Isle of Man

The TT messes with your head. Bog awful ferries, not much sleep, too much (pure by law!!) IOM beer, the noise and smell of racing all come together in a heady cocktail that will blow your socks off. Relative to mundane normal life it’s just another world. Why isn’t life always like this ? - because you’d burn out inside a month? Mind it would be one hell of a month.

It is however, more than ever in this strange modern world, one place that anyone into bikes must go at least once. Trouble is, once you’ve been you will need to go back at some point.

The TT is like entering a whole new kingdom. Bikes and their owners are made welcome, and everything is geared up for bikers. It’s not an artificial “Tourist world” either, these people genuinely look forward to their beautiful island being invaded each year by  60,000 leather clad bikers.

There is something for everyone. Race reps abound, Harley “Live to Ride” types, and old codgers on Brit Bikes. Every conceivable make and model can be found somewhere on the island. 

Then there is the island itself, beautiful, and mostly unspoiled by acres of “New Homes” that have blighted the mainland. Transport – Well you can ride your bike over the most famous piece of tarmac in the world, or turn off the course and you have miles of country lanes to play with; You also have a fantastic choice of alternatives; Horse drawn tram, steam and electric railways.

Normal life is put on hold for your stay at the TT. Watch the greatest road racers on the most famous race track in the world. Bray hill, Union Mills, The Creg, just breathe in the history and the atmosphere.

Then you’ve got Mad Sunday - The course between Ramsay Hairpin and the Creg is made one way (In the interests of safety!). Be very afraid - Then enjoy.

And, if you can find a quiet moment, listen for the ghosts of all those past heroes’ - Hailwood, Joey, DJ, Hislop, Guthrie and many many more. Then go to Fairy Bridge (Yes it is a real place) and say hello to the little people.

Treat yourself, make the effort, take in the TT before its to late. Remember, purity laws mean that beer and ice cream produced on the IOM has to be made of pure ingredients - No additives or chemicals allowed.

So, after your Ice Cream and a pint, soak it all in, and then pop along and send your mates a ”Kippergram”.

 The TT  has now been running for over a 100 years. Lets hope for a hundred more.