I think it is a sad loss to the TT that the "Parade Lap", or "Lap of Honour" has now been dropped.
In my opinion the TT needs something different to keep all of the crowds happy, and not getting fed up by basically watching the same type of machinery racing lap after lap, race after race, and the classic laps made people sit up to watch, listen and smell the bikes of yesteryear, as history is unfurled before their very eyes.
I remember, which i believed, was the first "Lap of Honour" in 1979 to celebrate the "Millenium Year", when Read and Sutees 500 MVs, and Percy Tait, 750 Triumph, having a right ding-dong across the mountain, with Tait getting in front just before the finish. They came round "Signpost Corner", close to race speed, the 2 MVs side by side, with Taits front wheel in between the rear wheels of the MVs. Blink and you would have missed them.
There have been some great parades since, them and thanks to the late Allan Robinson MBE, he accepted my entry to ride in the parade, on 5 occassions, for which i will be eternally grateful.
A month ago i sold the Rob North Rocket 3, having owned it for 25 years, because i would never ride it again and then went out a bought a BSA Gold Star Clubman, to relive my teenage years when i owned one in 1968.
The old bikes to me, have character and are all indeviduals, something that is sorely lacking in todays plastic rocket ships.
Below. TT.2000. My last parade on the island.