Thought I’d do a quick write up of this years pilgrimage to the TT.
I usually take my teenage son, but he’s had GCSE’s this year, so I decided to take my dad. To give you a bit of background, he’s the reason I’m into bikes - one of my earliest memories is me sat on his MZ250 aged about 4! Anyway, mum passed away last year and I thought it would be good to do a trip with him, partly to just spend time with him, as you never know how much you’ve got, but also to encourage him to buy another bike. He ended up buying the same as his last bike, a Virago 535. Wouldn’t be my choice, but it’s light and low, so suits him!
IMG_8033 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
So, we headed off to Heysham at what would only be described as a ‘relaxed’ pace, but the sun was shining so all good
The ferry was packed and there was the usual stress of being packed in like sardines and trying to judge it so the bike doesn’t lean into the next one on the sidestand. The crossing was super smooth, unlike two days ago when it had been a biblical storm!
IMG_8036 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Untitled by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
I love seeing the Island come into view. We lived here for 5 years and it always feels a bit like coming home - it’s a stunning place when the sun is shining on it.
Untitled by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
We’d hired an apartment near the prom in Douglas for 5 days so headed straight there, dumped the luggage and walked straight up to St Ninians for wednesday practice. I think this is a great place to experience the bikes for the first time as the noise and sense of speed is awesome. Dad was impressed
Next day we did some tourist stuff. Rode to Laxey and did the electric railway to Snaefell, then went for an Ice Cream before riding down to Murrays Motorcycle Museum, which is a proper old school museum packed to the rafters with interesting bikes and junk! On the way back I thought we’d take the coastal road via Port Soderick, but the connecting road turned from minor road to gravel to grass and mud for a mile before we finally hit tarmac again. There can’t be too many people that have green laned a Virago! That night we watched Practice from the Creg Ny Ba straight, sat on a hedge.
IMG_8075 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8094 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8116 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8144 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8149 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8163 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8167 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8172 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8174 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8237 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
On the friday the weather was a bit poor in the morning so walked into town to visit the Manx Museum and buy presents. It faired up in the afternoon but Dad was a bit knackered I think so I left him in the Apartment and did a couple of laps of the course. Amazingly the Mountain road stayed open - it had been constantly open and closed for the two weeks as people ran out of talent and crashed. At one point there were literally no beds left at Nobles hospital due to idiots throwing themselves at the scenery. In the evening I’d bought some VIP tickets for the final practise session and interview with the riders, which turned into a good night.
IMG_8292 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8302 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Racing on saturday was cancelled so we toured the Island, starting at the new Manx Motor Museum at Jurby. I’d recommend this place - some interesting cars and bikes to look at.
IMG_8308 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8314 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Then headed off to Peel where we went round the Manannan Museum and had a cracking lunch at the pub next door, before heading off to the Calf of Man. The scenery between Peel and the Calf is just stunning.
IMG_8324 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8325 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8331 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8334 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8358 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8396 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Sunday was all about the racing. We watched from Ballacrye, which was a decent enough spot and it was a great race. I love the actual race and listening to all the timings on the radio - its very different to normal motorsport and more like watching a cycling Time Trial event where it’s all about waiting for the next time check whilst watching and hearing bikes screaming past at 180mph! After the race we headed down to Onchan to watch the Purple Helmets stunt show before going for a final meal at a good steak house down the road.
IMG_8430 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
IMG_8521 by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Now, I’d gambled on dad enjoying the trip as I’d already booked for next year when the ferrys were released on the 1st June, but hadn’t told him, so I was quite relieved when I asked him if he’d come again and he said he’d loved it
Overall a brilliant 5 days that I’ll always remember, and Dad is looking for a more powerful bike! Next year I’m taking my son too, so 3 generations of bikers
If you’ve not been to the TT then do it - it’s bloody brilliant I’ve tried to show some of the more touristy things as there are already so many great pictures of the racing, but there’s so much more to do on the island.
I usually take my teenage son, but he’s had GCSE’s this year, so I decided to take my dad. To give you a bit of background, he’s the reason I’m into bikes - one of my earliest memories is me sat on his MZ250 aged about 4! Anyway, mum passed away last year and I thought it would be good to do a trip with him, partly to just spend time with him, as you never know how much you’ve got, but also to encourage him to buy another bike. He ended up buying the same as his last bike, a Virago 535. Wouldn’t be my choice, but it’s light and low, so suits him!
IMG_8033 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrSo, we headed off to Heysham at what would only be described as a ‘relaxed’ pace, but the sun was shining so all good
The ferry was packed and there was the usual stress of being packed in like sardines and trying to judge it so the bike doesn’t lean into the next one on the sidestand. The crossing was super smooth, unlike two days ago when it had been a biblical storm! IMG_8036 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrUntitled by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrI love seeing the Island come into view. We lived here for 5 years and it always feels a bit like coming home - it’s a stunning place when the sun is shining on it.
Untitled by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrWe’d hired an apartment near the prom in Douglas for 5 days so headed straight there, dumped the luggage and walked straight up to St Ninians for wednesday practice. I think this is a great place to experience the bikes for the first time as the noise and sense of speed is awesome. Dad was impressed
Next day we did some tourist stuff. Rode to Laxey and did the electric railway to Snaefell, then went for an Ice Cream before riding down to Murrays Motorcycle Museum, which is a proper old school museum packed to the rafters with interesting bikes and junk! On the way back I thought we’d take the coastal road via Port Soderick, but the connecting road turned from minor road to gravel to grass and mud for a mile before we finally hit tarmac again. There can’t be too many people that have green laned a Virago! That night we watched Practice from the Creg Ny Ba straight, sat on a hedge.
IMG_8075 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8094 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8116 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8144 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8149 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8163 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8167 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8172 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8174 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8237 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrOn the friday the weather was a bit poor in the morning so walked into town to visit the Manx Museum and buy presents. It faired up in the afternoon but Dad was a bit knackered I think so I left him in the Apartment and did a couple of laps of the course. Amazingly the Mountain road stayed open - it had been constantly open and closed for the two weeks as people ran out of talent and crashed. At one point there were literally no beds left at Nobles hospital due to idiots throwing themselves at the scenery. In the evening I’d bought some VIP tickets for the final practise session and interview with the riders, which turned into a good night.
IMG_8292 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8302 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrRacing on saturday was cancelled so we toured the Island, starting at the new Manx Motor Museum at Jurby. I’d recommend this place - some interesting cars and bikes to look at.
IMG_8308 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8314 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrThen headed off to Peel where we went round the Manannan Museum and had a cracking lunch at the pub next door, before heading off to the Calf of Man. The scenery between Peel and the Calf is just stunning.
IMG_8324 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8325 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8331 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8334 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8358 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8396 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrSunday was all about the racing. We watched from Ballacrye, which was a decent enough spot and it was a great race. I love the actual race and listening to all the timings on the radio - its very different to normal motorsport and more like watching a cycling Time Trial event where it’s all about waiting for the next time check whilst watching and hearing bikes screaming past at 180mph! After the race we headed down to Onchan to watch the Purple Helmets stunt show before going for a final meal at a good steak house down the road.
IMG_8430 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrIMG_8521 by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrNow, I’d gambled on dad enjoying the trip as I’d already booked for next year when the ferrys were released on the 1st June, but hadn’t told him, so I was quite relieved when I asked him if he’d come again and he said he’d loved it
Overall a brilliant 5 days that I’ll always remember, and Dad is looking for a more powerful bike! Next year I’m taking my son too, so 3 generations of bikers
If you’ve not been to the TT then do it - it’s bloody brilliant
I’ve tried to show some of the more touristy things as there are already so many great pictures of the racing, but there’s so much more to do on the island.
)
