(08-06-2015, 05:12 PM)excollier Wrote: Can someone remind me why the early morning practices were stopped please? It used to be all done and dusted by 7 a.m. and roads opened. I know, as a marshal in the late eighties, it was a bit tough getting up at 4 a.m. but the roads were quiet and the marshals and the very hardy were the only traffic, fewer accidents.

good question, and I look forward to the answers.  I marshalled in 1985, and  once having dragged myself  from my pit, actually being at Handley's, or Barregarrow, 11th milestone, etc.,  it was superb listening to the bikes approaching from about 4 miles way - surely early practice would be over before the come-overs get up to go to their merchant banks and insurance companies?

And once practice was over, my old fashioned Landlady, Mrs  Blackburn and her husband Brian treated me like a hero, with a wonderful, huge breakfast! I stayed at "Bonivard"   The Broadway, wonder what's there now?