TT 2007 Thanks
After what felt like a lifetime of planning the Centenary of the TT has been and gone and other than the dreadful accident which occurred last Friday, there is no doubting that it was a resounding success.
Before I go any further I would like to offer my own sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those people killed and injured in Fridays accident. There are no words that can truly help at a time like this, but the people of the Isle of Man are thinking about you all, and to those who are battling injuries sustained during this accident or at other times during the Festival, we send our wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery.
I would like to take the opportunity to put on record my thanks to all those people who played their part in making the Centenary TT a success. I will no doubt miss someone out in this list, which I apologise for in advance.
In no particular order I would like to thank the following people and organisations
The riders, teams, mechanics and everyone else that played a part on putting on the show on the track and bringing the circus to town. It was a mega race meeting and it was a credit to everyone involved.
Big thanks to the people of the Isle of Man who let their population of their homeland almost double for two weeks. Many people thought we would struggle, but as always, the people of this wonderful Island came up trumps, rose to the challenge and played their part in an event to remember and be proud of.
The Manx Motor Cycle Club for a tremendous effort in organising the best TT races in decades and the staff of the ACU involved in the organisation of this event. Special thanks to Neil Hanson for his support and advice to me personally over the past 12 months and the hard working girls in the office.
The Isle of Man TT Marshals Association for a fabulous job in difficult circumstances as always. The level of positive feedback this year from riders concerning marshalling is unsurpassed, and everyone involved in the organisation should be proud of a job well done.
Motorsport Medical Services headed up by Dr David Stevens did another fantastic job, and my thanks go out to him and all the medical personnel including the air med team headed up by Kit Pemberton for a superb effort.
Ian Thompson, Bruce Hannay and everyone at the Department of Transport for an excellent job on planning and managing the road network and traffic management issues before and during TT.
Will Greenhow, Gary Roberts, Carolyn Kinrade and all the staff at the Department of Home Affairs and Isle of Man Police Force for an excellent job policing the Festival and Robert Williamson and the team at the Communications Division.
My colleagues at the Department of Tourism and Leisure for their support and enthusiasm over the past 12 months especially my own little team of Jacquie and Bruce who quite literally couldnt have worked any harder stars the pair of you. Also Jordana, Helen Gibson and all the others who have given up their time to help us out in the office.
My Grandstand A Team! The Sherwins Nigel, Bob, Andrew and Dave, Gary Christian, Beryl and Chas Corris. True TT fans each and every one of you who gave up your time week after week to make the TT infrastructure that little bit better. I hope you have had as much craic as I have, and I promise the night out is on its way!
Stuart and Tony at Signature Sponsorship a job well done in the most difficult of circumstances. Talk about a baptism of fire! The same for Simon Crellin at the Media Foundry. Collectively you have steered the TT to a more professional level and played an enormous part in securing its future well done!
Thanks to Roy Wilson and the team at Motorsport Merchandise a real friend who entertained Beaty and I for hours this TT.
All the team at Mannin Media Steve, Terry, Steve, Chris, Alan well done on a fantastic TT Programme it is a credit to you all.
Thanks to Joanna and the team at Network Agencies I bet youve never worked with anyone as pernickety as me before! Thanks for being so understanding.
Peter, Gavin, Phil and all the team at Duke for a tremendously professional job in all aspects of the TT which you worked on.
Massive thanks to Lloyd and Tracey Mister for passion for the TT trophies and being so helpful all year, despite too many last minute changes of plan to mention. Also to Stuart and Chris and the rest of the team at G4S.
A big well done to all the team at Manx Radio TT an iconic part of the event that is as much TT as mist on the mountain. Extra special thanks to Ant and Dec Chris and Tim. No job is ever too much hassle and it really is an absolute ball working with you.
All our sponsors Bennetts, Pokerstars, Bavaria, Suzuki, Dunlop, Motor Cycle News, Unisys, Sure Communications and Arai for your support and for putting your faith in us to deliver. We have proved we can do it and have you all to thank for your support.
Special thanks to Mr Ferry Brouwer of Arai for all his personal support and guidance over the past year it would have been impossible without you mate. Big thanks also to the rest of the team there especially Olaf and Wendy.
Well done and thanks to all the guys in the TT Timing Team especially Chris, Angus and Ritchie - a job very well done.
Thanks to Seamus Byrne at EuroManx and Brian Convery at the Steam Packet for trying to accommodate all our last minute requests it would have fell flat on its face without you guys.
The wonderful Anna Goldsmith for her fabulous performances at the various events over TT, especially the lastminute.com one at the Centenary Dinner.
Speaking of the Dinner big thanks to Paul Lindsay and all the team at Careva for a wonderfully professional event despite our best efforts to derail you at the last minute. A special mention to Lee Watson for his help right at the last minute also. Cheers fella.
Dick Hodge, Ray Knight, Tony East and the members of the VMCC for the fantastic St Johns Re-enactment the highlight for the TT for me well done guys.
Malcolm Wheeler for bags of advice and support over a ten month period, and for listening to me moaning a lot!
Mark Kneen and all the staff at the Hilton for a terrific job for us at all our events � well done everyone. Big shout to Rebecca as well for putting it all in place � good luck with your new job!
The staff at the Villa Marina for their assistance at the various events we put on there, and also to the riders and other personalities who let us use them and abuse them at the TT Chat Show fair play to you all!
Anton, Mike and all the lads in the Specialist Department the TT wouldnt happen without you and the rest of the unsung heroes! Enjoy the Stella!
Phil Plater at Dunlop thanks for all your support tome and the rest of the TT organisation, and for trying and failing to make me smile for two weeks!
Thanks to all at Shaun Muir Racing who worked on the Hospitality it was brilliant and you all acted above and beyond the call of duty.
Thanks to Roshin, Carly, Leander, Amy, Laura, Stacey, Ashley and all the other girls who worked for us during TT fortnight and generally made the place look a little bit easier on the eye!
Thank you to Frances and Tom Thorpe and all at the TTRA and the Graham, Mike, Roy, Rose and team at the TTSC for another vital job well done.
Thank you to Wynn Evans for doing the most difficult of jobs in the most professional or manners, and also thanks to all the staff at Nobles Hospital for the part they play in the event.
Many thanks to Harvey, Dorrie and all the Scruitineer team for their efforts and many a long hard day.
I am sure that there are stacks more people that I should be thanking, but that is all I can think of at the minute, besides my own family and friends. Massive thanks to my family, especially my wife Julie and little Molly for putting up with not having a husband or daddy for the past few months. Im sorry.
And also to my mates the best mates in the world the red arrows! Milky, Beaty, Dan, Bernie, Lurch, Dad, Nige, Jonesy, Moffy, Wally, Phil Wain, Pete Jones, Juan and the rest of you, Id get nothing done if it wasnt for you all. True die hard fans of the TT, rock hard grafters and a mega laugh, each and every one of you. I owe you everything!
Thanks to everyone else who played their part in making TT 2007 the event it deserved to be.
Paul
