Oh Alf885, where does one start......

Early morning practice was something we, who took part, either as competitor or spectator, marshall or spannerman, will never ever forget...

Yes, it meant getting up early but that WAS the TT requirement right up to just a short time ago...

The Soup/Coffee (and Hot Chocolate too) Tent was THE meeting place and I personally met so many friendly people there after practice and this was about 7am, and most of us had been up and about more than three hours.

I never heard anyone complain....If anyone has not tried getting up at 3.30 am and seen the sunrise out over Douglas Bay, well, they haven't lived.

This is why we stalwarts tried to recreate the time last year (07) and MUST do it again in 2008, but earlier !!

Also we must have noises-off to recreate it properly, all we need is a good quality tape player and suitable soundtrack.....then watch a few of us blubbering !!

I have an old reel-to-reel tape of four four-cylinder Hondas (early 60s) going through the Finish and I will see if I can put it on CD and play it in 2008...What a glorious bird-waking noise. Glencrutchery road had a pile of guano after practice as the birds, woken up early, s*** themselves...We nearly did TOO..

Another chapter for my book with pictures !!