NW200

The smudger

The smudger

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Well, it would appear I might be able to go to the NW200 this year. I have accomodation sorted, any other advice/tips etc?

For example, best place to view, sit etc. There are 2 of us going on bikes. Also, do we need tickets just to view? Looking like we'll be arriving on 14th May, returning 17th.

Thanks in advance,
 
You only need tickets for the grandstands and the paddock.
Loads of good places to watch for free. I like the golfcourse (between the start and York).
I've also watched from the Cromore Halt. Which is fine as you can nip in and get a pint between races.
Metropole corner is good but very busy.


Get there in good time and ride the course.
Take a radio - there's live coverage and you can get updates on any delays.
Watch the Helicopter to see where the bikes are.
Take warm clothes. It might be nice weather, but if not - it can feckin awful.
If you do get tickets for the grandstands the wind can be bitter off the sea.
Have you got your ferry tickets?

Drop ibiker a PM. He lives near the circuit - and there's not much he doesn't know about the NW.
He should be able to give you the best info.
 
I love the NW, it got me hooked on Road Racing, and have enjoyed it for several years now. I would say anything from around the Metropole to the start/finish offers good viewing. Lots of people change their view point after each race by walking onto the circuit to their new spot. The viewing is completely free, so spending a little on a Grandstand seat might not be a great hardship if you're happy to sit their all day.
As others have said, take a small radio to tune into the excellent commentary as they handover to the various commentators around the circuit, it can be a long day too so crisps and a Mars in the rucksack along with some warm and waterproof clothing.
The ride to the NW is all part of it too, take the coast road up to Portrush from the ferry if you get the chance, and stop at Ballycastle for one of the famous ice creams.
See you there !
 
BTW, Look out for the Ulster Grand Prix in August, another great day out. Stena Line usually do a cheap ferry day ticket for motorcycle and rider, and as the racing is a stone throw from Belfast then can usually be taken in in a day. I've done this last couple of years with 4am start, home by 11pm, as I'm 120 miles from Ferry. Catch up on the sleep with a snooze on the boat.
 
Also mandatory is a visit to the Dunlop memorial in Ballymoney and, of course, a pint of Guiness in Joey's bar just round the corner.
 
ricalnic said:
BTW, Look out for the Ulster Grand Prix in August, another great day out. Stena Line usually do a cheap ferry day ticket for motorcycle and rider, and as the racing is a stone throw from Belfast then can usually be taken in in a day. I've done this last couple of years with 4am start, home by 11pm, as I'm 120 miles from Ferry. Catch up on the sleep with a snooze on the boat.
Click to expand...

I was there last year - just down from the Deer's Leap. Had a grandstand view of the smash.
 
i enjoy the nw200 more than the tt..go every year, ferries are cheap so is accommodation, always stay in cushendall so a great ride to the circuit everyday
 
The war :wifeoffice has finally given in and said I can go for a few days ,
So has anyone any ideas on camping should I go for blairs the official one or go a little further a field and ride into portrush everyday.
Should I book or wing it and have a ride around on the day I arrive and have alook at a few options ?
Any info or tips welcome cheers gav
 
Rocketman said:
The war :wifeoffice has finally given in and said I can go for a few days ,
So has anyone any ideas on camping should I go for blairs the official one or go a little further a field and ride into portrush everyday.
Should I book or wing it and have a ride around on the day I arrive and have alook at a few options ?
Any info or tips welcome cheers gav
Click to expand...
myself and a few friends are going over on the Thursday. staying in ballamoney (b&b) till the sunday. you can get b&b's online if you wanted to stay around there?
 
47steve said:
myself and a few friends are going over on the Thursday. staying in ballamoney (b&b) till the sunday. you can get b&b's online if you wanted to stay around there?
Click to expand...

B&b s would be great but swmbo has given me a strict budget as she's got lots of other trips planned For this year ,
so I'm gonna have to take my chances with the weather and clenching butt cheeks for 200yds to loos every morning At 6am :camping
 
Rocketman said:
The war :wifeoffice has finally given in and said I can go for a few days ,
So has anyone any ideas on camping should I go for blairs the official one or go a little further a field and ride into portrush everyday.
Should I book or wing it and have a ride around on the day I arrive and have alook at a few options ?
Any info or tips welcome cheers gav
Click to expand...

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Ballyleese-Town-and-Country-Caravan-Park-Portstewart-P12297

be a lot quiter than the offical site, circuit at the end of the road. Few min dander to station carner, as Guy Martin calls it, " A mans corner"
 
I'm booked! We're flying over. £60 return, £50 for 4 days car hire, its a no brainer for me. We are fortunate enough to have a good friend with a caravan at Portrush, and he's not staying there during that week.

We are just enquiring into hiring a couple of bikes on the Friday 15th as its a non race day. Harley Davidson for £100 a day, its the way to go for me, I know the weather can be a bit hit and miss so we can take or leave the bike hire depending on the weather.

Maybe see a few of you there?
 
AberdeenAngus said:
.........Loads of good places to watch for free............
Click to expand...

ricalnic said:
.....................The viewing is completely free............................
Click to expand...

Yes you can watch the racing for free but do please buy an official programme as all the money raised from them goes to funding the event. It's only £15 or so which is pretty good value for a full days racing. :thumb2
 
Aidan1150 said:
Yes you can watch the racing for free but do please buy an official programme as all the money raised from them goes to funding the event. It's only £15 or so which is pretty good value for a full days racing. :thumb2
Click to expand...

Good point Aidan.
 
The other thing to consider would be, on the Thursday, there is practise in the morning and racing in the evening.

For the practise and racing session, if you stay to the outside of the track/road closures, you can move about the track a fair bit. You can go from York Corner right round to the University and then from there you can get right into Portrush and the run down to Metropole, which puts you from one end of the coast road to the other.

You may want to try this on the Thursday and take the time to then pick your spot for the Saturday. If the weather is good it will be difficult to do move about on the Saturday and get consistently good spots.

A big screen helps, but for me, the best spots are always the heavy breaking areas, so into York, into the Roundabout at Cromore, into University Corner, round the Magic Roundabout, into Metropole and then possible into the Juniper chicane from there. There are others, and everyone will have a preference.

Plently to do and see over the course of the week, a trip to Ballymoney is worth it just to see Joeys Bar, Bushmills is worth a run out although the distillery tours book up quick oh and the coast road from Belfast up to Bushmills is a real impressive way to head that direction.

Enjoy...
 
Getting close now ,looks like guy Martin is loving the bm 2 wins at cookstown and at
Scarborough and that's just on the stocker , Dunlop looks good on the new r1 to .
God I'm a roads convert :thumb2
 
Anyone making the trip, mind your speed, especially on the roadworks on the A26 (40mph). Noticed more unmarked cars about last few days on that road.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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