In praise of...the Isle of Man TT races

[dellzeqq]

You can keep formula 1 and that ridiculous charade that is sports car racing. You can even keep motorcycling round short circuits. Only the wonder that is NASCAR comes close (and not that close) to the sheer joy and terror that is Isle of Man TT racing.

There's no manicured verges with run-off areas. There's stone walls (with what looks like mattresses tied to them, puhlease!) and kerbs, and bumps and shop and telegraph poles and (ffs!) a mountain. All at unfeasible speeds. And young men without a scrap of affectation, knocking back cups of tea in the winners enclosure, talking like human beings rather than PR robots.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe7F6cOkQJU


The heavy metal music and sideburns are a distraction, but the Babe, having gamely agreed to watch those rather dull city centre circuit cycle races, found herself hooked on the TTs. And may yet consider an outing to next year's...

 

[Renard]

ITV4 have been showing it this week. The onboard shots are fantastic

 

[Bigtwin]

The amazing thing about it is that an event that has, on average, killed about 2 people every year, is allowed to continue in this H&S obsessed age.

You have to have buggerchops to ride; they're checked during scrutineering.

 

[Speicher]

ITV4 have been showing it this week. The onboard shots are fantastic

I have watched some of those, excellent. Particularly when the rider doing the commentary says something like, "I wanted to be safe on that stretch that day, so I slowed down to 110mph."

The hour long programme showing the history of the race, was also fantastic. Seeing the change in the style of bikes. Even I cannot remember motorbikes that had to be push-started.

 

[oxbob]

+3 good to see some coverage on tv at last, even if it is just highlights

 

[MePower]

Coverage was excellent from the tv this year. Loved the slow-mo shots, you can see just how much control is really needed with these machines. My bro goes and does mad sunday, here`s a clip onboard his 12r a few years ago. Its probaly the fastest bike hes had, definatly the most modified. Enjoy!


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jICtI8omHzo


Last year on a zx 636
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phaG44Vqx-o

 

[numbnuts]

I enjoyed it too, so much I would like to buy a motorbike again

 

[Keith Oates]

I've never been to the TT but have followed and watched it for many years and never have anything but respect for the riders. My favorite was the late and great Joey Dunlop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Panter]

The amazing thing about it is that an event that has, on average, killed about 2 people every year, is allowed to continue in this H&S obsessed age.

You have to have buggerchops to ride; they're checked during scrutineering.

+1 and long may it continue

 

[Bigtwin]

+1 and long may it continue

Aaaah - good to see the buggerchop fans out in force there...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Wow. I'm not really a bike fan, but the TT is something else.

 

[yello]

The TT is pure commendable madness. There are calls just about every year for it to be made safer, or stopped completely. Most riders oppose those calls, they know what the TT is about and it's why they do it. It's street racing. And in a similar vein, but not quite so well known or attended, let's not forget Northern Island's NW 200. Long may both events continue!

 

[Proto]

The NW200 (and the other Irish road races) is arguably better as it's a 'mass start' race, not a time trial. I've been over a couple of times and it is indeed barking mad. All that's between you and Michael Rutter going past a 200+mph is a strand of barbed wire fence and a grass verge.

I remember reading the rider's course note for one Irish race, and itw ent something like this: " ............... keep far left over the hump back bridge as the next corner is very tight. Mind the telegraph pole and phone box, and let your shoulder brush the farmhouse on your exit for good drive out of the corner"

A bit like this (from the Macau GP)

 

[Bigtwin]

A bit like this (from the Macau GP)

Oh come off it - oldest trick in the book.

You stop, duck down and hide from the marshalls, wait till you hear the rest of them coming, and then whizz out in first place to sneak a win.

 

[dan_bo]

It amazes me when you see a rider tilt his/her head to one side to avoid it getting knocked off by a corncrete post at 160- C.O.Jones.

And you know what? the manx GP is even better.