I agree with a lot of what you say there, Don (quid novum?), but what is sad is that the people who do finish, as Bill described...the roads must still be closed, get no welcome when they finish.
Many of you will be sick of hearing my wee story about meeting Hailwood at the 77 Manx, but I assure you, when I met him, only he and I were in that finishing area, and the rider I was waiting for finished a few minutes later, followed by the course car. He was delighted thay had slowed to let him finish, but astonished to find not a soul but me there!