The 2007 Isle of Man TT

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This thread is my first-ever attempt at offering a discussion regarding the Isle of Man TT and all the different events that take place. So rather than just name it "The Isle of Man TT," I'm dedicating this to all the events that take place here. I will also make my first-ever thread on another race well ahead of schedule. Let me introduce the uninitiated to this classic event.

What is over 30 miles in length, features 39 or so viewpoints, seems like one-thousand turns, features a variety of motorcycles and motorcycle classes, and lasts only a few laps? It's the Isle of Man TT. The British Isles may comprise of about 200 or so different islands, but one of the most popular of them all is the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is situated strategically between the western coastline of central England and the eastern coastline of Ireland. Everything ranging from superbikes to sidecars compete around these twisty roads. It will celebrate over 100 years this year. The schedule will range from events and sessions on May 26th all the way to June 8th. Most of the races themselves will take place in June. More information here: < http://www.iomtt.com/TT-2007.aspx >.

This event may not be until late May, but we can surely speculate on this year's race. Maybe even speculate on Isle of Man Tourist Trophies of the past. Get to work! We have a race to preview!
 
A taster from the 2005 TT review to get everyone in the mood and to give those who may be unfamiliar with the TT and idea of the insanity involved...



..enjoy

Scaff
 
Ive watched the TT races quite a few times now yet im still astonished by the ability of the riders and the pure insanity they must possess to ride like they do, especially on everyday roads which are nothing like the smooth tracks many riders are used to.

Great vid scaff, although it really is a snippit of the incredible spectacle that is the whole race. Watching people get there knees down literally millimeters from curbs, the helmets of the riders almost scraping walls through turns and going 140+ mph over hill crests and taking off or wheeling down the next 100 meters of road is mind boggling. I dont think the riders know the word Fear exists!

Spec....
 
I still can't forget when I said that there shouldn't be too many more stupidly long courses in the GT series, then I get grilled on the notion of the Isle of Man. This race is like a rally course for varying degrees of motorcycles (excluding motards). Whereas rally courses have those service stations, there are none in this event. You do get to do pit stops around this wickedly long race course. Bike/sidecar counts generally range between 55 and 65 entries, especially among last year's events. Last year's Senior Class saw about 74 competitors! I think it's rare for you to be lonely speedfreaking around these city streets and country roads. Then again, this isn't like a tour de France for motorcycles in terms of overall numbers of competitors. Finish times range between 1:00:00 to almost 1:50:00 depending on when the race reaches the max number of laps.

The thing I best appreciate about these riders is their endurance as well as their (I admit) fearlessness. You're riding around on city streets and country roads with not much in the way of concrete barriers. A big goof on a motorcycle, and you're going to lose your grip of the handle bars and fly without wings and fall hard. It's worse with sidecar racing because two people have to be careful. One has to get the bike in the ride direction while the other person helps balance out the sidecar in the corners. I think the element of the second rider makes sidecar racing a bit tougher than just being alone on a motorcycle. Regardless, this is a wicked motorsports event.

That's why I created this thread. I'd like to be able to host a discussion about this year's race. I may do another related thread someday. But you're free to talk about why this is one of the finest events and what has made this one of the finest races in all of the world.
 
I understand how riders get up the nerve to do this, but the side car guy is completely insane. I just don't think I could be comfortable with having my life in someone else’s hands on that course.
 
I'm suprised this thread hasn't been updated. Did anyone see it?
 
Yeah, I saw that. Those sidecar passengers are nuts!
 
Too bad there is no TV coverage here :( And they really need to add this course for TT2
 
Thanks for updating this thread. I create this thread for racing fans. We're not trusted in America with live or same day coverage, so I'm going to count on you guys and gals to update this thread with new information as well as your comments on this year's festivities.

Again, I thank all of you race fans who were supportive and kind enough to keep threads like this going. Good luck to all riders in all classes of racing at the Isle of Man TT.
 
Btw theres like a motorsport night on ITV4 on saturday night involving the TT
 
Unfortunately the centenary TT has seen three people killed today...

BBC
Three killed in TT race accident
John McGuinness on the Isle of Man TT
John McGuinness won the Senior event
A rider and two spectators have been killed in a crash during the Senior race at the centenary Isle of Man TT meeting.

The rider, who has not been named, died instantly in the smash and a second person was pronounced dead at the scene, organisers said.

A third person was taken to Noble's Hospital but died a short time later. Two other people were injured.

Organisers have begun an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Manx Motor Cycle Club Limited confirmed the deaths in a statement on Friday afternoon.


The organisers of the event express their sympathy to the families and friends of those involved
Organisers' statement

The club said the rider was involved in an incident at the 26th milestone on the Mountain course - known locally as Joey's - and was confirmed dead at the scene.

"One [other] person was also confirmed dead at the scene. An additional person was confirmed dead after admission at Noble's hospital," a spokesman said.

"Two further people were also involved in the incident and have sustained injuries.

"The Coroner of Inquest has been informed and an investigation into the circumstances of the accident is under way.

"The organisers of the event express their sympathy to the families and friends of those involved."

More than 200 people have been killed on the course since the first tourist trophy race in 1907.

The deaths overshadowed the Centenary festival, which had been brought to a close by John McGuinness with victory in the Senior race - his 13th TT victory.

Earlier, McGuinness became the first rider to lap the island circuit at an average speed of more than 130mph.
Click to expand...

Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/6735511.stm

A sad day indeed, my thoughts are with the families of all involved.
 
Accidents and ocasional deaths are an unfortunate part of motorsports, and I'm certainly not the kind of guy to start here a rant about circuits/events that no longer are safe (if they've ever been). Some glorious races from the past (Mille Miglia/Targa Florio/Carrera Panamericana), some beatiful tracks that were famous in the 50's, 60's and even to the 70's ... are now history. The Isle of Man TT is probably what's left of those historical races, and I don't want it to end. The riders know it's a very dangerous event for them, and if they want to enter it, they must accept the risks.


But ... the death of spectators is a different thing. If it happens, you have to blame the organizers. Either they didn't keep the crowds in places that were safe to watch the race (and that's a surveillance problem), or they just don't try to do it, because of the length of the race (in which case it must be assumed that watching the race is a risk to your life, something I find unacceptable).

I get mad with things like this, and if you care to understand why, I should add that I consider my countrymen (portuguese) to have a major responsability on the ban of group B rally cars (it was here that happened the accident with a RS200 that killed a few people), just because: a) the spectators here acted like fools; b) the organizers didn't have the courage to cancel the stage in question. What had to happen, happened ...
 
While I agree with most of your sentiment on this I can agree with this part...

Hun200khm
in which case it must be assumed that watching the race is a risk to your life, something I find unacceptable.
Click to expand...

...no matter what steps an organiser takes, a risk to spectators will always be present in motorsport. What can be taken is reasonable steps to minimise the risk to spectators, and at certain events that can be very problematic.

You have the issue of spectators being in locations they should not, for example recent spectator deaths in rallying have mainly been when spectators entered areas they should not, marshals can always get to them immediately and as such the risk increases.

The TT throws up unique risks in that the course goes right by private homes, a few days ago one of the riders came off and ended up in someone's garden. That's not something the organisers could have prevented, and you can't ban someone from their own garden.

When I attend a motor racing event I accept that a risk is involved and that I am, in part, responsible for managing some of that risk. After all if you obtain a paddock pass then you are walking around a working environment and care has to be taken.

Zero risk can't exist, every thing we can do involves an element of it and quite honestly I would not want to be in a risk free world. Life would get very boring indeed.


Regards

Scaff
 
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