way to watch on the mountain from the bungalow.

After the racing there was a parade of classic racing bikes but again I wanted to see the bikes rather than point my camera at them....honest

In the evening I go exploring some lanes again

And the things I do in the name of research for you lot.
Here I'm disproving the BMW approved way of picking a bike up put you're back to the bike and use your legs
...oh but they are right about engaging a gear before turning round on a slope though

Later that evening in Peel, I meet the Salami bike again.

 

[Timolgra]

For wednesdays racing I return to Ballegarrow, a great spot and the atmosphere boosted by enthusiastic marshalls
The smaller bikes may be almost as fast around the Island but by comparison, not as spectacular to watch.

What's a GS'er to do in the late afternoon sunshine? Yes of course

Lovely riding in the dry conditions

Snaefell in the background as I take the track to Kirk Michael

I had intended to take my DR650 but but remebered the tax and MoT had run out just as I finished loading it up But the GS was fun of course

 

[Decster]

GPS for the enormous IOM.........




nice pics

 

[Timolgra]

Thursday's no racing and I meet up with fellow BMW riders at Onchan.

Wideload tells me of a track nearby which in one or two places is quite easy so head off.....possibly not a good idea alone with a GS as the track narrowed and my rh pannier caught a tree root and ripped it off
I bodge it back then catch in these ruts. You can see it in the background

It was hot work so make my way to Creg-ny-Baa to cool off.

 

[Timolgra]

A visit to Jurby Junk is a must here you can buy everything you would never want.

but there was a pretty bike parked outside

My Stebel Nautilus horn was no match for this
If you keep heading SW from here along Raad ny Foillan and the edge of the beach it becomes a great track with some good sandy bits to play in.
The Coast guard seemed to be cool about me riding there also.

One evening the mountain road, which was one way, was closed from Ramsey due to an oil spill. I took a back road (thanks to the GPS Decster ) which brought me out at the Gooseneck, I then had the whole of the mountain to myself, but I'm not skilled enough to do it justice.

I sat at Brandywell for over an hour in the evening sunshine waiting for the hundres of bike that would come streaming over the mountain as the road opened.
They were lead by a police car travelling at speed

Here a GS holds it's own

Then takes him on the outside

But don't delude yourself that a GS can see off a sports bike with an equal rider here

Here an airhead is blurred ....don't get excited though, it's camera shake

I wondered if this was Paul Young, whoever it was he wasn't hanging about

Is that you?

Or you?

 

[Timolgra]

The Manx cat may have no tail, but this dog did
A 34 FF if your interested

Long before the GS Adventure was the Triumph

Great racing on the beach at Peel in front of a big crowd.

Racing finshed as the sun set behind Peel Castle

 

[judge]

Great ride report as ever Tim, a small consolation to not getting somewhere myself is when I read reports like this

Just one question (and its for Steptoe actually)...

Is that the one that belongs to Steptoe's mate who we see at the Pioneer run?

 

[Timolgra]

For fridays Senior TT I watched from the bottom of Bray Hill, but my pictures are so bad even I won't post them.
The excitment of McGuiness's lap record at over 130mph was worth the trip alone.


Whilst we were enjoying the best TT racing has to offer we were unaware of a tragic accident on the mountain claiming 3 lives and injuring 2 others.




Then the fantastic parade of champions led off by Foggarty, followed by the likes of Surtees, Read, Agostini on the fantastic sounding MV.
The sounds and names rekindled memories from childhood to present day

I only knew I was going to the TT 2 days before leaving and the timing of the ferry couldn't have been more perfect, a quick walk back to the harbour and we were soon on the boat with far less enthusiasm than a week earlier

I got off the ferry in Liverpool and was back home near Corwen 50 mins later after thrashing the nuts off my GS.
Spot on

 

[forry]

Great report Tim looks like you had a ball

 

[rocks]

Great report..

Indeed great report Tim....

 

[Mzokk]

Fantastic, must get back over there again some time.

 

[Bigdave]

WOW. What a great trip. It just proves you don't have to go half way round the world for a fantastic adventure.

Definately going next year - anybody coming?

I have a friend who racers a F2 sidecar outfit every year so will add even more interest.

Thanks for a fab write up Tim

 

[Dee Tee]

Nice write-up,Tim.I was not far from where you took the Peel Beach X Pix ! I had intended to do a similar log,i took my camera,charged 2 sets of batteries and . . . . . . never took it out of my Luggage case ! I just cannot get into Digital ( Luddite , i know ).Still,i enjoyed my 10 days,including the Raven (GSER) and Liverpool Arms (BMWOC) meets. Racing was Awesome (Hats off to EVERYONE who crosses the Start Line),Island roads Brilliant,Weather Glorious-apart from Mad Sun.Shame i contracted Manx Lurgy while waiting for the ferry on Sunday! I hope to go back for the Manx,i had thought about Achill,but the "Roads Ride" from the earlier Eire Weekend have put me (and my 17" wheels) off .