Isle of Man==TT Motorcycle Race!

**JolyStNicholas** · 25th August 09, 04:07 AM

Over the week-end and last evening I have been watching the "TT" Motorcycle Road race from the "Isle of Man".

And what to my suprise, I did no see one kilt in the crowd of observers, Race pits. drivers, etc. I thought surely there would be at least ONE there!

It didn't spoil the race for me it was grand indeed. I would love to ride there someday, it was beautiful to see, from the camera's on board the bikes. I am a long time road racer me self and still love the feel of the speed, though I don't do it as much as me younger days, most of the Fast Bikes are gone now and I'm down to one, but it still gets me there!

**McMurdo** · 25th August 09, 04:08 AM

I love watching the TT but I've never seen a kilt in the crowd, that would be great. It is an insane race but always a gas to watch.

**KFCarter** · 25th August 09, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by JolyStNicholas

Omost of the Fast Bikes are gone now and I'm down to one, but it still gets me there!

I'd say that Rune gets you there in style, JStN

And no question, the Isle of Man TT is a true classic!!

**JolyStNicholas** · 25th August 09, 04:17 PM

Not "IF" but "When" I ride up to see ya again Ken, are ya gonna work up the" BRAVE HEART" to give it a go around the block??

**KFCarter** · 25th August 09, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by JolyStNicholas

Not "IF" but "When" I ride up to see ya again Ken, are ya gonna work up the" BRAVE HEART" to give it a go around the block??

Hmmm... it's been many years, but that's really tempting...I suppose we could find a nice quite block so there's no distractions.

**O'Callaghan** · 25th August 09, 11:30 PM

I was at the TT in '82 for the 75th Anniversary. Went over from England on the ferry from Heysham with my Suzuki GT750.

Rode around the course on closed roads on Mad Sunday and my brakes faded out coming down Creg-ny-Baa (spelling?). Bought new racing brake shoes and installed them in the street outside the guest house, but realised that it wasn't necessary - it was just that the stock brakes on my street bike weren't good enough for sustained racing speeds coming down the mountain. Passed one bike that was up a tree! A crane was being used to get it down. Also had the cops wave me to go faster while doing 80 through a 30 limit (they were waiting to open the roads).

Drank lots of Manx beer. Watched wet t-shirt contests and loonies doing burnouts. At one event someone stole the grand prize for the raffle (a dirt bike) by wheeling it out the front door. I saw him do it.

Those were the days!

There's an Irish song about going to the Isle of Man to see the TT "Oh the Craic was Ninety in the Isle of Man". 90 mph on the streets, perhaps?

**JolyStNicholas** · 26th August 09, 05:51 AM

Ya be one lucky dog to have such a grand time there. What's with the brake situation? Ya "Never"use them on a Road Course!
I'd give almost anything ta ride there, especially on the ZX-14 I recently parted company with! I'm glad someone here has had the chance to be there and ride! Good on ya laddie!

**O'Callaghan** · 26th August 09, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by JolyStNicholas

Ya be one lucky dog to have such a grand time there. What's with the brake situation? Ya "Never"use them on a Road Course!
I'd give almost anything ta ride there, especially on the ZX-14 I recently parted company with! I'm glad someone here has had the chance to be there and ride! Good on ya laddie!

That point on the course you are coming down off the mountain (Snaefell) and descending to lower altitude. You are going steeply downhill for a long time, and I was riding a street bike that weighs a lot more than any racing machine. Plus I have never raced in my life. Mad Sunday they close the roads for anyone who wants to ride a bike around the course under race conditions. There is a pub just there at Creg-ny-Baa, and I barely made it into the pub car park with the brakes not responding atall. That bike has large disc brakes, two front and one rear, and you could have fried an egg on them, they were that overheated from braking. It's not just a little hill, you are riding down the side of a mountain.

ETA: The real racers have pitstops, but the Mad Sunday crazies have pubs, LOL!

**JolyStNicholas** · 26th August 09, 02:04 PM

A "Pub" sounds much better than a "Pit Stop" any day to me. I know what ya mean about riding down th side of mountains, you truly do super heat your brakes, I ride the mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee several times a year and love it. I do envy you being able to ride the TT course!