(27-04-2020, 12:15 PM)easyasmith@yahoo.co.uk Wrote: Many happy memories over many years but first impressions stick uppermost in the mind. Arriving from Liverpool on a fine overnight sailing in 1974 as driver/mechanic/gopher to Alan Jones (125 and 250 entrant) in a crammed Thames van laden with a 125cc Maico, spares, tools etc. with a small space left for a 250 TZ Yamaha which was to be delivered brand new to the island by Dugdales.
Upon disembarking we laboured along the front and up Broadway to St Ninians crossroads just in time to see Paul Smart and Stan Woods scream through on the works RG 500 Suzukis in first morning practice - awesome! 
After signing on and following a tip from Tom Herron we made our way to Esplanade Mews, a little lane which runs behind the Central Promenade to beg workshop space in a Taxi garage run by the amiable Mr Cubbin who gave us a rent free slot on the understanding that we cut up and disposed of a Mk.4 Ford Zodiac that was lying rusting at the rear of the shop. A busy afternoon with the oxy/acet. cutter and a old Transit pick-up cleared us space. After all the hard work was done we were joined for the next two weeks by Clive Horton with his 125 Yamaha, Neil Tuxworth (with what seemed like very make an model of bright yellow racing Yamahas supplied by Henstocks) and the sidecar crews of Fred Cornbill/Gordon Tinkler and Trevor Youens with passenger Ray Moon. All the guys were were willing and able to help each other and made working days and nights a pleasure.
As an aside the workshop had a Villiers engined Go-Kart hanging on the wall, having been raced by Mr Cubbins son who had lost interest - during the course of the TT the Kart was fired up and run along the Prom hardly raising an eyebrow and even getting a wave past the traffic island by the cop in white helmet who directed traffic from his tub at the junction of the Prom at the bottom of Broadway just outside the Central Hotel/Bar.
We lodged at the excellent Ascot Braada Hotel owned and run by Mrs Sabey on Empire Terrace tucked in behind the Castle Mona. The guest list ran like a who's who of TT stars including Charlie Williams and Phil Carpenter who were both to lift winners laurels in race week.
Dugdales TT garage was just across the street from the Ascot Hotel and we picked up the new/unused 250 TZ still with Japanese air in the tyres - within hours the bike was stripped down and made TT ready, although the TZ's were over the counter racers, sage advice led to quite a few mods to tackle the mountain circuit - changes onto Dunlop Tyres/Ferodo brake linings/Renolds Chain were made at no charge, Alan had placed 5th in the 1974 Ultra Lighweight TT and the kudos resulted in welcome offers from 'The Trade'.
Long days in the workshop and wild nights in the bars meant both practice and race weeks passed in a flash, breaks were taken by riding the circuit on a ratty Triumph Speedtwin and pootling around Douglas on borrowed Bantam. My first foray down Bray Hill flat out on the Bantam (50 mph) led to a heartstopper when the front brake lever fulcrum bolt vibrated out and flew away just as a truck pulled out of the crossroads at the bottom (flew by his front bumper by millimetres).
Island curses resulted in DNF's whilst running strong on both the 125 and 250, so nothing more to do than join in the celebrations of both Charlie Williams and Phil Carpenter. All in all a magical first visit to the island which has drawn me back time and time again as a spectator/sponsor/parade rider etc etc.
Sorry to hear the TT is cancelled this year, I fear the Manx GP/Classic TT may not go ahead but having booked ferries/hotel one can only hope. If all goes well I will take up residence in the Empress Hotel and look forward to meeting both old and new friends on another Island Adventure