thewitch
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23-11-2007, 10:54 PM |
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sticky
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I heard Lougher being interviewed and the guy asking the questions was basically telling him it was a good thing. He didn't sound very comfortable to me.
Another thing...on a thread on tt.com it was stated at a 'minuted' meeting that John McG wasn't keen on racing 250s around the Mountain, however on the news section of the site John is stated as having said he would 'love' to ride a 250 on the Mountain again.
If I remember right, the second 600 race was ditched after just one year on 'safety grounds'. I suspect it was more on marketing grounds as two thirds of the entry blew up :wink:
I'm hatching a plan for the perfect TT (alright, MY perfect TT... ), so maybe this will be a stop-gap until something more interesting comes along!
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26-11-2007, 10:23 AM |
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cargo
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For those that want to see a 250TT and a 125 TT then this has to be better than nothing.
However I have today discovered that the price to pay for this is the loss of the 125/400 Steam Packet race. In fact 400s are excluded completely from the Steam Packet races.............Southern 100 next? Manx GP ?
I realise that 400s are getting old now and that perhap their time is coming but to specficially excluded them is I feel a step too far they will die a natural death in time
So I ask myself what is the overall gain here...................or more importantly who will gain
I just wonder how many local (IOM) Manx GP competitors will miss out on a meeting vital to them getting the dreaded course licence.
Seems to me that once again the rich and powerful are the winners while once again the ordinary club national racer losses out.
It was ever so.
I hope they enjoy their faux TT ...........sadly I can't go now
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26-11-2007, 04:30 PM |
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Paul Phillips
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Hi Mike
This is not a 'hastily cobbled together sop'. In fact initial discussions started around eight months ago, followed by consultation with riders. We would have been shocked if there was no debate about the races at Billown, however we are committed to making them a massive success, and we will ensure that both races field the best entry in two stroke racing in the UK and Ireland in 2008 by some distance.
This could lead to development of the class, and you never know, it might lead to the classes finding their way back to the Mountain Circuit, if rider interest increases.
As for Classic Racing Hilary, that is already catered for at the Manx Grand Prix as you know, and bringing Classic Racing to the TT would almost certainly have a detrimental effect on the Grand Prix. It would also present difficulties incorporating them into the practice schedule.
Cargo, as far as I know there are no plans to loose the 400's from either the Southern 100 or Manx Grand Prix, in fact I believe the aspiration is to build upon this popular club level class at these meetings.
Best wishes
Paul
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26-11-2007, 09:45 PM |
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thewitch
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Joey might have had an opinion on this as he was the most successful rider there, and had a few mishaps too. He held the Billown course in very high regard. I think he would have said it was just as challenging, just different.
I think if someone has a mixture of wins, different capacities and now different courses, that would say they were an even greater champion.
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27-11-2007, 10:58 AM |
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Splashdown
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OK let me throw my hat in the ring on this one. I am delighted that there is such enthusiasm and debate, which in itself is good for the TT. I am in support of new ideas to generate interest in what we know to be the best race in the world, HELD ON THE BEST RACE TRACK. I can see where the organisers are coming from in trying to appease those that want variety in the 2 week festival (me included), but the wrong thing to do is to call a race round a 4 mile course a "TT win". It clearly is not.
One of the reasons for the demise of the Clypse Course was that the riders did not feel that they had won a "real" TT. Just ask Carlo Ubbiali, Cecil Sandford, Luigi Taveri,Tommy Robb, Sammy Miller, and other riders of the time. In addition marshalling and road closures complicated the organisation. Plus ca change!!
And their feeling of not winning a TT was with a 10.79 mile course, AND it used part of the TT course!
No I'm sorry, I can't get my head round the TT win side of this, but I think it's a great idea to run races round the Southern Course to maintain the interest in 250's,and 125's, and spread the entertainment throughout the festival. I don't see the need to call it a TT win, especially when it is so contentious. Why not just run some additional races on the Southern course, and give them a new name, maybe something like the Southern TT Championship? Suggestions.
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27-11-2007, 11:50 AM |
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thewitch
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This year was really exceptional, as there were many many people who had the opposite problem to yourselves and were unable to get home for a few days after the TT.
I particularly noticed that many of the extra people were from Eastern Europe and the more far-flung bits of our neighbouring islands.
I don't think the same will happen in 2008. What causes it to be a wee bit more difficult (apart from only 4 and a bit miles, and much of that inaccessible to spectators) is the fact much of the viewing area is flat, so if someone is at the front, no-one else can see. If it ever became becessary I am sure there is potential for more grandstands at several points.
Most of the problem was in the pits/paddock area, and if people were more familiar with Billown, they would move out of there.
The people who were in unsafe places chose to go there. There was no need, and they are completely responsible for their own vulnerability in that instance. No sympathy.
While a bit of me selfishly wanted these all extra people to go home and let me see (!!), I would encourage everyone who possibly can to come early for the Pre-TT CLassic, and stay late for the Steam Packet / Southern TT Races.
Billown is best slightly biased witch
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27-11-2007, 02:08 PM |
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