Just wondering what is the maximum number of riders allowed to start a solo race on the TT course ?  Can this alter depending on the race itself or the amount of laps ?

First year I did the Manx I was 104 in the Junior and wasn't last away. Quite a few years ago though.

The maximum riders are depending on the lap times of the front runners. The quicker they get, the less time they have to get them off the start line. Short of sending them off in pairs again ( unlikley), they are limited to the number of riders per race.

Another follow on question how does the starter decide the 10 second intervals has he a large clock with a second hand on his pedastal ?

(24-04-2015, 02:05 PM)Kursaal Flyer Wrote: Another follow on question how does the starter decide the 10 second intervals has he a large clock with a second hand on his pedastal ?

As far as I've seen the starter gets an optical signal from the race direction in the small tower to the right of the track.

I've set off at 115 with 116 as the last pair away. but no 13 so 115 starters in pairs. Starting 9min 30sec after first man, if you did that now singly there would be people lapped before they started!  Dogsbody

why did they drop pair starts , was it a lack of entry during another decade ?

(24-04-2015, 03:09 PM)Kursaal Flyer Wrote: why did they drop pair starts , was it a lack of entry during another decade ?

I think (but not 100% sure) it was on safety grounds.

Have had a start number of 121 i think in the TT Proddy race,
111 i think was the highest in the Manx Classic,
Did ask for a higher start number after practise, but got refused,
Never mind just had more people to pass on the road, after being i think that year first/second quickest all through practise,
Its fun passing 5/6 people on the run into Braddan on the first lap ! Lol

(24-04-2015, 03:09 PM)Kursaal Flyer Wrote: why did they drop pair starts , was it a lack of entry during another decade ?

Safety.

(24-04-2015, 03:47 PM)c iom tt Wrote:

(24-04-2015, 03:09 PM)Kursaal Flyer Wrote: why did they drop pair starts , was it a lack of entry during another decade ?

Safety.

It was because of safety.  I accept this as an explanation for the sidecars after the Mac Hobson / Kenny Birch tragedy but I can't understand why the races set off singly yet they go off in pairs during practice...

It depends who the pair are!
I don't think the organiser's would want Guy Martin and Gary Johnson going of together this year.

Just make it a 5 second gap not 10. Halves the time first to last or doubles the number of starters and stops two bikes hitting the top of Bray together. Dogsbody

(24-04-2015, 12:09 PM)Kursaal FlyerJust wondering what is the maximum number of riders allowed to start a solo race on the TT course ?  Can this alter depending on the race itself or the amount of laps ? Wrote: -- Since the seeding system was introduced, the maximum is about 75 for 600/Lightweight/Sidecar races. I think the superbike and Senior races is 70 because of their quicker lap times and the threat of the front guys catching the later starters too soon. 

These things have a life of their own, somebody came up with the bright idea of solo starting following Steve Henshaw and James Whitham coming together at Quarry Bends in 1989. This despite the fact that this was on lap two and no one has ever had an issue circulating together since or before. Overtaking is part of racing.

Now the TT is limited to 70 starters so there are full entry lists but not record entries! The MGP is restricted now to 90 starters.

Classic TT limited to 70 starters too so I believe.

70 is quite a low figure considering that the whole field gets away in less than 12 minutes.  I know the street furnitue then has to be removed but that still leaves at least a 5 minute gap even if the first person away is on lap record pace.