Got back from the island after a lovely week, even the sunshine turned up for a few days, which makes a change. Arrived at Liverpool for the midnight boat, luckily it wasn’t raining, as we were on the jetty for 2 hrs waiting for the Manamann to come in, being sworn at and bullied by a woman with a ponytail for no reason, maybe it was the wrong time of the month, but it was totally unacceptable. A complaint has gone in. A bloke I was talking to at the Quarterbridge campsite said he was at Liverpool on the quayside, for 2 hrs in the pissing rain, when what sounded like the same woman started swearing at him and wanted to see what was inside his panniers. He said he wasn’t opening his panniers in the rain as all his stuff would get wet. There was no need for this harassment, it didn’t happen on the way home with the politeness of the Isle of Man quayside workers. Here’s a couple of photos from the queue at Liverpool.
There's no need to stand in the rain on the quayside, there's a waiting room with vending machines,toilets and seating areas if anyone goes in the future.
Here’s a few more decent shots of the TT. Grabbed a lucky one of an outfit rounding Quarterbridge in practice. And John McGuinness at Glen Helen in the Superbike race along with Michael Dunlop And a duel between Forest Dunn and Michael Russell in the same race. And of course Hicky.
While at Glen Helen the sidecar race was sadly stopped for the tragic crash of Cesar Chantal and Olivier Lavorel at Ago’s leap. 2 outfits were red flagged at the Glen #12 Lee Crawford & Scott Hardie, and #11 Steve and Matthew Ramsden, both crews being great ambassadors for the sport interacting with the crowd, Lee letting a young lad sit in his outfit and Scott and Matthew the 2 passengers trying on a Dutch blokes clogs, that he bought in Holland with the Isle of Man legs on. Note the Scooby Do socks on Scott Hardie even with ears.
Haha my caravan is next to the Dutch guy with the clogs. I will show him the pictures I’m sure he will be delighted
Mad Sunday, a good time to stay off the mountain, with too many boy racers, with not enough talent, hence the mountain being closed quite often. So off to the very bottom of the island, the Calf of man, and the sound cafe, for a harty breakfast, that kept me full all day. There were thousands down there, and although the queue for food was long, we were all served quickly. I can’t praise the place enough, a must place to visit.
From watching the seals on the rocks, it was off to Peel for the purple helmets. Found a great pub called the Creek, with the purple helmets in there taking in refreshments.
Monday it was Bradden bridge for the supersport, and superstock. Michael Dunlop winning the supersport, and Peter Hickman winning the Superstock. Another great turnout to watch the racing. Gary Johnson #7 breaking down in the supersport at Bradden bridge.
Tuesday saw us off to Ramsey to meet up with some friends, for the sprint, a drag strip down the promenade. We went via Laxey a beautiful little village famous for its waterwheel which unfortunately is being renovated. The beach in laxey is also splendid with cafés, bars with bands on, and of course ice cream parlours and we were blessed with a hot sunny day. On the way back the mountain road was shut again, so it was back down the coast road to Douglas. We stopped at the Grandstand to visit the fanzone and have a walk around the pits, getting our photos taken with Dean Harrison, who finished 2nd in too many races, being beaten first by Hickman then Dunlop in the supersport.
On one of our journeys around the course we stopped at the Raven at Ballaugh bridge, for some lunch and refreshments and then at the Victory cafe at the Bungalow, where we got to vandalise the wall, and scoff some lovely cake, making a lap time of nearly 4 hrs. Surely a record. Wednesday saw us having to pack away the tent, and load the bike and get off the campsite before the roads shut for racing. We were hoping to watch the morning race before we went for the boat, but due to fog on the mountain racing was delayed. A brilliant week pity it couldn’t have been Friday till Friday instead of Wednesday to Wednesday but being there is all that matters. I’ve now come of age as it was my 21st trip to the TT
The view from the victory cafe at the Bungalow, going up Hailwoods rise to Brandywell. And the mountain railway back to Douglas.
Excellent report on your week. Thoroughly enjoyed and brought back many memories from over 50 years ago. Thank you.
The following link helps to clarify why the identification of the french sidecar crew went amiss. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-61846190
It turns out that the lad and dad crew from Crewe crashed into the same wall as the French lads and that after the first crash the competitors were told to "take it easy" at that point. The road had been resurfaced I believe. Hopefully the road profile can be altered. We don't want anymore such deaths.
