Blimey I miss an evening and there’s a load more to take in.
Ken, I can certainly appreciate where you are coming from and I agree it is a very difficult subject. I am all for change (its part of my job) as long as it’s done in the right way and for the right reasons.

Personal opinion I don’t think the difference in machine/power is that much greater in the classics than the modern. Speed trap figures can be a bit misleading however in the ultralightweight Oli Linsdells 400 was 24mph faster than my 125 and only bettered by 4 of the 250’s. The 400 I was with on the road was so much faster I couldn’t keep in his slipstream. The best 400’s are double the power of the worst.
I would put the classes biggest to least difference in this order, Ultralightweight, Lightweight classic, Senior classic, Lightweight, Junior classic, Senior and Junior.
At one of the last CRMC race meetings I did a few years ago Glen English was riding the Molnar Manx in the first race a lead group of 6 riders were all within 10s of each other and about 30s clear of the next rider in an 8 lap race. Glen blew his bike in that race. In the second race he rode Andy’s 350 Lansdown bike. He was about 10s back from the lead group but still nearly 30s up on the next group, which included several super short stroke machines.
In a very roundabout way the point I’m trying to make is that the biggest discrepancy is the riders but this will always be the case with the classics as there is no where to progress to. This is as much of a problem at short circuits as it is at the Manx.
The level playing field is a very objective thing. How do you define level? I think this is entirely down to personal perspective. Personally I think the only bike which has a major advantage is the Patton. I don’t think any of the Honda’s are that much better and would go as far as to say in the junior a good single is better than any Honda. I believe that our Ducati is easily good enough to win, it’s just a shame about the pilot!
I have to agree with Will if you look at the results the classics are more level now than they have ever been, especially in the top half of the field. 10 years ago only the top 5 or 6 were getting replicas out of the best part of 60 finishers that’s less than 5%, now it’s 40%.
I agree the fields are smaller now. Some of this may be due to the “pro’s” at the front but personally I believe that the two biggest impacts have been from the reintroduction of the Honda’s (small decrease 1st year much bigger 2nd and then gradual decline) and the mountain course licence very similar trend to the Honda’s.
What you can do to get numbers back up is the challenge. The only possible answer I have come up with is to run a post classic class concurrently.

Will I have a suspicion as to who one of the 2 riders you mentioned is. If my suspicion is correct it’s a sad day for classic racing.

Shipley I believe that this is the first year this has happened but I could be wrong. If it comes down to a choice of having a few TT pro’s at the front or having a substantially increased entry fee I know which I would chose.

The which you could just cut out the middle man and give the choc’s straight to my wife! For me I would much prefer you to keep on wearing that orange jacket.

On which note can I in advance thank all those who will be marshalling, we couldn’t do it without you. I hope not to meet any of you other than in the beer tent.

Incidentally the MV which started this topic was indeed ridden by Phil Sharp at the Bob Mac it didn’t destroy all who came before it and I don’t expect it to do so at the Manx. I may be proved wrong wouldn’t be the first time.

Last thing, constructive debate like this where as many people as possible can put opinions, thoughts and ideas in the open is how solutions are found and could be very good for the long term future of the Manx.