Thanks for the replies guys.

I did infact get my race licence last year and joined the North Gloucester club with the express intention on doing a few race meetings and then doing the Manx in 2005(I did in fact send an email to the folks at manxnewcomers but i never got a reply). Unfortunately my circumstances changed (I couldnt afford to do it) and so I have put the project on hold for a while.

The only reason I got far as getting my licence was purely and simply to have the chance of riding around the mountain course on closed roads. Fingers crossed that I will be in a position to do it next year .