The
Isle of Man TT is known on every continent as the world's most famous
motorcycle event - yet it is just one of many great spectacles of speed that
annually draw visitors to the Island in huge numbers.
Murray's Motorcycle
Museum
and the Manx Museum
provide other great racing attractions.
So whatever your medicine -
bikes, motorbikes, cars, karts - the adrenaline rush is guaranteed.
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| Brought to you in collaboration with The Department
of Tourism and Leisure
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On the left is Dave Jeffries at The Creg saluting the fans on his
record breaking 125 mph final lap during the Senior Event.
Above, another shot of Dave in action.
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The Tourist Trophy
(T.T.), is in its 93rd year in 2000, and has proved to be the greatest survivor
in motor racing. Despite being stripped of its world status, shunned by the
heirachy of the sport and hounded over the years by the media on safety
grounds, this unique event still attracts supporters young and old in record
numbers from all over the world.
Hundreds of riders still queue up to
pit their speed skills against the greatest odds on public roads in this
two-week event. Despite the dangers of racing along wall-, kerb-, and
tree-lined roads at speeds of upto 190 mph, there is never a shortage of
entries to fill the 75 spaces on the starting grid, in fact it's common
occurrence for rejected riders to plead with officials to reconsider their
decision.
After 1976 when the TT lost its World Championship status, on
the grounds that is was "too dangerous", the response was to join forces with
the Auto Cycle Union
(ACU) to organise its own Formula TT Championship, which later
spiralled into a world event.
The final Formula TT1 series was run in
1989, leaving the Isle of Man event once again out on a limb. To add to the
problems, it also lost its protected date on the calendar of events drawn up by
the sports governing body, the FIM.However, yet again the survival qualities of
the TT came to the fore.
Over recent years the emphasis has switched
more towards the side-attractions of the eight race programme and the fortnight
has become a motorcycle sport festival.
The atmosphere is as exciting as
ever, with fans travelling from all corners of the globe for the annual event,
which already has an eye on centenary celebrations.
It's even got its
own set of heroes as well, including record breaking Joey Dunlop, from Northern
Ireland, who is still the acclaimed King of the Road.
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Mann Fact
TT (Tourist
Trophy) races, originated in 1905 by the RAC, were initially for cars.
Motorbikes first competed in 1907, the winners averaging under 40 mph -
compared with more than 120 mph today.
The race is run on everyday
roads, the circuit being a little over 37 miles long.
The first TT of the
new millennia will start earlier than ever with practising set to commence on
the Saturday evening of May 27. Subject to confirmation by the Department of
Transport, practising will get underway 36 hours earlier than normal with an
evening session similar to that introduced to the Manx Grand Prix some Years
ago.
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Photographs by Double D Freelance, K2 Photography and IofM.Net
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