The Only Race that Matters
 

I can't remember who coined that phrase, but to us hardcore fans it certainly rings true. In a day and age where every other form of motorsport has been sanitized, has had their rough edges removed, The TT stands alone. "The TT" - no one has to ask "which TT?". It's the Isle of Man, of course. "The only race that matters", and it's on this week.

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Aka: The race for suicidal maniacs?

On my 'bucket list' to see in person and raise a pint or two 2 the racers

The only thing slowing them down is the weight of their sacks.

Wow, that is crazy!!! Awesome, but... crazy!!!

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Yup, I recon "The TT" is correct.

Didn't you and your son go to Isle of Man to watch it one year?

Yes we did. Like I said, "hardcore fan ". We must be - getting there is anything but easy. No direct flights, and the ferries are booked a year in advance, even for walk-ons. We wound up landing at Heathrow, overnighting in London, taking the train across town and catching a small plane from the municipal airport that flew us to Douglas where we spent the week. The hotel had to be booked a year in advance as well.

Worth it? To us it most certainly was. Beyond the racing, the people, the fans, the racers, the teams, were all wonderful beyond words. It all has a real "small town county fair" kind of an atmosphere that just isn't found in other venues of professional motorsport. I hope to someday go back, at least once more.

Great video, simply exceptional skills. I was watching the speedo in the lower part, hit 317kmh near the end. Anyone catch a higher velocity?

How many riders died this year??

Awesome.

None.

There are quite a few races left to run. A "normal" schedule has them racing every other day, with several races per day. That gives them enough room to reschedule if it rains. The penultimate Senior TT is always on Saturday, a six lap Superbike race. Let's hope they finish out the week between now and then without incident.

Ben Birchall and his new "monkey" (Ben's brother Tom, the "monkey" over their last ten years of utter domination on the sidecar rig has retired) had an off up on the mountain. Both are fine, but the bike has seen better days. They missed the second sidecar race, but hope to be back for the third. That's been it as far as any incidents.

Last year was one of the worst ever. Six fatalities, including a father/son sidecar team. That was highly unusual, though. Many years in this modern age of The TT go off without a single fatality.

Going back a long time ago I used to work in the UK at a military vehicle factory and one of the welders raced the TT and Manx each year on an RC30. Leading up to the race, his weekends were spent catching the ferry to the island and lapping the course in his car meticulously taking mental notes. As he welded up the hulls of Challenger 2s his mind was clicking through gears and picking lines. He literally lived for the TT. As Jeff says, if you are into fast bikes it’s the Mecca. The Douglas sea front promenade is a sight to behold as you walk past hundreds of amazing machines from all over Europe. But don’t forget to say hello to the fairies as you cross the bridge - Jeff will know.

They slow down when they fall too.
Way down.

Maybe for you lot.
Over here we also have the TT Assen.
Not really a comparable race but nonetheless also a TT.

That really does sound like an awesome event to witness in person.

It is for sure the top riders of the world, going flat out and showing amazing skills and speed.

From what I hear many of the riders just book a one way flight to the island as they know the odds of a return are not assumed.

To see a rider take a curve on just the rear tire, as he slides across the track due to the rear tire spinning from all the open throttle is astonishing. I am glad there is a place they can do it, and not endanger the general public. And suing for getting hurt ain't gonna work on a sovereign nation.

Maybe a bit, but these guys are the best riders in the world.
Not amateur's or just a bunch of guys that see what they can do.

Ah yes, the fairies. Fortunately not on the race course, as the riders don't have time to slow down and say "hello". Well worth the short jaunt out of Douglas on one of the days off, though.

While last year was no indication, TT organizers have made great strides in reducing fatalities. The qualifications now required to compete have ensured that the starry eyed hopefuls must prove their mettle prior to being allowed to compete. The experienced riders rarely have any sort of incident these days.

An excellent one hour, forty minutes documentary...gives much insight.

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Yes, that is a fantastic overview of the TT. There is supposed to be another one coming out prior to the 2025 TT, this one being produced by the same people who produced Drive to Survive. Lots of TT folks really excited about the exposure that might bring, similar to what it did for F1. Myself, I have some reservations. I'm afraid someone like Liberty Media will acquire the television rights, all promotional rights, and all of that, with the end result being similar to that which F1 has suffered. It would be very easy to over promote the TT, bring all of the wrong people in, and all of that. There is a real risk of it losing the very charm that makes it the TT. We'll have to see, I guess.

Wow... Michael Dunlop has now won his 27th TT, surpassing his uncle Joey's record that has stood at 26 wins for more than two decades. The new and undisputed "King of the Mountain".

Is that speedo in kliks or mph?

^^^ Freeze frame looks like Km/hr. 153 mph

Yup. KPH. Maximum speeds just top 200 mph along the Sulby Straight, on the west side of the island, about halfway up. Just north of Kirk Michael, just south of Ramsey, where they turn around to head back south, up and over the mountain. They get some pretty impressive speeds over the mountain as well, where the country opens up a bit. I think the current course record is something over 136 mph average, held by Peter Hickman. That guy is a beast. Utterly fearless.

Those guys spend months on a simulator.

Most of the really fast guys actually live there, and ride the course year round. There are no speed limits outside of the towns, so they can ride at a pretty good pace any time they like.

Most who don't actually live there arrive a week before formal practice starts. Formal practice, with roads closed, lasts for a week before the qualifying begins. They all very much "creep up on it" over the course of practice and then qualifying. Every one of them says it takes them awhile, no matter how many times they have been there, to work up to race pace. It's a real mind game, for obvious reasons. Every time they go out may be their last. That thought is always there...

Wow, what a week. Michael Dunlop comes away with his 28th TT win, beating uncle Joey by two. Davey Todd wins his first ever TT early in the week, then caps it off with a win in the Senior, the "brass ring" that they are all there hoping to grab.

Best of of all, everyone had to fork over for that return ticket on the ferry. A very good year.