#14 looks like Klaus Klein

Those sheds in Liverpool...   Seemed like they'd collapse at any time.  I miss them though.  Don't miss the bloke who used to pump your tank out and then plonk a Motor Cycle Weekly sticker saying 'tank pumped out' in the middle of your headlight.  One year I saw a German guy refilling at Birkenhead.  I thought at the time 'there's going to be trouble in a bit',  He wasn't far behind me when I got to the docks and let's just say he wasn't too pleased when he reached the pump guy.  Especially since he had a BMW with one of those huge pannier style touring tanks that he'd just filled to the brim!

Cheers for the replies guys. Sticky - great story, were they checking/draining tanks in 1984? I don't remember it, however my memory is so cr*p I've probably just forgotten all about it!

Last set of shots for the Formula 1 race now:

I think you'll get all these, though I'm not too sure on no.14.

Think Sticky was right with Klaus Klein #14, my hazy memory was that he was decked out in the white livery of Hein Gericke but that must have been after 1984 - a very nice affable guy was Klaus.

Just done some research and yes, 14 is Klaus Klein, 56 Mick Williams.

Good detective work by everybody there, thank you!

The next race of the day (starting at 5pm I think) was the Sidecars. I've got a few pics from that one. Before I post them though, here's some more shots from the spectators parking near Gooseneck.

As I've gone to post these, I've just realised the first shot shows somebody who's apparenyly dropped their bike in the middle of the field/parking. I don't remember taking this shot or who it was. Can't have been me, since I was taking the pic!

Shot on the approach to Gooseneck, these are the sidecar pictures from the Saturday racing:

Hi Koala

I can't remember if they were still pumping tanks in 1984 but it was certainly happening a bit before then.  Anyone remember when they stopped?

#84 Brian & Kathy Latham

#4 Dennis & Julia Bingham

#51 John Rutherford & Barrie Wallace

#2 Mick Boddice & Chas Birks (who won the race)

#5 Steve Abbott & Shaun Smith

Haven't worked out who #41 is yet!

Cheers for that Sticky. I'm just posting a few shots from the spectator parking before moving to more race pics.

By the way, have a look at the first picture - does anyone know what it is? I think I do, but I have no idea of its background. Or even its reason for existence.

Last race of the day (Saturday 2nd June) at about 7pm was the Historic:

The road bike is a Hillman Imp engine squeezed into a Norton Commando.

You're quite correct mod2, that's what it is. I'm not exactly sure why someone did this, but back then I remember being interested, in part because of my liking for Hillam Imps - one of my first cars was an Imp (actually a Sunbeam Stiletto, but that's a detail for another forum I think). Hence the picture.

More pictures now, historics again and the last ones from the Saturday racing.

No racing the next day, however it was Mad Sunday. A day spent riding and enjoying the island, despite only having a VT500. Being able to ride the course is another part of what makes the TT unique for me. The lifting of limits over the mountain course is a really nice touch, even if the consequences can be fatal on occasions.

During the visit I was really impressed with the attitude of the locals towards the bikers. Throughout the UK at that time it was pretty normal for groups of bikers to be treated at best with a certain amount of nervousness, yet on the island we seemed to be regarded as welcome clients and customers. I hope this is still the same now as it was then.

We stayed on one of the guest house hotels on the seafront at Douglas. It had a somewhat quaint, rather faded glory feel to it. I seem to remember the heating wasn't up to much, being unable to dry out most of my wet weather gear throughout the stay! The guys I went with were more into brit bikes than me, one of them even brought his one-piece overalls to do some repairs on his BSA while we were there:

I've found another couple of photos from that trip, one shows what looks like a race bike on the road:



The other shows the The Golden Hinde, which seemed to be docked at Douglas during the TT Does anyone remember this or am I making it up as I go along?

I'm guessing that is Chris Guy's bike, he always rode number 13, it's either getting a crafty bit of testing or it is going to or from the paddock for a practice or race which is allowed at certain times of the day, I think it's one hour before roads close and one hour after roads open that you ride a race bike to or from the paddock and your garage provided road rules are followed and you are insured.

^^ Please Sir Mod Boss .... That's No.3 bike - the side vent looks like a 1 though, the 3 on nose gives it away. It's turning up Broadway, did Joey have one of his den workshops back there in Castle Mona Avenue ?

Ah yes just had a closer look with my glasses on!! yes Joey used the garage at the side of the Indian restaurant on the back road there, is it the Taj Mahal? and looking closer at the photo that does look like the very road he is heading into, so it could be the man himself hiding behind a different helmet, and not worrying about little details like crossing the numbers out with tape!!

Cheers for the feedback guys. So I may have captured a picture of Joey on a race machine just outside our hotel - amazing!

My next picture is of a car on the promenade. My apologies for this, but at least there are some bikes in the background!

In keeping with the Sunday feeling I have a few last shots of road bikes on the promenade:

Next pictures will be of the Senior on the Monday (4th June)