Sitting in Braddan Churchyard, early one morning in '66, still wearing helmets and gloves, it's flippin' cold. The only sound was the birds and the chatter of the marshals.
In the distance a multi fires up and you can trace its passage from the start, down Bray Hill and along the Braddan Straight. Down one gear, down two gears then - silence. Seconds later Mike the Bike and his Honda six slide into view on their sides. Seems he missed a gear! After a quick check over the bike, he restarted and rode up the Braddan slip road and back to the pits, reappearing later that morning, he didn't miss a gear on that second lap!