Ben Oates Wrote:I have to agree with most of the comments in this thread. I have never seen a TT this quiet with such a dull atmosphere. I haven't spoke to anyone yet who has a different view.

The event is now being run and controlled by health and safety conscious profit making organisations. It's hard to envisage where this leaves the future of the event. In order to keep the masses happy, amongst many other things, they will need to take a step backwards with respect to the prohibited areas and be upfront with the public, but could that ever realistically happen?

Beepee, we will be lucky to see 60 starters in a race next week, very lucky.

Been reading this thread with increasing sadness, and this post seemed to hit the nail on the head for me, summarising all my fears for this wonderful event.

I did wonder if the recent announcement that the ACU's insurance wouldn't cover any areas not signed prohibited, would lead to an awful lot of PA's springing up and a corresponding increase in spectating that was only accessible to paying customers. It's fair enough that the Islanders make money from the TT but milking it for all it's worth is going to squeeze it dry. As Shaun says, alienate the locals and you will lose the support the races need to continue.

The ACU, over the past 20 years or so, have evolved from a club of sports enthusiasts with little interest (or aptitude) for business and marketing, to a slick profitmaking machine with less interest in the participants than the money they generate. I've also noted a bias towards mainland circuits (the ones owned by the ACU's Board of Directors). An uncharitable person might think the ACU were intent on milking the TT into nonexistence (but making as much money as possible in the process), however I would prefer to think they simply need to think a bit more about keeping the local support for the event.