Well, another TT is done.

New format doesn't work with poor weather. I talked to loads of people about this and not one person was in favour of it. Maybe, i talked to all the wrong people or that is the general feeling

I were over for ten days, it were a 50/50 split with the weather in the ten days. The first weekend was great, warm sunshine and blue skies.

Monday the Friday was difficult, we got most of the races in but there were delays and cancellations galore. Very tricky weekdays.

I watched from morown, barregarrow crossroads, union mills hall x 2, and Glen duff. All great.

Was great to witness some history being made, Michael Dunlop becoming the most successful ever and Davy Todd joining the top end, two wins was great to see. Also some great podiums.... Brookes and Herbertson were refreshing faces spraying the champers.

Overall, I've enjoyed TT2024, there's been ups and downs but I'm glad i were there witnessing first hand the things i saw.

Now, roll on the manx grand prix.

What's your thoughts?

We can't help the weather - we'd almost certainly have lost the senior under the "old" format and ended up with everything else crammed in to Thursday as we saw in 2019.

Great to see history being made, a new king of the mountain, some new faces to watch in the future, drama during the races that nobody could have predicted and fans old and new arriving in numbers rarely seen for decades. Most importantly, all riders going home to their families. In a few years, we'll remember all of that but not the weather

(10-06-2024, 02:16 PM)civ Wrote: . In a few years, we'll remember all of that but not the weather

True

I like that sentiment

I think the silence on this post sums up everyone’s frustration at how this year’s event panned out.
They seem to plan everything on the strength of a weather forecast these days instead of simply looking out the window and making a decision based on the actual weather.
Also, I know it’s been said many times before, but they really do need to get back to racing in the wet.

Racing (when it was on) was mega, as per normal, just all the delays ruined it.

(10-06-2024, 02:16 PM)civ Wrote: We can't help the weather - we'd almost certainly have lost the senior under the "old" format and ended up with everything else crammed in to Thursday as we saw in 2019.

Great to see history being made, a new king of the mountain, some new faces to watch in the future, drama during the races that nobody could have predicted and fans old and new arriving in numbers rarely seen for decades. Most importantly, all riders going home to their families. In a few years, we'll remember all of that but not the weather

Indeed, great to see everyone go home, although we dealt with a nasty one on the mountain. We wouldn't have lost the senior under the old format. It would have run on the Saturday as has happened before. The old format allowed for the Senior to slip a day, the new one doesn't, plus most of us have to get home for work on a Monday and racing until Saturday reduces the window to be able to get home. The number of marshals was already reducing by Thursday.

(10-06-2024, 04:16 PM)DBD 34 Wrote: I think the silence on this post sums up everyone’s frustration at how this year’s event panned out.
They seem to plan everything on the strength of a weather forecast these days instead of simply looking out the window and making a decision based on the actual weather.
Also, I know it’s been said many times before, but they really do need to get back to racing in the wet.

Racing (when it was on) was mega, as per normal, just all the delays ruined it.

I'm generally a fan of the way that the organisers have taken the TT into the 21st century. It is really important that they do. Sadly, we came home this year feeling a bit let down. Gary Thompson has been great at avoiding keeping folk out on circuit for hours and then cancelling, preferring to cancel early. This time we felt that decision was taken prematurely and racing could have taken place. Something does need to be done about only racing in very good, if not perfect conditions. I fear many more lost laps in future with such a busy schedule and low tolerance to anything wet.

According to the program the Sunday after the Senior was a contingency day so there is still room to move it, should it be required.

Personally I don't see the need for 4 1000cc races, if we must have this 10 race shedule I'd rather see 2 of them dropped in favour of a little bike class like Junior Supersport or Moto3 to entice some little bike specialists, something the TT has lacked for a couple of decades now.

Overall I enjoyed it, yes it was a challenge with the weather(I've not long arrived home, sunburnt and full of cold).

I too would like to see the return of the ultra lightweight TT, moto3 would fit that nicely.

Superstock could drop to one race as most ride the stocker in the superbike and senior TT's

I'd like to see a Moto3 race - given that sales of big sportsbikes are on the wane it would seem logical for the manufacturers to get behind it too?

Would be nice to see the return of small bike specialists to the TT as well.

I KNOW WHAT! A rally cross version of the TT. James Hillier started the idea with his lap on his Dakar bike.

For me, it was another great 2 week trip - I would have preferred it to be a bit drier & warmer!

No competitor fatalities, no road fatalities was extremely good news

The TT needs to keep evolving and I would like to think that those responsible will be looking at: what went well, what went badly and what can be done to improve in the future

Personally I too would like to see a smaller capacity class, but I wonder whether that would result in a full entry (great sidecar racing this year, but I believe there were fewer entries)

The running of an event like the TT is a very complicated business, which obviously includes which classes to run, enough entries for classes, sufficient practice time, ensuring the Manx residents can go about their business, making sure there is a sufficient benefit for the islanders, taking into account changes and evolving changes to the island, etc, etc, etc. it's a massive task

Whenever changes are (or have to be) made there will always me moaners, many of whom won't research or read any rationale for the change - they'll just moan

I've allready booked for next year, only 351 days to go (and 67 for the Manx Grand Prix)

Boring, used to be a fun event/holiday, (been going since the ‘60’s 30+times since then). Now just a corporate, sanitised event, told where to go for ‘entertainment’, told where we are allowed to watch the racing and preferred if we pay in a stand. Where are the Prom burnouts/doughnuts, self provided entertainment ? No longer a holiday with racing, now a F1 weekend complete with Hollywood actors.

The last word that could ever be used about the TT is sanatised. I stood at top of Lambfell on Senior Saturday this year and marveled at how much time had seemingly stood still for years upon years as bikes came by. Not a grandstand in sight and free to all.

Ideally I would have Joey burst into view with his yellow helmet on his RC30 but alas I have MD hurtling by at silly speed not a couple of feet away these days.

Sure, the annual wet t shirt contest is a thing of the past as is lining up to use overflowing urinals etc.

The TT organisers are given a mandate each year by the tax payers - maximize revenue. Luckily there is a team in place attempting to ensure its future.

Things change but we also have to accept that we change along the way. You do the same thing over again and the law of diminishing returns kicks in - nothing will ever replace our first time . Luckily for me, nothing has changed.

Standing in my marshal's hut with super bikes cranked over drifting towards me hard in fourth or fifth. Protected by two hay bales. I'm struggling to find that boring. The promenade is sanitised, but the racing certainly isn't. The organisers have to adapt and change. I don't like all of the changes, but I do applaud them for keeping the event viable and relevant. My daughter loves the Fan Park/Paddock/Bushy's at the Villa etc. I don't so much, but she is the future and there remains plenty for me to love about the place.......except the schedule! I've been coming since the 70's and think the racing is better than ever, except the schedule!

The racing is better than it has ever been. It's always close nowadays.

I miss the old atmosphere of Douglas and the old freedoms we enjoyed but things are changing and I'm the past and not the future (I'm the present though).

My real issue is the schedule, too much. I could say, don't watch the racing if you want to do other things but i can't do that, if the races are on, I'll be in the hedgerows.

I agree the schedule needs fixing in some capacity. My one major issue is the time between warm up laps/ races and the next race. I understand it is all very procedural these days but would love the gaps to be reduced. Can be upwards of 1.5 hours before you see the next bike.

I'm with changing the schedule back to something like the previous one,
The BMW 85th anniversary parade lap! where did that come from,
 OK, I know it went back there too, but come on,
 who has ever heard of an 85th celebration of anything, maybe 'appen your old 'uns (or your own!) birthday!

Re: 'prom entertainment' , I have often wondered did those that came over in the 40s & 50s (& 60s?) think 'what the hell is going on, this isn't TT!' when the wheelies & naked burnouts etc started in the 80s & 90s?

Would be interesting if the Steam Packet would produce stats for average length of stay for the event. This year I opted for the TT Taster, Thurs to Thurs of Practice week, £140 bike+rider, first time I have not been race week. The boat was crammed with bikes leaving the Island on Practice week Thursday, so wonder if the revenue produced for Island business over the two weeks has dropped from the ‘good old days’ when more people stayed for a two week holiday.

One surprisingly good thing, was the ACU WhatsApp feed

Having spent every opportunity, with surveys etc. I always made the point of mentioning that in most communications they fail to communicate any rationale.

On the final days racing, when the schedule changed, they also communicated that the 'parade' laps were going ahead as the riders wanted time between the races to prepare for the next one

Well done, and a great way to shut the social media keyboard warriors!

(12-06-2024, 02:55 PM)captainsparkledotcom Wrote: Re: 'prom entertainment' , I have often wondered did those that came over in the 40s & 50s (& 60s?) think 'what the hell is going on, this isn't TT!' when the wheelies & naked burnouts etc started in the 80s & 90s?

A very good point, well made

I'm sure that for those people always wanting to bring back those days, it was the only time they ever saw a naked boob in their entire lives !