"Tha has to dee furst!" (Manx trip)

Posh Pete

Still got a pulse.
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Roads to get your pegs down on? How about the Isle of Man?

5 years ago, I responded to a post on this very forum. A bunch of old pals had a vacancy on their annual pilgrimage to the Manx Grand Prix (now the Festival of Motorcycling). I got in a reply quicker than a cat hightails it out of Glenshee! I passed the interview and survived the cut after the first year. :bow Since then, its become an annual event to watch the racing, talk bollox, drink pints of Okell's and malt whisky and laugh a lot. An awful lot. Hence the title of the thread, which is the punch line of one of Mick's (commis chef and nailer in chief of the Mountain Mile) true stories. I've cried laughing at some of Mick's stories ...

This year, the formula was the usual one: Chef Bob in charge of the grub with Mick to assist and the rest of us pitching in as bottle washers and servers and just as many laughs. The racing was as good but the weather and maybe other events seem to have put a bit of a downer on things? Popular spectating spots seemed to be a little less thronged and really bad weather put the mockers on the usual festival event at Jurby on the Sunday.

Anyway, I'll post a few pics and others who were on the trip will doubtless add a few also. Two, at least are on the forum. Oh, Mick's tale? The age range of the group is actually not very typical of bikers these days in that there are a couple of non geriatric members being nurtured carefully, but the rest of us are coffin dodgers. Mick attended a funeral in an unfamilar town (on his bike) and had to pull over and ask a local how he could get to the crem?

"Tha has to dee furst" says the chap. Dead pan!

I'll kick things off with a few pics taken at the Gooseneck. I'm always surprised at the variation in lines taken there. This guy is sizing up his line on the approach ...
<a href="https://ibb.co/mcY6Ze"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/i3Er0K/P1080599.jpg" alt="P1080599" border="0"></a>

This pair show why the Gooseneck is such a great viewing spot. The climb up from Ramsey is a challenge for the less experienced or bikes which are a bit short of oomph, so nip and tuck is common.

<a href="https://ibb.co/m9hVSz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cdiFue/P1080590.jpg" alt="P1080590" border="0"></a>

And this guy is taking the line used by most, but I've seen others way over to the right, pretty much in the gutter!

<a href="https://ibb.co/isBM0K"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dbqs7z/P1080600.jpg" alt="P1080600" border="0"></a>

It was the anniversary of Mike Hailwood's comeback 1978 TT win on the Sports Motorcycles Ducati 900 and John McGuinness did a demo lap and waved to yours truly. Oh yes he did! :D

<a href="https://ibb.co/byRtEe"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mGivSz/P1080622.jpg" alt="P1080622" border="0"></a>
 
How weird is that?In 1979 Mike Hailwood waved at me at the same corner :eek:

Kimbo :thumb2
 
More pics.

This is from Parliament Square in Ramsay during practice. One rider is committing to the right turn into the square and then up the hill to the hairpin. The other is having an "Oops" moment and is heading (under full control) for the barriers and Marshalls on his left.

<a href="https://ibb.co/fpAQSz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/gUUwZe/P1080694.jpg" alt="P1080694" border="0"></a>

This rider had some mechanical issue with his bike and pulled into the island in the middle of the square. He tried a re-start but had no luck, even with some help from Marshalls and a travelling Marshall. He had some impressive battery which turned the engine over umpteen times before he gave up!

<a href="https://ibb.co/gJJ6Ze"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/fd0aSz/P1080699.jpg" alt="P1080699" border="0"></a>
 
Many years ago me and my mate swapped bikes for a "lap" me on his 1100 gixer him on my Gpz 900
and was following him into the gooseneck only to witness him "dropping"" my bike :blast
 
Many years ago me and my mate swapped bikes for a "lap" me on his 1100 gixer him on my Gpz 900
and was following him into the gooseneck only to witness him "dropping"" my bike :blast

Roads to get your pegs down on? How about the Isle of Man?

5 years ago, I responded to a post on this very forum. A bunch of old pals had a vacancy on their annual pilgrimage to the Manx Grand Prix (now the Festival of Motorcycling). I got in a reply quicker than a cat hightails it out of Glenshee! I passed the interview and survived the cut after the first year. :bow Since then, its become an annual event to watch the racing, talk bollox, drink pints of Okell's and malt whisky and laugh a lot. An awful lot. Hence the title of the thread, which is the punch line of one of Mick's (commis chef and nailer in chief of the Mountain Mile) true stories. I've cried laughing at some of Mick's stories ...

This year, the formula was the usual one: Chef Bob in charge of the grub with Mick to assist and the rest of us pitching in as bottle washers and servers and just as many laughs. The racing was as good but the weather and maybe other events seem to have put a bit of a downer on things? Popular spectating spots seemed to be a little less thronged and really bad weather put the mockers on the usual festival event at Jurby on the Sunday.

Anyway, I'll post a few pics and others who were on the trip will doubtless add a few also. Two, at least are on the forum. Oh, Mick's tale? The age range of the group is actually not very typical of bikers these days in that there are a couple of non geriatric members being nurtured carefully, but the rest of us are coffin dodgers. Mick attended a funeral in an unfamilar town (on his bike) and had to pull over and ask a local how he could get to the crem?

"Tha has to dee furst" says the chap. Dead pan!

I'll kick things off with a few pics taken at the Gooseneck. I'm always surprised at the variation in lines taken there. This guy is sizing up his line on the approach ...
<a href="https://ibb.co/mcY6Ze"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/i3Er0K/P1080599.jpg" alt="P1080599" border="0"></a>

This pair show why the Gooseneck is such a great viewing spot. The climb up from Ramsey is a challenge for the less experienced or bikes which are a bit short of oomph, so nip and tuck is common.

<a href="https://ibb.co/m9hVSz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cdiFue/P1080590.jpg" alt="P1080590" border="0"></a>

And this guy is taking the line used by most, but I've seen others way over to the right, pretty much in the gutter!

<a href="https://ibb.co/isBM0K"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dbqs7z/P1080600.jpg" alt="P1080600" border="0"></a>

It was the anniversary of Mike Hailwood's comeback 1978 TT win on the Sports Motorcycles Ducati 900 and John McGuinness did a demo lap and waved to yours truly. Oh yes he did! :D

<a href="https://ibb.co/byRtEe"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mGivSz/P1080622.jpg" alt="P1080622" border="0"></a>

This brings back some brown memories; 2004 and me and the Mrs are back on the Island celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary; on the mothership ZZR. Lapping it up and being full of life; i decided to make one more pass on the approach to the Gooseneck, like you do; i pitched it in thinking ; this aint gonna happen; Skreech; my footrest and boot; scrunch; belly pan; and skizz, the tip of her boot; we were through; to my left i could see movement on the banking as we skimmed past; but was consentrating too hard for it to sink in; as we went over the small brow through the left , the Mrs shouted to me; they were cheering ; they were fuckin cheering on the bank; she had clocked them . Fuck me; if only they had known how close to disaster it had felt for me. What's the saying; live and learn eh.:beerjug:
 
This brings back some brown memories; 2004 and me and the Mrs are back on the Island celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary; on the mothership ZZR. Lapping it up and being full of life; i decided to make one more pass on the approach to the Gooseneck, like you do; i pitched it in thinking ; this aint gonna happen; Skreech; my footrest and boot; scrunch; belly pan; and skizz, the tip of her boot; we were through; to my left i could see movement on the banking as we skimmed past; but was consentrating too hard for it to sink in; as we went over the small brow through the left , the Mrs shouted to me; they were cheering ; they were fuckin cheering on the bank; she had clocked them . Fuck me; if only they had known how close to disaster it had felt for me. What's the saying; live and learn eh.:beerjug:

Assuming we all do Chimay next year ask my other half about her pillion lap on a 1200 Bandit she owned at the time. She was going to jump off at the Bungalow if a tram had been on the crossing and went full on bat shit crazy at me when we stopped at Onchan :D

As for the mountain mile, I left Ramsey with a hangover at about 7am one morning after the Jurby endurance race and was giving a lift on my old K1100RS to someone who has a few replicas and a 120mph lap in the bag. It was so foggy you couldn’t see the verges going up the hill and he belted me on the head, told me it was a flat out straight with kinks and he’d tell me where to slow down :blast
 
And even more pics.

<a href="https://ibb.co/hAFjnz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cmAH7z/P1080648.jpg" alt="P1080648" border="0"></a>

So, this is at Sulby Bridge. A good viewing point his as ...

1. Its at the end of the Sulby straight and if engines are going to let go, this is where they'll do it! (Schadenfreude, moi? :rolleyes:)

2. Occasionally, a competitor will get the braking points wrong. This has interesting consequences given that the big bikes hit 160mph on the straight! (Fear not, there is ample cushioning and a run off as a Japanese rider discovered this year! A great yarn over a few beers and Sakis when he gets home. :D)

3. The local church and WI organise a cake and scone stand only a couple of hundred yards away. Home baking, tea and coffee, racing. What's not to like? :D
 
The bikes

Even if the racing was washed out, there would still be the added bonus of the bikes. Jurby was washed out this year but there are fantastic bikes wherever you look during the Manx. Here's a wee selection:

My favourite! :drool Dont bother wrapping thanks, I'll ride it home! :bounce1

A very nice replica of the Matchless / AJS twin cylinder works racers which (I think) were developed by Chief Engineer Jack Williams. (Dad of Peter Williams of monocoque Norton fame.)
<a href="https://ibb.co/goEMZe"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/eONm0K/P1080661.jpg" alt="P1080661" border="0"></a>


Failing that, I saw this Dominator 650SS at Tony East's place at Kirkmichael. A German bike this (ignore the classic Brit front pedestrian slicer!) and had clearly been ridden from there. Lots of very well thought out and practical mods ...

<a href="https://ibb.co/gZcVSz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/ezJFue/P1080664.jpg" alt="P1080664" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/huY6Ze"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/gWPDEe/P1080669.jpg" alt="P1080669" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/kqEG0K"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jgob0K/P1080668.jpg" alt="P1080668" border="0"></a>

and some strange electrickery around the magneto ... Suggestions on a postcard please!

<a href="https://ibb.co/eNXm0K"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/n5UYfK/P1080665.jpg" alt="P1080665" border="0"></a>

The rider got on and rode away before I had a chance to have a chat (i.e. bore the tits off him) about Domis!

Some drool worthy Italian bikes ...

<a href="https://ibb.co/izLZnz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/jPD9LK/P1080662.jpg" alt="P1080662" border="0"></a>

And my RT acting nonchalant among a brace of Hailwood replicas and a Guzzi.

<a href="https://ibb.co/kDqpLK"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/dt1w0K/P1080663.jpg" alt="P1080663" border="0"></a>
 
Many years ago me and my mate swapped bikes for a "lap" me on his 1100 gixer him on my Gpz 900
and was following him into the gooseneck only to witness him "dropping"" my bike :blast

My first meeting with a very old pal consisted of me admiring his Ducati Darmah and him offering me a shot. "Are you serious? " says I. "If you drop it, you pay for it." replies he in the most matter of fact tone. Christ that was a lovely bike to ride and I didn't drop it.
 
Simple one on the "Domi"
Ignition cut out if he forgets to turn the oil on ;)

That’s a good idea if you turn the oil supply off to prevent wet sumping. I might look into doing something like that on my Norton if I ever finish it off.
 
This Triumph was parked near Parliament Square in Ramsey ...

<a href="https://ibb.co/maZkSz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cNj8fK/P1080702.jpg" alt="P1080702" border="0"></a>

The owner / rider clearly has the right idea ...

<a href="https://ibb.co/jh9fue"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cdmh7z/P1080704.jpg" alt="P1080704" border="0"></a>

And a Ner-a-Car parked up at Sulby Bridge. Hub centre steering. Not bad for the 1920s!

<a href="https://ibb.co/hfKunz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/f8iLSz/P1080660.jpg" alt="P1080660" border="0"></a>

A visit to Jimmy Guthrie's memorial is a must.

<a href="https://ibb.co/fEE27z"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/huXYEe/P1080626.jpg" alt="P1080626" border="0"></a>

He was a pal of my brother in law's dad. Both of them were dyed in the wool Norton riders and got me started on bikes!
 
Lots of nice pics there Peter:thumby:

I really need a better camera Richard or at least one with a "bigger" lens for the action shots. I used the burst option on the LX1 and trusted to luck, deleting the frames that didn't work!
 
And this Egli Vincent was simply delightful.
 

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The Sulby Squatters class of 2018. A motley crew indeed.....There are at least 4 UKGSers in there.
 

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This Triumph was parked near Parliament Square in Ramsey ...

<a href="https://ibb.co/maZkSz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cNj8fK/P1080702.jpg" alt="P1080702" border="0"></a>

The owner / rider clearly has the right idea ...

<a href="https://ibb.co/jh9fue"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/cdmh7z/P1080704.jpg" alt="P1080704" border="0"></a>

And a Ner-a-Car parked up at Sulby Bridge. Hub centre steering. Not bad for the 1920s!

<a href="https://ibb.co/hfKunz"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/f8iLSz/P1080660.jpg" alt="P1080660" border="0"></a>

A visit to Jimmy Guthrie's memorial is a must.

<a href="https://ibb.co/fEE27z"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/huXYEe/P1080626.jpg" alt="P1080626" border="0"></a>

He was a pal of my brother in law's dad. Both of them were dyed in the wool Norton riders and got me started on bikes!

Some nice photos there S-B; i'am liking the steampunk chain oil on the Domi; he must have screwed the bike together well if he needs that:D. I see there's a Dee-Da ner a car also:D:beerjug:
 
And this Egli Vincent was simply delightful.

Interesting talk with the owner and rider too, Tom. For the benefit of others (feel free to add or correct if my memory is aglae) ...

They were not racing because of failure to qualify due to the rubbish weather? (Imagine spending all that cash / effort and being frustrated! Yet the owner seemed philosophical about it.)

The frame had been replaced gratis by the current owners of Egli because a crack had developed in the weld joining the main frame spine and the headstock. Leaking oil was the clue.

The rider had an off at Ballaugh last year when pooled oil (leaking into the fairing bottom) escaped into the back tyre after he jumped the bridge. He "only had concussion" :eek which, when you think about potential for injury on the TT circuit, is an understandable reaction!

The bike held a class lap record at ... Aberdare Park?

A lovely bike indeed and a tribute to the engineering talents of Fritz Egli and Phil Irving.
 
A lovely bike indeed and a tribute to the engineering talents of Fritz Egli and Phil Irving.

And Patrick Godet, who is only 1 of 3 people licenced by Fritz Egli to use the name when making frames.
The others being Terry Prince in Australia and Harmut Weidlich in Germany.
 


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