bsa499
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RE: Best TT Memories.
Following on from my earlier post on this thread, I’ve been asked a number of times what was my favourite section of the course. I don’t have one, but many - Glen Vine, Greeba Castle, from Ballacraine to Lambfell, Barregarrow (top and bottom) the 13th Milestone, Rhencullen, Kerrowmoar, Glentramman, the Verandah, the left-hander before the Bungalow, Brandywell, the 32nd Milestone, Cronk-ny-Mona and, of course the Glencrutchery Road are amongst them. My favourite of all though is the 33rd Milestone. Most of my TT Course experience was gained on my own BSA B50, not known for speed, but still a very pleasing ride and after several practice attempts I could negotiate the 33rd flat in top and ‘under the shed, what a memory!
My TT Course ‘competitive career’ ended at the 26th Milestone during the 2014 Senior Classic TT as a result of a collapsed rear wheel. I was knocked unconscious after hitting the bank on the outside of the left-hander followed by (I assume) an aerial trip over the bank and a helicopter journey to Nobles. I only know this as the marshal on duty (who I contacted later to express my thanks) saw, out of the corner of his eye, me and my machine flying into the field. Also following the incident my team went to recover the machine and took photos of the banking and my ‘landing site’. Obviously this doesn’t seem to be one of my ‘Best TT Memories’ but, in a sense it was as I got away essentially uninjured. Bruised and battered, yes but nothing broken and no long-term damage, also I was treated brilliantly by the hospital staff.
This incident prompted a change from competing to marshalling. My wife and I have marshalled at many locations and we have many great memories as a result. Obviously we haven’t marshalled everywhere, but some of the places that have provided us with great memories are Windy Corner, the Bottom of Barregarrow, the 11th Milestone, Signpost, Bedstead, The Nook, the Helicopter Field approaching Glen Helen, the Quarry Bends and the Sulby Crossroads. We’ll be back, when Covid-19 allows, marshalling wherever there’s a shortage. We can’t wait.
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03-04-2020, 11:16 AM |
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easyasmith@yahoo.co.uk
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RE: Best TT Memories.
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
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27-04-2020, 12:15 PM |
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laverda77
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RE: Best TT Memories.
(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
Really enjoyed this story and all the others.
Had a garage day myself today,trying to fit a carb upgrade to a Yamaha xt,listening to Manx radio on an old I pad,when news came through of Mgp cancellation came through,no suprise,so ive decided to send for a box of Manx kippers for friends and family.
now if only i could get some Okells beer.
(This post was last modified: 04-05-2020, 10:31 PM by Malcolm.)
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04-05-2020, 10:07 PM |
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veefour
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RE: Best TT Memories.
OK, here we go with a few of my TT memories. Some have been lost in the ageing grey matter, but there are some that seem as plain as yesterday. My first time was Friday 16th June 1967 with my late brother, a Motor Cycle News ! day trip for the Friday races. This entailed taking a train from Reading to London then another to Liverpool, it must have been a midnight ferry because i remember we had breakfast in a cafe on Douglas seafront, then went on a coach trip round the course. We then made our way to Bray Hill where we got a spot on the inside of the course near the bottom. The first race was the 50cc. The sight & sound of 24 screaming 50s in a mass start hurtling down the hill was unbelievable !! After it finished we made our way up to the start & sat on the wall on the inside just before the finish line. Here we witnessed the Hailwood / Agostini battle where Ago's chain broke & Mike won, I was hooked from then on.
I returned the following year for the week this time when we watched the Read / Ivy duel with little Bill doing the 100mph lap on the 125cc Yamaha & also Ago doing what was to become his famous leap. I also got sunburnt. On to 1972, this year i remember for other reasons apart from the racing. Along with a couple of mates we made the 200 + miles journey to Liverpool in an old Bedford Van ( the one with sliding doors, that would not lock ! ) which i had bought for less than £50 ! & left it parked up somewhere near the docks. In the boarding house we stayed at worked a pretty young waitress. Well, one of lads fell for her hook line & sinker but it took until our last Friday evening for him to pluck up courage to ask her to come down the pub. They eventually got married & remain so to this day. And yes the Van made it back home again !!
Many years followed inc. 1975, 1976 & 1978 when of course Mike the Bike made his fantastic come back after 11 years.Then came several visits in the 1980s inc. marveling at the talents of Joey Dunlop . Camping at a muddy Glen Dhoo in 87. Going over in 1989 on my new VFR 750 when i had a chat to Stanley Woods watching the fireworks display on Douglas Beach. In 1992 i was sat on the bank at Rhencullen where i saw probably the best race ever when Steve Hislop won on the Norton. Due to work & other commitments i never returned to the IOM until 2007 for what was my last TT when John McGuiness won the Senior with a lap record of 130mph. Since then I've been over for the Southern 100 & also the 2013 Classic MGP. I still love every thing to do with the TT, the excitement gets to me every year & i get that same buzz listening to the radio broadcast's etc. one day I'll be back there again.
Grey-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.
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10-05-2020, 02:58 PM |
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