This is one for the Boffs !

Youngest ever starter for the TT or Manx ?  (What is the lowest age that a rider coud compete ? )

Oldest Newcomer TT or Manx ?

Oldest Competitor TT or Manx ?  ( returning rider )

I have just checked the ACU web site and provided the meetings were available somebody 13/14 could get to a national level licence . But the TT course licence has no mention of a lower age level limit, so at what age is the lowest age the TT /Manx organisers would accept a rider ?

theres a rumour john hopkins dad rode and won the tt but was disqualified when found to be only 15
as far as i know this has never been proved

(29-12-2014, 10:50 AM)Kursaal Flyer Wrote: This is one for the Boffs !

Youngest ever starter for the TT or Manx ?  (What is the lowest age that a rider coud compete ? )

Oldest Newcomer TT or Manx ?

Oldest Competitor TT or Manx ?  ( returning rider )

Arthur Wheeler would have to be one of the oldest - in his early 70's methinks - i'm sure I recall Arthur at the Manx in 1990, my TZ350 mate Gordon Farmer who won the Senior Manx in 82 - first competed at the Manx at the age of 18.

KF, these are excellent questions.
I have a feeling that 18 years old on the first day of the year is the youngest you can have an entry for any Mountain Course race. But I don't actually know!
I reckon that Arthur Wheeler is the oldest rider to have competed in any event on the Mountain Course, at something like 77 years old. It was in the Classic Manx in the late 80s, but once again, I don't actually know.
The only rider that I know of who is over 70 and competing is my good friend Keith Dixon of Accrington, who rode this year, and was born on the 1st April 1943, but I reckon Arthur Browning must be a close 2nd.
Roy Hanks must be the oldest current TT competitor, who is (I think) 66years old.
There are a few 18 year olds to have ridden the TT. Mike Hailwood is one, and Stanley Woods is another. I'm sure there are more.

I thought Steve Murray was the oldest TT rider?

I am sure that Roy Hanks is older than Steve Murray was when he last rode.

(29-12-2014, 12:50 PM)c iom tt Wrote: I thought Steve Murray was the oldest TT rider?

Steve Murray probably told you that Mike,  there was a thread on this subject on the dark side forum, I mentioned that Ian Dugdale may have qualified as possibly being one of the youngest to race the mountain course and someone mentioned some rider who I cant remember, like some others on here I am on the DED hitsquad black list so I cant check that thread maybe some of there goodie members on here can. 

Another sidecar driver who maybe one to consider for the eldest current competitor is Tony Baker - I believe he is in his late 60's.

I am not sure, but Denis Gallagher was a good age when he was still competing in lots of the Irish National races. What I'm not sure about is whether he was competing on the mountain in his later years. Sadly passed away now.

Anyone know?

Cheers,
Deek

Michael Dunlop in the 2006 Manx gp was supposedly 18 at the time but a couple of years ago he mysteriously became a year younger again. Something to do with wanting to go racing so his dad got the pen out!

(29-12-2014, 01:35 PM)spannerman Wrote:

(29-12-2014, 12:50 PM)c iom tt Wrote: I thought Steve Murray was the oldest TT rider?

Steve Murray probably told you that Mike,  there was a thread on this subject on the dark side forum, I mentioned that Ian Dugdale may have qualified as possibly being one of the youngest to race the mountain course and someone mentioned some rider who I cant remember, like some others on here I am on the DED hitsquad black list so I cant check that thread maybe some of there goodie members on here can. 

Although I would no consider myself as one of the 'goodie members'  I have just had a quick look over on the dark side. ( and had to log in to see the database which I was not overly happy about) there was a thread about youngest and oldest riders.
Ian Dugdale was sid to be the youngest when he set off in 1987 a fewdays after his 18th birthday.
Aurthur Wheeler was said to be the oldest 73-74 years old.
I mentioned Steve Murray because I remember having a convesation with Bill Smith and Steves son many years back about him being refused an entry as he had gone over the age limit.
The database shows him competing in the 2000 TT which was his last ( cancelled for 2001 foot and mouth).
Also Bill, this is what you posted on the thread!
'Steve Murray from Chester,  Steve has ridden in the TT since 1960,  he has only missed competing in the TT Races four years! Steve's last race was in 2000 he was 69,  Steve has raced longer than anyone in the NW200 races, i think his first race was 1957, Chance for JM130 yet'

P.S
Aurthur Wheeler competed in the TT between 1937 and 1962 and the Manx between 1983 and 1989.
52 year racing span on the Mountain Course aint to shabby!

Also in recent years, the late Robin Daykin was in his 70's when he raced in the 2011/2012 TT races. (According to a quick Google search to a Daily Mail article, he was 75 in 2012 - although he and Annette didn't race, after a spin at Glen Helen in practice left Annette with minor fractures, however, they completed Sidecar Race B in 2011; which makes Robin a TT Racer at the age of 74).

Possible contender for Oldest TT Newcomer, Les Judkins 1989 aged 58? (Still racing classics in 2012 and maybe latre)

(29-12-2014, 05:26 PM)Dougboy Wrote: Possible contender for Oldest TT Newcomer, Les Judkins 1989 aged 58? (Still racing classics in 2012 and maybe latre)

Les finished one race, that was in the Manx, his first in 1989,  are you saying he has raced on the mountain of recent?  Les daughter was a friend of my daughter when we were over for the Manx, one of his children was seriously ill and I thought he said he would not return to the island.

I think Steve Murray must have seen a few races sat at the side of the course 45 DNF's must be a record!

(29-12-2014, 05:59 PM)Matjac Wrote: I think Steve Murray must have seen a few races sat at the side of the course 45 DNF's must be a record!

Ha ha,  I always wanted to say that to Steve "head mechanic in charge at Bill Smiths"  but I never had the guts to say it to his face, I would never have heard the last, good idea Mat for another tread the most DNFs

I'm sure I came across in practice the very very long seized gearbox skidmark, large bits of classic bike and Arthur Wheeler being loaded into the helicopter on the Mountain Mile in 1990, there was loads of us stopped up there as they couldn't safely land the chopper on the grass incline/bank either side of the road so had to land on the road. It would explain why he didn't get a "competed" tag for 1990, either that or I have finally lost the plot. I can remember thinking this guy is superhuman, he's at least 3 times older than me and he's still out here havin' it. I think Arthur was 84 when he passed on in 2001.

Arthur Wheeler TT 1956 on a 250cc Monoalbero