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Old 27-05-05, 08:55 AM   #1
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Default 37 miles of REAL riding....

If you think you've ridden like a God for 20 mins out of Devil's Bridge, or along the Cat and Fiddle, think of doing three or four 37 mile laps of public roads at an AVERAGE speed of 120mph....next week, on the Isle of Man, in the TT races.

The racers there are not tyical biker wild-childs; they are often mature riders in their 30s who blend aggression with great skill and stamina. People like John McGuinness, Ian Lougher and Bruce Anstey - all of whom have lapped at over 126mph.

But let's not forget some of the older heroes; guys that rode six-lap races on bikes with skinny rubber tyres that would be nearly on the canvas at the end, drum brakes that would smoke and fade to nothing at some corners, and two-stroke engines that might seize solid whilst flat-out down the mountain....and still do laps over 100mph.

If you are in the Island, you might see some of them - Charlie Williams, Percy Tait, Ray Pickrell or Dave Croxford - and watch as people queue for their autographs. But look out too for the unsung heroes - the ones who didn't make it into the record books but who were greats in their own way. Guys like the awesomely talented Edgar Jessop, who I had the huge pleasure of meeting some years back and who returns to the IoM every June. Now a very old man, he still rides; you'll probably see him, in his trademark Dunlop plimsoles, spectating at Ballaugh Bridge, or maybe in the Bar at the Creg. Go talk to him; buy him a beer, ask him about the old days - I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
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Old 27-05-05, 09:05 AM   #2
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Default Re: 37 miles of REAL riding....

Quote:
Originally Posted by El Boccadillo
... think of doing three or four 37 mile laps of public roads at an AVERAGE speed of 120mph....
Sounds like Rictus on a typical working day!
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Old 27-05-05, 09:42 AM   #3
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whats this TT thing?

ive never heard of it
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Old 27-05-05, 09:59 AM   #4
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i see no point of riding around an Audi TT
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Old 27-05-05, 10:09 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shutdown
i see no point of riding around an Audi TT
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Old 27-05-05, 10:26 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shutdown
i see no point of riding around an Audi TT
Particularly not if you drive like the muppet in one yesterday who was tailgating me and had the audacity to beep after he nearly rear ended me when I braked reasonably hard for a turning I'd been indicating for (it wasn't an emergency stop mind).


Back on topic:
I've always been far more interested in road racing and held the riders in higher esteem than their racetrack counterparts. I'm intending to go to 2007 (100th anniversary one). Anyone seen any of the 'On-Bike Road Race Experience' DVDs? Very good.
http://www.dukevideo.com/products/5566.htm
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Old 28-05-05, 07:44 AM   #7
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I HAVE to go and visit the TT before I quit biking! Bit more involved than a quick ferry trip these days though! Annual highlight of my formative years was to sit with pals on a bridge about 30 miles from Liverpool and watch the stream of bikes heading for the boat.
I have the upmost respect for anyone whop has ever raced there and the place holds my attention as Barry Sheene for one,(who was no pussy) refused to race there!
I think if I get the PS2 game then I will be sure to be booking my passage real soon!

Anyone who is going enjoy,but watch out on Mad Sunday!
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Old 28-05-05, 08:32 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ceri JC
Quote:
Originally Posted by shutdown
i see no point of riding around an Audi TT
Particularly not if you drive like the muppet in one yesterday who was tailgating me and had the shouldnt that be audiacity to beep after he nearly rear ended me when I braked reasonably hard for a turning I'd been indicating for (it wasn't an emergency stop mind).


Back on topic:
I've always been far more interested in road racing and held the riders in higher esteem than their racetrack counterparts. I'm intending to go to 2007 (100th anniversary one). Anyone seen any of the 'On-Bike Road Race Experience' DVDs? Very good.
http://www.dukevideo.com/products/5566.htm
:P
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Old 30-05-05, 10:42 AM   #9
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Default Re: 37 miles of REAL riding....

Quote:
Originally Posted by El Boccadillo
Guys like the awesomely talented Edgar Jessop, who I had the huge pleasure of meeting some years back and who returns to the IoM every June. Now a very old man, he still rides; you'll probably see him, in his trademark Dunlop plimsoles, spectating at Ballaugh Bridge, or maybe in the Bar at the Creg. Go talk to him; buy him a beer, ask him about the old days - I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Well there you go. That brings back a very old memory. Years ago when I was a kid my Dad took me to a motorcycle show and they had some bikes from the great old-style racers. I haven't heard that name in years but my Dad spotted Edgar Jessop looking over a bike similar to the one he rode and we went up to him and he was talking to my Dad for ages about this that and the other, Dad certainly seemed enthralled. Can't remember much about it other than Dad saying 'You might be like Edgar Jessop one day'. So perhaps it was Edgar Jessop who sowed the seed that got me into bikes all those years late.

Well I never....
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Old 30-05-05, 12:17 PM   #10
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Just spent the last 5 days working on the Island, managed to squeeze in a few laps! The best being at 5.30 Sunday morning, not a cloud in the sky and not a soul on the road. The mountain section is awesome lots of very fast sweeping curves, they have introduced some additional speed limits for TT fortnight, the run from Ramsey Hairpin through to Gooseneck is 50mph instead of unlimited and the section from Kates Cottage through Creg Ny Baa is at 60 before dropping down to 30 before Hillberry. Most of the villages have 30mph speed limits but the upside of this is accelerating HARD out of the villages. The roads are starting to get busy now, Sunday afternoons lap was a disappointment, too much traffic to let rip. You have to do at least one fast lap of the course before you hang up your leathers. Watched Saturdays practice at the bottom of Bray Hill, bikes speeding past at 140mph only a few feet away is stunning.
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