Isle of Man TT?

[Johnny Drummond]

Thought that might interest you!!, it has most of his trophies in there,also his present from Honda for his loyalty to the brand- the full works RC45-that HRC GAVE to him at the end of the season!!!, can't see Rossi getting an M8 free from Yamaha can you?. I only met Robert once and it will stay with me forever, I was at a motorcycle show over here and went for a smoke and saw him and one of his sons sitting in a corner at 2 tables so I went over because that is where the ashtrays were,I asked if he minded that my wife and I sat down and he said no that was ok-only one problem, 4 people and only 3 chairs.He said "here have my chair" I didn't want to take it from him as I knew to look at him he was sore from standing all day(check to see if you can find footage of his crash on the Isle of Man in 1994 and you'll see why I say this) he replied "don't worry about it-I'm not going to get any taller" then asked me for a light!- what a guy.Ok Charlie Joeys bar is counted as an official tourist destination and while we are up there I can show you the Armoy circuit and some really nice roads on the way back to ours-that is if you want to stay with us?. Johnny

 

[DMorris]

Hi Gyus, the TT is a unique event in terms of difficulty and distance but here in Ireland-North and South,we have just as long a history of racing on public roads. I grew up beside such a track (now sadly not run) and went to my first race aged 3 and 36 years later I still get to as many as I can ,usually 5 or 6 out of the 16 race season.I have been trying to "encourage" Charlie over for some of the races here that are great value compared to the likes of World Super Bikes or MOTO GP, how does 13 races in a day featuring everything from full works spec superbikes to Manx Nortons for a ?10 entry fee- (you also get a program of all the races of the day and rider profiles as part of this) sound good?, you can in most of the national races (the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix are international events) walk around the paddock and chat to the racers and have a good look at the machines for the best price I've heard of-FREE so go on come over between April and September and have some fun standing a foot away from these machines!- and NO I don't work for the tourist board-OK!!!, here are 2 photos to get you going. Also look up www.roadracingireland.com in Feburary-March to get the dates of all the races.Johnny

Damn, Johnny.
You've gone and gotten an old man thinking about a new vacation destination!

 

[Charlie G]

Thought that might interest you!!, it has most of his trophies in there,also his present from Honda for his loyalty to the brand- the full works RC45-that HRC GAVE to him at the end of the season!!!, can't see Rossi getting an M8 free from Yamaha can you?. I only met Robert once and it will stay with me forever, I was at a motorcycle show over here and went for a smoke and saw him and one of his sons sitting in a corner at 2 tables so I went over because that is where the ashtrays were,I asked if he minded that my wife and I sat down and he said no that was ok-only one problem, 4 people and only 3 chairs.He said "here have my chair" I didn't want to take it from him as I knew to look at him he was sore from standing all day(check to see if you can find footage of his crash on the Isle of Man in 1994 and you'll see why I say this) he replied "don't worry about it-I'm not going to get any taller" then asked me for a light!- what a guy.Ok Charlie Joeys bar is counted as an official tourist destination and while we are up there I can show you the Armoy circuit and some really nice roads on the way back to ours-that is if you want to stay with us?. Johnny

Sounds like a good plan Johnny.

cg

 

[Ross]

Jonny, you say a large commercial even is not your cup of tea..?
ahh.. the entire Island and half of Europe will be there for the IOM. take him to the Northwest 200 maybe less crowded.. I have on many sites proclaimed Joey Dunlop to be the greatest motorcycle racer to ever lift a leg over. I always add, To anyone who will post up the little Italian Rossi. As a equal foe..Dunlop did it in every size bike all in the same day. On many occasions. Then the BIG spread is,.. Rossi gets into a corner way too hot.. he goes off into a perfectly manicured sand trap. Gives you a pretty safe way out even when you make a mistake. That is GP racing all controled with no fear in the back of your mind should you get too aggressive. In TT racing,...
you mis an entrance or an exit by 1 inch... death is almost certain. Joey could do what Rossi does, but Rossi could never do what Joey did.

 

[shedman1300]

My wife and i went over last year. We hired a 08 Triumph Bonnie for two days and did a few laps of the curcuit. plus rode everywhere we could in a couple of days.
I was even held up and then passed a GSXR1000 on the twistys with the biggest chicken strips i have ever seen
Would have to be the most enjoyable moment in riding that i have done.

 

[Johnny Drummond]

Hi Shedman,You would'nt believe how many bikes over here are like that!-I guess that you are in Perth New South Wales,Australia not Perth Scotland? I've lost count of those people going screaming past me on their new CBRZXRRGSXRYZFR whetever then at the first hint of a corner the back end's snaking around/ almost in the air as they slam on the brakes to go round a kink in the road only to scream off into the distance again-okay I'm exaggerating(slightly) but you know what I mean. But 1st prize in the idiot stakes are a pair my mates and I saw at the North West 200 4 years ago- they squeaked around all day in full Dianese race suits&boots carrying at least ?500 of Arai helmets and when the races were over we followed them to see just what they were riding, just for a laugh-and boy did we laugh when they went to a beat up family saloon, lifted the boot, took their boots off, put the helmets in the bags and got in, the driver took off his pristine knee sliders just so he could drive home!!!! A%^*&@#~s.Johnny

 

[Big T]

Anyone planning to go should go next spring (2011)

It's the 100 year aniverssary and they have a big show planned

http://www.iomtt.com/TT-2011.aspx

Go to the link above for lots of info on racing and attending

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Manx Grand Prix?

Manx Grand Prix?

Anybody here attend the Manx Grand Prix, or even race in it themselves?
Sounds like a fabulous event to be a part of.

?The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course (or 'Mountain Circuit') every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' (as it is more commonly known) is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June.?
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_Grand_Prix

 

[Ross]

I think the reason why he was so admired and had such a huge fan base was because he didnt see himself as anyone special. He was just regular guy the way he saw it. To his fans he was a legend. To a fan being able to walk up and say hello to him was something special. His passing devastated so many because a lot of people felt that they knew him. He made you feel that way if you did. Try speaking to some of the premadonas in GP or NASCAR. I meet two legends in racing that could compare. Big Daddy Don Garlits, and the King Richard Petty. Both down to earth real people. Made you feel welcome like they had knew you.
One thing I found mind boggling about Joey and his skill level. Was that he was a very heavy smoker until he hit 40 years old. A lot of the older footage will show him on the grid having a smoke. This was normally after he had ran the 125 & 250's getting ready for the TT. Anyone who has road raced knows it is very physical. they say he would get so tuned in thinking about the laps, he never got tiered.

 

[downsyred]

Joey Dunlop

Joey Dunlop

Joey Dunlop was the best ! went to visit his statue in port rush when visiting the Northwest 200 in Northern Ireland in 2006 ( see photo attached) I was even wearing the same boots as he used to wear !
Isle of Mann too expensive , stayed at Bed and breakfast in Bushmills Brilliant ! great place ,great beer, great people and great hospitality and the racing was pretty good too

 

[Johnny Drummond]

Hey Red, you now have another reason to make the journey over here,as you probably know Joeys brother Robert deid from injuries he recieved at the NW200 2 years ago. They now have a memorial to him beside Joeys in Ballymoney(as is only right and proper),the statue is ready to be cast and should be in place next year.But as I've written here already if you can make it in August they now have a race circuit around the village where the boys grew up along with their eldest brother Jim(who convinced Joey to race in the first place!) and the other members of the ARMOY ARMADA-Mervin Robinson and Frank Kennedy-sadly also killed in races.It is a fantastic course, everything a good circuit should be,bumpy,narrow and fast!!!.Look up ARMOY 2010 on the web to see action photos from this year. The reason I say this is Armoy is on one weekend and the Ulster Grand Prix is the next, value for money with the whole touristy thing taken care of if you print off directions to some other circuits to visit ie. Cookstown,Bush,Mid Antrim,Dundrod.Then you can ride around them and pick which races you want to come to on your next trip,hint,hint.

To Ross, yeah you are right there, Joey AND Robert were special all right,But I have to say Robert's sons William and Michael are not exactly slow-or lacking in competitive agression,heres what I mean

and yes there are 2 bikes there! William is in front(no.6) this is standard fare for these 2, except on a 125 William rides so like his dad it's scary, after Robert died the next meeting I thought "my God wee robbo's on form today" until I realised I was looking at William!!.Johnny

 

[Big T]

I just got this

http://www.rizla-suzuki-motogp.co.uk/multimedia/multimedia.asp

Capirossi rode a GSXR

 

[Steveb64]

My wife and I were there in '96 for practice week and race week - pitcrew for a mate who was racing a 600. Partied up with a bunch of Kiwis who I knew (and were racing). Did some laps on my Ducati, and even took the wife around for a fast lap on the back of HER RF900.... Even got air over the (Ballough - sp?) bridge... . AWESOME.

If you're into sport bikes, ya gotta do it once.

 

[Johnny Drummond]

Was looking at my collection of TT dvd's last night, the 2006 one has profiles of all the americans that race there-just thought it might be of interest to you Bill. Johnny

 

[Buffalo Bill]

2009. Nw 200 dvd

2009. Nw 200 dvd

Thanks Johnny,
I got the 2009 NW 200 DVD in my Amazon shopping cart, just waitin' to be sure I don't need the money for food, shelter, or bike parts.
I read that the NW 200 is a true elbow to elbow race, not a time trial like the TT. Wonderful to see the bikes race down public roads and streets.
Between you and me, I like the TT videos much more than the 2009 MotoGP Official Review DVD I have. Those Grand Prix circuits are very boring to see, with the crowds kept so far from the track, and the tracks' as wide as a 4 lane highway?
Bill

 

[Johnny Drummond]

Hi Bill, yeah it is. no quarter asked or given, mass starts with 3/4 groups of 20 riders in each group and as I've said before all on roads between 16 and 18 feet wide!, I've ridden the course many times when it is just public highway and if you buy the dvd look out for a corner called "mathers cross" the big supersport and superbikes take this at around 140mph, it looks like a gentle curve on tape but this is a blind right turn that has a groove right in the middle due to someone digging the road up to put a drainage pipe from one field to the other!.Take it from me that 70mph in normal traffic conditions is scary enough(or mabye I'm just an old woman who doesn't like to fall off). look up Phillip Macallen on youtube he is the only rider to win 5 races there in 1 day and he was leading the 6th when he slid off due to being tired,he used to use the kerbstones to make the bike turn and often ended up bouncing up onto the pavement and just hammering the throttle for all it was worth and bouncing back onto the road again, which is how he got the name of mad mac.As for the dvd-what else is christmas for-everyone else gets treats, why should'nt you!!!.Johnny

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Nw 200, 2004 dvd

Nw 200, 2004 dvd

North West 200, 2004: DVD
Quite a lot of action in this racing video. Leaders change quite a few times in all the groups with some guys crashing on the last lap.
Michael Rutter topped 200 mph on a Honda factory bike.
This kind of genuine road racing is more fun to watch than track racing. Certainly because Ireland is so beautiful, and because we all ride fast on public roads!
Good for the Irish!
Bill
P.S. I was looking for David Jefferies, sorry to learn that he crashed and died at the 2003 TT.

 

[oldbutslow]

I've attended both the '99 and '07 TT's. Even though the '07 event was much bigger because of the Centenery, I actually enjoyed '99's better. Luckily, I did get to meet both David Jeffries and Joey Dunlop that first year. Also, the total vibe of '99 was much more genuine with nakedness, wheelies, burnouts, and other juvenile acts. '07 seemed sanitized. I'm a big fan of British biking because of the TT's. Those crazy Brits/Irish don't even think twice about living in a tent for a soggy week, rebuild a clutch on the curb, or never change their underwear! On top of all those virtues, they are wonderful riders and the nicest folks you've ever want to meet. In the cumulative three weeks I've spent over there, I never heard, saw, or were told of a fight. We're talking thousands of drunk bikers from countries from all over the world. Think you'd ever get that at a Harley rally? I didn't think so.....! If you haven't, you really need to go. ,BK

 

[Big T]

LEGENDARY RIDERS AND ICONIC MACHINES ALREADY CONFIRMED FOR TT2011 MILESTONES OF THE MOUNTAIN PARADE LAP

Many of the riders and machines have already been confirmed for the 2011 TT ?Milestones of the Mountain? Parade lap to celebrate the centenary of racing around the iconic Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.

The parade, which takes place on Senior Race day, Friday 10th June, will feature twenty-six of the most important events, riders and moments in a hundred years of racing.

Appropriately a genuine replica of the American built Indian machine that Oliver Godfrey rode in the first Senior TT Race across the mountain has been sourced and will be the first bike away. The bike will be ridden by Dave Roper who was and only American to win a TT until Mark Miller emulated his feat in this year?s TT Zero clean emissions bike race.

One of the all time TT greats, Stanley Woods, will be represented by former MGP rider Ivan Rhodes, who will be riding a genuine 350cc works Velocette, which he owns. Stanley originally rode the bike in the 1948 Junior TT and 1949 World championship.

Geoff Duke, the 6 time TT Winner and 6 time World Champion will be represented by his son Peter, who will appropriately be riding a Manx Norton, the marque that Geoff rode to five TT victories in the fifties.

One of the greatest names in TT history, Honda, who were the first Japanese manufacturer to contest the event, and who have since gone on to win 155 times, will be represented by former world champion and TT winner Luigi Taveri, who will be riding a 1964 Honda RC161.

One of Yamaha?s most successful riders, Phil Read, the 8 times TT winner and 8 times World Champion, will be riding the factory 4 cylinder two-stroke 250cc Yamaha that he raced successfully in the 1968 TT and world championship.

Sidecar legend Jock Taylor, a 4 times TT winner who achieved a podium on his debut, will be represented by Steve Webster, MBE, the 10 time FIM World Champion. Steve will be riding one of Jock?s old TT winning machines.

The Senior TT winning Honda RC30 from 1988 will be ridden by Gary Dunlop who will be representing his father, the 5 time World Champion Joey. The Northern Ireland racer first competed on the Isle of Man in 1976 and his record of 26 victories leaves him as the most successful TT rider of all time.

Scotsman Steve Hislop, who was the first rider to lap at over 120mph and took part in what is widely acknowledged as one of the all time great races against Carl Fogarty ? the 1992 Senior TT - will be represented twice in the parade by close friends Steve Plater and Stuart Easton. Steve, who has two TT victories to his name and is the current Senior TT Race Record holder, will be riding a replica RC30 to represent Steve's achievement as the first rider to lap at more than 120mph in 1989, whilst current BSB star and TT hopeful Stuart Easton will ride the ABUS 588cc rotary Norton from the epic 1992 Senior Race.

Northern Ireland?s Philip McCallen, the first rider to win 4 races in one week, will be riding a Honda RC45. Phil, who won 11 TT?s in a career that ran from 1989 to 1999, will be on the starting grid with the man that broke his record, Ian Hutchinson, who will be riding his history making Padgett?s Honda Superbike.

Nine-time TT winner David Jefferies will be represented by his uncle Nick, who will be riding the V&M Racing Yamaha R1 that ?DJ? raced in his 1999 campaign.

His great friend and rival John McGuinness, who has dominated the TT leader board with 15 victories since his first victory in 1999, will be bringing his 2007 Honda Superbike, on which he became the first man to break the 130mph lap for the 37? mile course.

 

[Leigh]

hi guys ,,,the story goes as such... that joey dunlop.. ~~etc etc~~needles too say the story did end well at that time ... regards david

Sorry, Leslie, Joey never came to Australia.
I've heard that story with Sterling Moss in a left hand drive Cooper with a journalist on board and other versions too.

Now, for you blokes who have discovered the TT, look a little further.
Faugheen, Tandragee, Killalane, Cookstown, Bush, Skerries.
All names to use in your favourite search engines.

In the meantime, I love this piece.
It's Michael Dunlop chasing down Ryan Farquar at Tandragee in '09.
it's heart in mouth at about 5:58 or so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwaQ7TFJfXw&feature=related