Travel Tales from the UK

[Charlie G]

I have no idea what these places are called as I was only able to click and shoot at this point. Somewhere between Larne ( ferry ternimal) and Armoy (?). Beautiful coast and sunny (for now).

If you ever get an invite to go half way around the world from a stranger to come visit his home land to see some crazy people ride motorcycles at speeds aproaching 200mph, in the rain, you must pause and think...Am I crazy? What kind of situation I'm going to get myself into? Once you've thought of just about every possible worst case cenerio, then forget all of what you could imagined and just go. If I had let my concerns get the best of me I would have missed meeting two of the nicest and generous people I have ever know. Leave your baggage at home and embrace whatever is laid before you.

We had lunch somewhere and afterward headed to some riders memorials and a museum dedicated to "Irish Road Racing".

Joey Dunlop's memorial

Joey Dunlop statue

Robert Dunlop's statue

Robert Dunlop's memorial

The Bush bridge, site of a well know photo of the "Armoy Armada", Jim Dunlop, Frank kennedy, Joey Dunlop, and Mervyn Robinson.

We went Joey's bar had I drink and toured several of the road racing courses, none of which I could remember there names. I plead half awake.

Johnny aquired permission to visit the TAS Rentless Suzuki Team shop, where we chatted with the mechanics and took a close look at some of their race bikes. Guy Martin is one of the racers who is sponsored by this team and after keeping track of the season had become one of my favorite riders. Cycle World did an article on him this spring in the states.

more....?

 

[Charlie G]

Thursday Dunrod 150

Thursday Dunrod 150

Some of the racers headed for scrutineering?

Love this bike and it's racer

What can I say, Nice bike!

I want this one.
A few of the racers and bikes.

cg

 

[Charlie G]

More Dunrod racers

More Dunrod racers

nice graphics!

This older gentelmen was more than happy to let me take a picture of his beautiful bike.

Where are the pit girls?

 

[Charlie G]

You try taking a picture of a bike going a hundred and umteen miles per hour.

Later,

cg

 

[cowboyup3371]

Great pictures...makes me really miss that area.

 

[Guest]

Now we're talkin' Charlie! Would've been awesome to see those guys out there, gotta admire their skill and courage for racing on roads like that in that weather!

And Guy Martin has rather large testicular fortitude... I saw the photos and write up in our local AMCN fortnightly magazine of his get off at the IOM that had his bike exploding... amazing stuff!

Pete, It was a pleasure to show someone around here(even if the poor guy was half asleep), are you fishing for an invite???, if so come on ahead although if you want to see any racing it will be next year as there is only 1 race left this season.My wifes only stipulation to anyone coming from OZ is bring some sheep fleece(she spins and dyes her own wool then knits,weaves and crochets)-and yes I am aware that it is a sterotype that everyone in Australia works with sheep, just the same as the Irish drink and fight all the time-oh wait,that is actually true OOPS!!!,just wait till you read Charlies report of us before booking anything,OK?(hint hint Charlie).Johnny

Good stuff Johnny, I'd love to see the IOM and see Cameron Donald do his stuff as well, but there's about a 0% chance these days of that ever happening, but if the chance was to arise I'd be sure to hit you up for an invite Bringing the sheep's fleece could be an interesting proposition... I'd have to fight the kangaroos jumping down our suburban streets while heading over to the shearer's shed and bribing him with a stubbie of XXXX to get some fleece... hahaha just kiddin'... and don't you Irish eat a lot of potatoes as well?

 

[Johnny Drummond]

Pete,We only eat them when we run out of soda bread(ask Charlie)!,yeah I know the 0% feeling its enough of a struggle to make the money to go to Germany every year-my uncle lives there and has a monster christmas party.The circuits I took Charlie to were the Cookstown,Bush and the Armoy, like I said the guy looked like he had spent the week partying with Keith Richards:lol:.I hope he enjoyed himself as he seemed to enjoy walking around the paddock it was just so much of a pity it was that it rained, and feel sorry for him trying to photo the bikes on a normal camera that are doing over 100mph(the photo of the road is taken on the approach to the second slowest corner on the course) on the saturday we were at the fast uphill section called Jordans cross where even the 125cc's are doing 130+

 

[Guest]

Charlie,you had an awesome trip,thx for the pics.Now,you didn't bring some of that weather with you by any chance?We could surely use it here in Cali right now!

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Vallhalla!

Vallhalla!

Awesome…

Can't say more, but just a single question for Johnny: What brand of tires were those vintage bikes using?
That might be useful to know, concerning racing in the rain.
Thanks!
Bill

 

[Guest]

Pete,We only eat them when we run out of soda bread(ask Charlie)!,yeah I know the 0% feeling its enough of a struggle to make the money to go to Germany every year-my uncle lives there and has a monster christmas party.The circuits I took Charlie to were the Cookstown,Bush and the Armoy, like I said the guy looked like he had spent the week partying with Keith Richards:lol:.I hope he enjoyed himself as he seemed to enjoy walking around the paddock it was just so much of a pity it was that it rained, and feel sorry for him trying to photo the bikes on a normal camera that are doing over 100mph(the photo of the road is taken on the approach to the second slowest corner on the course) on the saturday we were at the fast uphill section called Jordans cross where even the 125cc's are doing 130+

Haha ok Charlie what's the go with the soda bread? And yes he certainly looks dead on his feet (even though he's sitting) in those first shots...

Those guys are brave (or stupid? I'm sure there's both ) and I have mucho respect for that...

Going by the trip report so far I reckon Charlie definitely enjoyed himself!

 

[Charlie G]

Haha ok Charlie what's the go with the soda bread? And yes he certainly looks dead on his feet (even though he's sitting) in those first shots...

Those guys are brave (or stupid? I'm sure there's both ) and I have mucho respect for that...

Going by the trip report so far I reckon Charlie definitely enjoyed himself!

Soda Bread? Mary, Johnny's wife makes these wonderful little, triangle shaped pieces of bread which I loved with a slice of bacon (more like U.S. ham than U.S. bacon) at any time of the day along with a sausage roll. I had a care package of them when I left for Scotland. Good stuff!

cg

 

[Johnny Drummond]

To answer your question Bill, whatever road tyres are available in the rim size that the bikes have!, although they look mainly to be Avon road runners that will most likley stay on wet or dry all season(you see rain makes VERY little difference here,we're used to it-a bit like ordinary riding,again ask why Charlie went with me on the bike on the Thursday and in the car on Saturday ha ha ha)thats just a guess from looking looking at Charlies pictures,but why not come over and look for yourself?.You have to remember(and I've probably droned on about this before) all the classic guys are just men and women who work regular jobs therefore money is tight and it costs $5-6,000 a year ~IF nothing breaks, so buying tyres just to do 6-8 laps is not an option they have to make them last,but don't be fooled into thinking that they are gently tootling around at the Armoy races the week before Charlie arrived they were averaging 80mph laps, not bad when Michael Dunlop won on the Kawasaki superbike at 91mph average!!

 

[Charlie G]

I'll pick this up again next week when I get back from Washington state.

cg

 

[Guest]

Looking forward to it Charlie and thanks for the soda bread info, sounds delicious!

 

[Carter Turk]

I just finished riding with Charlie and the gang in Washington state. He's still not home yet, but I enjoyed making his acquaintance and road tripping with him. Great photos and story, love the rain and racebike section, you gotta be committed to do that.

 

[allojohn]

Great snaps Charlie, I see the weather was cooperating - not!

 

[Charlie G]

This is the corner we viewed the Ulster Grand Prix from. This is Saturday August 13. I didn't try to shoot any video of the races, as I've found that it really dosen't do the race justice. You really need to be there to get the full experence. All the folks and marshall were nice as could be. One marshall, upon learneng I was new here to the races and from America, lent me his binoculars so I could see the "White of their eyes" as they came out of the turns.

The course comes from the left behind the long house on the left in the background. They come behind the house from the left and make a hard left into a turn between the houses and head up the hill toward me. The turn at the bottom of the hill is I guess about a 1/4 mile away.

I'm not a pro and you really need to be there to witness them comming up this road, shifting through the gears. I watched them for several races and it dawned on me that they were popping a 6" wheelie about 100 feet from me as they shifted. I guess they were probally going about 160 mph plus at that point. Up hill, damp road, 160 mph and a wheelie. It was impressive.

Not everyone was interested in the race.

 

[Englishman]

Nice story thread Charlie........now I feel homesick !

Mark

 

[Johnny Drummond]

What-you miss riding in heavy rain in summer?????

 

[Charlie G]

I tried for about 30 shots to get some bikes roaring throught this intersection and this is only one of two that I caught.

Before a race starts and at the end of a race, a marshall and a doctor on motorcycles do a lap and check the track. This bike is a doctor. The doctor has a full kit with him for emergencies and let me tell you, he hauls butt!

Johnny and I posing for a photo op. I'm the one bundled up to keep warm.

After the races were over I spied this. It said turbo on it and it seemed special. No owner to quiz.

A picture of Guy Martin, who won the last race.

I really enjoyed myself watching the races and being part of this motorcycle event. I would like to sincerely thank Johnny and his family for extending such a warm and generous welcome to me. This seems to be a reacouring theme for me this year, nice, friendly, hospitable people.

I'm of to Scotland to pick up my rental car and do a short tour of the sights to see.

An Island just before landfall off the coast of Cairnryan, Scotland. Tomarrow pictures of Scotland. cg