The late, great, Joey Dunlop
The TT just won't be the same ever again.
Wake up at about 9:30pm (!) - yep it's an overnight crossing -
have some cheesy beans on toast and set off by about 11:00.
It's a long time since I've ridden at night and to be honest I've
forgotten how much I enjoy it. There is hardly any traffic but it's
bloody cold over the A66. The M6 is demolished at a easy 90ish
with our headlights turning everything into a slightly surreal
game. About 20 miles from Liverpool we stop off for a coffee and
end up chatting to a couple of traffic cops, one of who seems
slightly miffed that he's working and can't get himself and bike
over. Never mind, hope you make it next year.
Next stop is the ferry port in Liverpool. First man checks your
ticket, 20 metres later another checks it again and gives me
another ticket, 20 metres after that we hand over both tickets
and then board the Seacat.
Once on board Lindsey falls asleep. I'm still wide awake on
adrenalin so go on deck to watch the dawn as we leave Liverpool.
For the remainder of the crossing I am alternatively wide awake
then knackered but can't sleep.
We disembark at about 6:00am Wednesday morning into glorious
sunshine and head off to find a cafe for breakfast.
The ride down to Ramsey is glorious but we're too knackered to
appreciate it properly. Once at Janices we say hello and head for
bed for some well earned zzz's.
6:00am in the morning and we're on the Island
Later we take a walk into Ramsey town centre, do a bit of shopping then back home to sleep again.
Later again, now utterly confused as to what day it is, we go to the Pier Head Tavern. Four pints later we head home and I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow.
At last my body clock is back in tune with reality. Another
walk round Ramsey takes care of the morning and for the afternoon
we all ride down to Peel in the rain. By the time we get there it's
too late to do the House of Mannin so we visit a pub for some
lunch then Lindsey and I ride through to Douglas. We wander about,
have some tea then take the coast road back to Ramsey.
No bands tonight but we still all go out and get nicely pissed up.
Loverly...
With a cast of thousands,
Lindsey, Janice, George, two more whose names I can't remember, and last the luscious Rosie
Everybody this year has bought a new bike except George and me.
A nice late start to the day, due to last nights beer we
stayed in bed till 11:00ish.
After breakfast we set off to meet Janice, Rosie and George, who
had been to a funeral, at Peel. Although dry and fine at Ramsey
it was seriously foggy on the mountain, we're talking 20'
visibility here. This however didn't stop the idiots overtaking
blind all and sundry and scaring the crap out of me - I don't
want to get caught in their shrapnel when it all goes tits up.
Eventually on the way down some twat gooses me again. Seconds
later we're below the fog so I go steaming past up the inside on
the next right hander, howl off down the straight, say a prayer
of thanks to Metzeler on the next left hander and nail it till
the 60 sigh before Creg-Ny-Baa. Pull up near the pub to cool off
and wait for Lindsey.
From there on it's big traffic and 30 limits all the way to Peel.
Once there we all meet up and go into the Mannin museum which is
brilliant, next time your there stop riding round and round the
course and go see it.
The ride back is again a combination of heavy traffic, slow
Germans and fat bastards howling past on the straights and
creeping round the corners, we get pissed off and take the back
roads.
Peel in the sunshine
Evening was spent in the Brit watching a band whose name I can't remember, consisting of accoustic guitar, bongos, bass/lead guitar and vocals. All very talented, the girl singer was incredible although the muso star of the show had to be the bass/guitar player. However despite some good songs the sound was ... how shall I put this? Utter shite. Still using three 15" cabs for the PA ain't the brightest of ideas...
The suns coming out and the clouds are lifting just in
time for the first race. Big grin, yep FBG. Bikes are still going
past the house although the mountain is still in fog.
Todays plan is to walk up to the gooseneck, fully equipped with
cameras and butties. 12:30, 3/6/00
fuck knows who this is but he/she seemed to be enjoying themselves
It's a nice walk up to the Gooseneck and it's a good place to watch the racing. Lap one everyone was taking it easy, relatively speaking, while checking out the damp spots but by lap two they where flying. Joey Dunlop, 48 this year, took first place, again, on the VTR SP1 which will please Honda no end cos everyone was writing the bike off.
Yer Maun
Getting it reet over at the gooseneck
The evening was again in the Brit to see "Strange But
True".
Elation - off to the pub for a pasta tea.
Depression - the pasta is off.
Elation - Strange But true are playing.
Depression - the singer is in hospital with a broken leg due to
jumping downstairs. Silly cow I was really looking forward to
seen this lot again.
Eventual Elation - the band played on with different singer and
bass player, the bongo player from last night turned up and
eventually a couple of Irish lads joined the fray. Fucking
excellent nights entertainment.
Jumpin' George does it again...
For a band that was slung together last thing this lot where shit hot
The singer (second left) is barking mad, Jumpin George (third left) is a bit of a star, the bongo player was surprisingly intelligent for what is basically a drummer, the bass and drum section where awesome holding everybody elses cockups together.
The two Irish lads join the band for a thrashabout
and bloody good it was too.
Another wet and drizzlie kind of day so we went to see a hill
climb. Loads of dirt type bikes from tiddler trial machines to
600+ enduro thumpers trying to get the furthest up a very muddy
mountain side. The secret seems to be big engine, loads of
throttle, remove brain and hang on.
After an hour or two the fun of standing in the drizzle started
to wane so we buggered off to play on some back roads.
Even the enthusiasm for this was soon gone so it was back to the
house to watch the World Superbikes. Bloody excellent race, Haga
on the R7 won again giving Honda's a stuffing - good.
After which it was time for Janices party (all hopes of a
barbecue had been sunk by the weather). I'm sorry to confess that
I failed to get drunk or go to the pub later due to feeling too
knackered.
Well at least I'm not hungover this morning, unlike yesterday. The weather still looks shit and the road closure has been delayed to see what happens, although the mountain is still lost in cloud. Hopefully we'll still get some racing today if not bright sunshine and dry roads. 10:00, 5/6/00
Castletown in the sunshine. It's hard to believe it pissed it down most of the time.
Weather shit again so Lindsey and I headed south to Castletown
where is was actually sunny. Wow. The mountain was still in fog
though, the racing did get started eventually so by the time we
got home for tea the sidecars where doing their own noisy thing.
This was followed by the lap of honour by all the old bikes, from
gorgeous sounding AJS singles to MV Augusta in line fours. My
grandad would have loved it.
It did seem odd seen a GPZ900 go past but I suppose they are now
old enough to count as classics.
The evening was spent in the Brit again watching Leibezeit (previously
the Landcrabs which is better name cos it's easier to spell) and
Georges merry men, which for some reason we can refer to as
"The Three Foreheads".
Ah deep joy. I woke up to blue skies, so while Lindsey slept
on, I snook off out on me bike.
Gently out of Ramsey to warm the engine, easy at the hairpin cos
it still damp under the trees, and then up the pace till the
gooseneck. Once past we're ready so wind it on. Keep those revs
up, keep everything smooth cos it's still damp in places, and
nothing comes past. Makes a nice change that.
Down past Kates and Goveners then right at the roundabout to
Ochran. Along the coast road back to home, I'm past many times in
the 30's & 40's and repassed then all once past the GLF signs.
Great way to start the day...
Drunken' woman and cat sleep on as I sneak off to play ...
And it got better from there. We walked down to see the Ramsey
Sprint, which mostly seemed to be ordinary street bikes with only
a few proper drag bikes, and later the Red Arrows over the bay.
By the time we got back the mountain was closed again so we
decided on a ride out to Sulby and up Sulby Glen and do the
tourist bit.
At the Bungalow a detour sign pointed down to Ramsey but we went
the other way then down to Kirk Micheal just touring. From there
back along the circuit to Sulby, up to the mountain and big
handfull down to Ramsey, mind you the mountain is weird backwards.
The road was shut at the hairpin so about turn and give it huge
throttle back up the mountain. With only a couple of other bikes
up there we could play with racing lines and much fun was had by
all, we just couldn't believe no one else had twigged what was
happening.
Back down the mountain again and down the backroad from the
gooseneck to the coast road where we joined all the idiots riding
like twats. So if you where one of those gits who buzzed a purple
RF900 and blue Sprint ST, both with top boxes, on blind corners
all I can say is you missed all the fun you suckers.
Have you noticed how most of the (loud) pipe and (paddock) jacket
brigade only seem to be able to go fast through 30, 40 and 50's?
Once the road opens up and a few corners appear they just become
mobile chicanes. A chance to play with the mountain on empty
roads would be wasted on them.
Gorgeous Kat spotted at the Ramsey Sprint
Back at the house bikes are lined up waiting for the police to
open the road. Feeling generous and kind of spirit I tell a
couple of guys about the other way up but they aren't interested.
Eventually the road opens and they all set off in convoy. Each to
their own I suppose.
Janice made a mega scummy veggie shepherds pie for tea after
which we went down to Peter and Lorraine's barbecue, drank beer
and slavered at his bike collection.
Later, green with envy and slightly pissed, we stumble down to
the Iron Pier to watch more music and drink more beer.
We later found out the reason for the road closure was a double fatality. It appears to be another German forgetting what side of the road to be on and colliding head on another biker.
Rather pretty old Honda at the show in Laxey
A fine and sunny day, perfect to watch the ultralight 125's
and big 4 stroke singles from Ramsey.
By the time these had finished and we had had some lunch we where
ready for a ride. Castletown, Port St Mary and Port Erin failed
to provide any sort of meaningful entertainment so we went home
again.
We originally had planned to go to Douglas this evening to watch
some fireworks but it was still pissing down by 9:00 so we
cracked open some beers and watched some videos instead.
WIMAs. Be afraid. Be very afraid ...
Yet another wet and windy day and again the weatherman is
promising fine times later in the day.
It's Honda day at Laxey and the girls have a WIMA stand in the
Honda Owners Club tent so off we all trot in assorted cars. Not
been a WIMA myself on genetic grounds I can't man the stand, or
more correctly I would, if you see what I mean. Instead I take a
walk round Laxey and it's collection of muddy tracks to and from
the harbour which keeps me innocently entertained till the Purple
Helmets appear to do their own, thankfully unique, stunt display.
Excellent show, if you ain't seen 'em yet make the effort, it's
worth it.
Later after tea the weather did improve and off we all went to
Peel to watch the fireworks display which despite not starting
till 11:00pm was brilliant. This was followed by a lovely night
ride back to Ramsey dodging hedgehogs and other nightime
obstacles.
The Purple Helmets
Man with piano ....
... doing a burnout ...
... the long jump.
The weatherman has promised sunshine for today. So it's
pissing it down still. The racing has been postponed again till 3:00
now at the earliest and over reduced distance. At least I'm in
the house, I feel sorry for all the marshals sat on the mountain
with nowt to do except get wet and cold.
2:00 9/6/00
Well the day continued wet and 'orrible. The racing kept
getting delayed and delayed, till 11:00, then 12:00, 1:00 etc
till eventually the production bikes got away on a reduced two
lap race at 4:30! The radio reports talked of constant wheel
spinning, horrendus slides and general scary stuff. The seniors
have been postponed till tomorrow.
Lindsey and I saw none of this cos we went for a ride on the tram
to Balagura then walked through the woods to get the tram back
from Balaglass glen.
So we cooked a huge veggie pie for George, Janice and Rosie upon
their return.
This evening eat the pie, watched "No Limit" then we
went to the Iron Pier again to watch Condition Blue. I got very
pissed, Lindsey was sensible and didn't, eventually Lindsey and I
left the rest of 'em and went to the Swan for a final pint and
then to home.
And then back to the Iron Pier because Lindsey had forgotten the
house key.
Woke earlyish to glorious sunshine and a hangover. Janice,
George and Rosie where due to marshal the Senior race where
Jefferies won and set a 125+mph lap. That's going some...
Taking advantage of the weather we went down to the Isle to look
at the round gun fort and the old church and then the Herrin
Tower.
Next stop Castletown for lunch then a visit to Rushford Castle.
The castle is brilliant, it is the best preserved medievel castle
in Europe and is a must see if your over here.
By the time we had finished here we just had time for another
visit to Douglas then a most pleasant thrash back down the coast
to Ramsey.
The old gun fort.
A very early start, ie 5:30, to get the 7:45 ferry. Needless
to say as per standard Steam Racket policy things where running
about 1 hour late, this time due to the amount of standby
passengers. The actual crossing itself was smooth and quick
making up for some of the time lost.
Once off the ferry at Heysham we set off up the M6 the left to
pick up the A683 for a long as possible cos it's a fun route in
the sunshine.
This got us back in time for tea, the bikes are still filthy but
can stay that way for a while.
