Now on the forum ME my 1st visit to Monas's Isle.

Some of you are just sooooooo young!! :roll: :shock:

Young eh Peter but have an old memory :wink: :wink:

Oh, thank God, for the memories!!! lol

My first tt,1961,SMB HAILWOODS treble.watched from the strawberry garden,?wear was this all you old foggies.

My first visit: 1960 and Mike the Bike fell of the Ultra Lightweight Ducati right below us (heroes weren't supposed to do such things!). Many remember his off from the MV at Sarah's, not many remember his Ducati tumble.
Youngsters - eh!

I do remember SMBH falling off coming out of Druids at Brands, sliding down the road alongside his bike (350 Norton?), then getting up, feeling both arms, shaking both legs, then checking the wedding tackle before remounting! I was just surprised at the order of what he checked! :wink:
I was privileged to be in the back of the late Fred Launchbury's van at Mallory one RotY, when Mike came in to get away from the crowds - he and Fred were 50s rivals in the very early days - and suffered the usual hero-worship effect, descent into red face and silence, but he soon put me at my ease and just increased the adulation!

my first TT was in 1969 i think, maybe 1970, i was promised a day trip to the TT if i got my 11+ exam, so i made sure i passed it, and my late Dad took me over on a day trip, it started at 5 in the morning, we got to iom, and we walked to the pits, we watched from the grandstand, if my memory serves me correct, Tommy Robb was no 1, he had white leathers on, Ago won the race, i remember Renzo Pasolini as well, he may have retired in the pits, my hero then, Brian Steenson also retired in the pits, i think tehre was a sidecar race after the 350 race, but Dad and me went down the town.
Sadly, two days later my hero BRIAN STEENSON crashed heavily, and died the following Tuesday, this was indeed a bitter blow to me at the time Since then , i have been to the TT , i think this year was my 30th visit! (at least)
RIP Brian Steenson, a rider who achieved a lot in a very short space of time, his potential never to be fulfilled.
Baylon

It wasnt until y2k, that i first got to the Manx GP, and to be honest, i have asked myself, why take so long!, obviously, money was the prob, not being able to afford it, but since then, i have atteneded each year, maybe not for the duration of the week, but i have to admit, i really love the manx, especially the Classics, all being well, i may take in a longer peroid at the Manx, instead of the TT (PROB GO TO tt FOR WEEKEND)

Why not enter the Manx Baylon

If you don't you'll regret it one day

Cargo, if i have one ambition left in racing, it is to do the Manx!, Different people have told me, exactly what you have said, i have thought about it many times, but i would need a good 400 for it, i would not be interested in doing it on any other bike, maybe ????

My word, I remember Brian Steenson!
He was a real trier.
As you say, so much unrealised potential.

RIP indeed

Peter your posting stirred some memories for me as I witnessed SMBH falling off several times the most memorable was when 11 yes 11 of us all came to earth at a very wet Snetterton.It was the first meeting after they had introduced what is now Russells chicane,the contractor had put a new tarmac surface over the old concrete and left a lip where they joined.It rained cats and dogs and 11 of us lost the plot on the new surface including Mike and wee Bill the outside earth bank resembled a parking lot.If my memory serves me right Peter Williams splashed his way to victory.Fred Launchbury who you mention used to billet at the same digs as me at the TT in the 60s with George Todd and I believe Roy Bacon.Fred used to bring this greyhound dog along also.
Great days with the greats and not so greats all helping each other and getting along fine.

Fred Launchbury always had "rescue" greyhounds - nice enough dogs but seemed permanently on edge! He once exercised one by driving onto the circuit at Snetterton in his VW van, stopping at the beginning of the Norwich Straight (long since castrated) and letting the dog out, only to set off at a fair rate with the hound racing alongside trying to keep up!
In his Raynes Park motorcycle shop (the 60s, remember, well pre-internet) he had a top-shelf collection of "art" films and some photos which blokes used to come in and borrow or hire - one guy was looking through these one day, and obviously was something of an expert on animal husbandry, exclaiming that "she's a cracker, and that looks like a prize Worcester blue pig she is with! !! :roll: :wink: