Interesting how different people have different concepts of what that the TT is all about, things change over various decades, and to mamy the TT today would be comlete;y alien to those who knew it and experienced in in the 50s/70s.

Gone are the days when it was a family affair and the Liverpool doocks wre heaving and buzzing with people from all walks of life and financial means. Men in trilby hats and gaberdine macs humping the suitcases with the wife and kids in tow heading for their favourite barding house for the annual holiday, I an will rember, all inter mingling together with motor cycle enthusiasts on evering from Bantam to Vincents.

Bikes crammed footrest to footrest from the docks In Douglas along the fron to Onchan and ever back street, rider of every ability in garages were peoplecoould stand and watch riders doing there own spanneriing even the stars of the day, an amazing ecperience of equals, so diiferent to today with the stars with there £1m motor homes hidden away in a paddock that no one can get bear, the new concept of merchandising everything, if it ain't making money don't do it.

Sure these stars of today on the incredible machinery that is produced, and far beyond the dreams of riders of the past and their financial capability to own. No longer part of the continental circus armosphere, it elimanates all but the very rich or with a lot of sposorship from participating. However that is progess for better of worse.

I am the opinion that the spectators get poor value for money, such short races, only 60 starters instead of 120 plus resrves lack of variety and isolation from riders and bikes to really get the flavour of what the TT is all abouut and it original concept, now it is dictated by money and mmanufacturer film rights etc. possibibly a total change of mentality of what wets the appetite, one thing for certain is that every rider who I have spoken from the 50s/70s, in united in the same opinion without exception "we had the best years".

No one could ever decry the outstanding ability of todays riders on the missiles they are riding today.

Times change sometimes for the better sometimes not it is a matter opinion.

I am most grateful to all those have messaged me a visited me since the loss of my sight and wife partivlarly Jan from Oz who came last September. Life goes on and we adapt to changes or walk away.