I just want to know, is the biggest complaint the TT rider's on the bikes, the eligibility of the bikes themselves or the "factory team" nature of people such as Paton that annoys people the most?

Professional riders and Factory teams are both outside the original/traditional values of the manx. However history is littered with examples of factory supported riders from companies such as matchless and greeves competing at and winning the manx in the actual classic period.

Secondly as David stated earlier there is no comparible class at the TT for classic bikes, and therefore the Manx Classic race is the premier road racing event for classic bikes. Although there is no money available for the competitors at the manx, like it or not classic bike racing is big business, look at the cost of a new manx, g50, paton, davies honda............therefore it makes sense that the manufacturers would want to showcase their products at the highest level. I think we can all see the logic in this?

So having decided that you want to showcase your product at the manx grand prix you need to secure the services of a rider capable of winning. Bill Swallow rides for Dick Linton, Alan Oversby rides for Ted Woof, Bob Heath has retired Glen English has stopped doing the manx, as has Milky Quayle, Bruno Leroy, Bill Horsman, Derek Whalley, Graham Rhodes........In fact if you look at the list of the fastest classic riders a lot have retired or in several cases are no longer with us. I do accept that riders such as Alan Brew, Wattie Brown, Rich Hawkins and Paul Coward are all very capable however they also have their own sponsors or enjoy riding their own bikes (my Dad turned down several competitive 350 rides because we loved the thrill of taking people on with the Greeves). There are very few young classic riders coming to the Manx, Chris Swallow is a good prospect, Oli Linsdell is too (though he is now a TT rider :S), I intend to do it one day, so do several other young guys I race classic bikes with, but the most logical step is to look to riders outside of the classic races who are capable of winning at the manx, i.e. TT riders, I personally don't think they should get paid to race at the manx but the people running them stand to gain a lot from a strong performance so inevitably money has started changing hands.

If Ryan Farquar bought a Paton and a 350 Honda with his own money would people still object to him being there?

On the subject of the TT course license I totally agree with Barry. I also think a sensible change would be to consider the merits of the events competed in........ it seems ridiculous to me that racing in 5 seperate classes on 5 different bikes at a meeting like the Pre-TT classic is only worth the same as finishing last in a heat at Tonfanau in february?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Will