Author Topic: A Short History of The Isle Of Man TT (Read 6541 times)

High On Octane · **on:** December 29, 2013, 01:46:34 pm

Came across this story this morning. It's not terribly long and gives a nice perspective of the races history.

http://jalopnik.com/5931270/why-the-worlds-deadliest-race-could-never-happen-again

Scottie

barenekd · **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2013, 12:35:45 am

Really gets some a'holes into a lather doesn't it? The IOM is one of the greatest races ever and fortunately has been going on forever. Jackasses like that, even though he tried to redeem himself at the end, we don't need him publicizing it! It gets even weirder people who knew nothing about it getting into a liberal fizz!
You can't have too much fun without the jackasses coming out of the walls!
I still like to watch "Death Race 2000"
Bare

cyrusb · **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2013, 12:46:17 am

I hear you on that Bare. I have always said if motorcycles were just invented, they would never be allowed on the road.

boggy · **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2013, 03:57:06 pm

I love when the MotoGP and Superbike guys show up for the week of the races and they all say the same thing: They'd never race the Isle. Way too dangerous. These guys get paid bajillions of dollars and fly around the world like superstars and they wouldn't even attempt to race the island. Most of these IOM racers look like they trailored their bikes to the track themselves. They aren't there for a million dollar pay day or the fame. Just the glory. They seem like regular ~~guys~~ blokes who just love motorcycle racing. And when they are done, they go to the pub.

cyrusb · **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2013, 08:21:14 pm

You have to live there to even be competitive, what is it, 39 miles? How can you memorize that very dangerous track? So it's limited to the guy's(no pun intended) who frequent that road. An analogy would be Sabine Schmitz at the Nuhrburgh ring. As an aside, those Blokes do race in track series, John McGuiness being one of them, and don't even place in the top ten.

Desi Bike · **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2014, 04:29:08 am

My ex's parents lived in Ramsey for many years. They would plan to visit us in Canada over the month surrounding the TT. Many locals would also leave the island as it was just to dangerous to drive anywhere during the lead up to the races. There would be would be racerboys dropping a knee on every corner to fluff up their ego. Lots of accidents and road deaths occur during the lead up that are not included in the 'statistics' because they are not in the race, Mad Sunday or any sanctioned practices.
Problems arise when riders from other countries come out of a corner and instinctly had over to the side of the road that they are accustomed to, only to find a truck or car in that lane coming at them.

gashousegorilla · **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2014, 01:28:16 am

The TT is the grandaddy for sure, but there are many other real ROAD racing events... The Skerries, The Ulster GP, The Northwest 200, Tandragee100, Kilalane, etc.... etc... They are alive and well over there. About the dangers roadracing, I think Guy Martin Said something like.. " Go mow your lawns and let us have at it".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzWf-6UzQUA&list=PLOJpnyYvE2pTOJtWpr7P3FBJhR9gLSpmf

http://www.realroadracing.com/

mplayle · **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2014, 03:42:23 am

ghg,

Those TT videos you linked are ADDICTIVE! I just spent an hour letting them go from one to the next.

cyrusb · **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2014, 02:12:56 pm

+1 on the addiction. Put them on a big screen and hang on! I never get tired of it.

ace.cafe · **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2014, 03:40:53 pm

It's cool!

I'm going to get one of our engines or heads into that Isle of Man race, somehow or other.
I'm hoping that Bullet Whisperer will do it with this new head we are doing for him.

gashousegorilla · **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2014, 12:46:53 am

Quote from: mplayle on January 02, 2014, 03:42:23 am

ghg,

Those TT videos you linked are ADDICTIVE! I just spent an hour letting them go from one to the next.

Carfull now.... easy to get stuck in those endless Tube loops.

Here is one that has some years on it. Mike Hailwoods comments at around 13 minutes, and then again at 25 minutes. I found interesting and insightful..... Mister smooth for sure, The lines he would take on the curves! Amazing... And you don't see him trow his knee out like a modern rider would.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZJKZaTW5o8

And another on the Skerries. Martin Finnegan and Robert Dunlop, tragically both gone in May of 2008. Likely doing what they loved to do..... Dunlops son went on to win the TT as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_v-Zu0Xr2c

barenekd · **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2014, 11:07:12 pm

Quote

And you don't see him trow his knee out like a modern rider would.

Because the tires of the day wouldn't lean far enough to have any reason to! When tires improved enough, then the knees came out. this was to keep the bike more upright so the hard parts wouldn't scrape.
Bare

gashousegorilla · **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2014, 11:26:59 pm

Could be that old habits died hard with him? But actually what I meant was..... Here he is at the 1978 race at Mallory park on his Ducati. Look at him , then look at the other riders in the curves..... Smooooooth, great lines, all lean and no knee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LnNP7mw7XY

jwnwyoming · **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2014, 04:04:00 am

The IOM is so on my bucket list.

Arizoni · **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2014, 05:09:29 am

Gotta love the sound of a big Ducati twin sweeping thru the course.

mattsz · **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2014, 02:49:28 am

Did anyone see James May do the course?

Sorry if it's old, or trite, or simply irritating, but I've never heard of James May or his British TV "Toy" shows. They built a full-size Meccano (Erector Set-like construction toy) sidecar motorcycle and "ran" it at the TT. I found it very funny, and enjoyed the real motorcycle footage and scenery.

Keep in mind, they made almost everything from Meccano toy parts, including the wheel bearing races, so we're not talking about any record times, here...

boggy · **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2014, 10:09:19 pm

That thing is awesome.

Have you never seen him on Top Gear? If you don't know what Top Gear is then fire up your Netflix, or Youtubes, and free-up about a few years of TV viewing. It's probably the best show on television. (I put that last sentence in specifically to see if anyone gets upset

)

*edit: I'm referring to the British show, "Top Gear," and not "Top Gear: America. THAT, is probably the worst show on television.

mattsz · **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2014, 10:59:25 pm

Boggy-

I'm aware of the British "Top Gear" show, if for no other reason than I pay occasional attention to British news and some other TV shows from there, and I hear about it when Jeremy Clarkson opens his sorry mouth while his brain is busy doing other things. But, I've never actually seen the program. I've enjoyed the clips I've seen, and perhaps I'll skulk through Netfilx and check it out. And in fact, I made an assumption based on the production of Meccano-bike video that it must have been connected somehow. You'll notice I allowed for the possibility that there are people out there who might not appreciate the content or the host.

boggy · **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2014, 11:31:56 pm

The more I look at that photo, the more I'm certain I'd rather be sitting ON the helmet while riding that "motorcycle." Lots of sharp metal parts! One bad bump and ... YeeeOUCH.

barenekd · **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2014, 06:47:30 pm

I used to watch "Top Gear" all the time, It was generally pretty enjoyable, but after a year or so it got a bit old and I seldom watch it any more. I would be very disinclined to give it the best show on television rating. But it's definitely in the top half.
Bare

DanB · **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2014, 04:06:00 am

Found this on another forum. 1973 TT with Nortons. Its a great ~50 minutes.

http://youtu.be/a-SOXVVdIZ4

Roy L. · **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2014, 06:18:03 pm

My father raced in the Clubmans TT and also the Ulster.
What great stories he had of stripping down his Norton on the promenade and all the guys helping each other.
He would've been horrified that I bought an Enfield. He hated British bikes! Loved the Japs, would you believe.

PS. These read the letters thing to post is quite off-putting..

Roy L. · **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2014, 06:42:04 pm

And here he is. Mr Isle of Man himself, Geoff Duke.
Perhaps the only man my father had anything good to say about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCX63gFbPUk

Edit; and Mike Hailwood.

boggy · **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2014, 07:23:08 pm

Those two videos are great and have some nice contrast. In the 50's the racers are wearing suits and ties when they aren't riding. In the 70's? No shirt at all. In both cases, the riders aren't littered with brightly colored sponsor clothing and energy drinks. I like the cadence of both films. The pacing is so much slower than modern media. It's very relaxing to watch.

It is interesting to think of one road course being discussed and discussed year after year for so long. The roads almost stay the same, but the machines change and so the learning never ends.

Very cool vids.

cyrusb · **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2014, 08:44:57 pm

Quote from: barenekd on February 19, 2014, 06:47:30 pm

I used to watch "Top Gear" all the time, It was generally pretty enjoyable, but after a year or so it got a bit old and I seldom watch it any more. I would be very disinclined to give it the best show on television rating. But it's definitely in the top half.
Bare

I don't think it's billed as the best show on television(how could that be measured?). But is billed as the most watched, "In The World" as Clarkson would put it.

boggy · **Reply #25 on:** March 26, 2014, 05:29:00 pm

One on-board lap with last year's course-killer, Michael Dunlop. Cool moments after 8 mins when he has to overtake. The pace is blistering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWZG1nhgwgg

barenekd · **Reply #26 on:** March 26, 2014, 06:08:21 pm

I used to watch the TT every year when Joey Dunlop was racing there, In the good days of Speedvision, and they'd show all the races all week. When Fox bought and destroyed the best channel on TV for NASCRAP, all that good coverage they formerly had, I didn't get to watch it any more, maybe a few scraps occasionally. Motor Racing, and pretty much all other racing has disappeared from TV! Sux!! I guess we were lucky to get the America's Cup last year!
Bare

boggy · **Reply #27 on:** March 26, 2014, 06:29:20 pm

I never got Speedvision until it switched over to Fox Sports 1, which yeah, is a pretty awful channel. Sports coverage has reached the weird, talking head craziness that is cable news. Just weird humans acting weird.

However, they do air MotoGP, which until last year I could only read about. I believe Isle of Man coverage has moved to the "Velocity Channel." First MotoGP race was this Sunday and it was a crazy one. The bummer about MotoGP is as soon as the race is over, they cut out. No interviews, no post race, no nothing.

GreenMachine · **Reply #28 on:** March 26, 2014, 08:59:02 pm

That was excellent..It just gets better and better...How many times did u think he might lose it?

barenekd · **Reply #29 on:** March 27, 2014, 11:02:15 pm

that was Speedvision, the good one was just Speed. It was bought by Fox probably 10 years ago. They turned Speed into NASCRAPvision and dropped all the good racing they had on Speed.
One day was Formula 1 and they'd show races from the'50s and '60s, plus the current one live. Then they'd show a lot of off road and road racing stuff like Baja and desert races and even Truck racing, not pickups like Nascrap uses, Big truck cabs, as in semis, road racing! Htat was some wild racing in Europe
One day was airplanes, in general and racing, Lots of good WWI and WWII footage, O
ne day was boats with all kinds of racing, both power and sail. Fuul coveralge of hte America' Cup, and some Great sailing stuff with some weird outriggered sailboats and some little hot rod boats racing through channels like Gymkhanas. These things were fast, V8 powered and had an occasion to hit the edge of the channels and flip.
It was some Motorcycle racing was usually Tuesday, with AMA and FAI Racing, All classes and series, with Trials, Scrambles, and Supercross. They had a week long coverage from the Isle of Man, all classes and races. They ran a lot of live AMA races, which was usually not a good idea as AMA races invariably run long because of the plethora of red flags those guys use! They showed a lot of historic racing too. It was the good old days in motorcycle coverage along with the rest of the motorsports world
When Fox took over they slowly got rid of all of the good stuff and replaced with it horrible junk like Pinks, Truck crashes, lousy days of idiots crashing anything. And then hours spent on watching NASCRAP guys sitting around a table BSing, like some women's daily talk show.
Fox destroyed all the good stuff and frankly I don't care for the way they have done MotoGP the last few years with some American announcer breaking in at the commercial breaks and at the beginning and end of the show, telling us something that I'd rather hear from the guys who are actually there, or at least know what their talking about!!
NBC Sports got the Formula One stuff and the motorcycle racing get kinda scattered all over the place, NBC Sports is getting NASCRAP from Fox next year So I guess Fox is getting out of motorsports which will be no loss! If they keep Varsha, things will be good again!
Bare

Professor · **Reply #30 on:** March 28, 2014, 10:27:54 pm

I just finished two books
Riding Mann
Story of a very recent US team. Very good insight as to what it takes

That Near Death Thing
Very current as today's riders. John McGuniess, Guy Martin, Bruce Ansty, Cameron Donald, Michael Dunlop, William Dunlop (Joey's Nephews)

Speeds across the mountain are 200-202 mph

See the Video- "Road Warriors"