Most of you will have seen this ...
Bear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
(Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
funny, and some lovely comments. Including the "respect to DJ, thanks"
at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
his early visits.
I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
revving a bike to the maximum :)
--
Yamaha R1 5PW Ohlins Demonstrator
Alpina B10 4.6 V8
Saab Aero Sport (for sale)
Everything I write is merely my personal opinion - it's not fact unless
I claim it to be, and it's not verified unless I quote a source for it.
Champ
wrote:
>... but some won't.
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
>
>(Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
Bloody marvellous.
>The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
>is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
>funny, and some lovely comments. Including the "respect to DJ, thanks"
>at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
>his early visits.
>
>I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
>revving a bike to the maximum :)
I struggled to understand half of what he said. I didn't hear either
of the things you list above.
I was thinking, "that looks a reasonable pace", I wonder how much
faster it was than me. So I looked it up - 119mph *race* avg, which
means his fastest lap would have been about 121. On a proddie 600.
In 2003 (when the circuit was slightly slower). Fuck.
--
Champ
ZX10R (road), ZX10R (race; breaking), GPz750 turbo (classic) Hayabusa (touring)
To email me, neal at my domain should work.
Gyp
<bastard...@gmail.com> writes
>... but some won't.
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
>
>(Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
>
That was rather impressive!
>I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
>revving a bike to the maximum :)
With him being stood up on the pegs with his face in the clocks for lots
of it I'd not be so sure
--
Gyp
Change to dotcom to reply
Bear
heh.
I've also been watching the Guy Martin 2007 lap; now this *is* quick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb3cbxJ9a38
(and part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHs11-uP3k
(fastest ever on-board video lap of the TT course, apparently - a 129.8
mph lap, captured on video)
... but he talks *so* fast it's very difficult to work out WTF he's
saying ... and even when you do make out what he's saying, it's in
northern ... I've never heard anyone use "sen" or "me-sen" before
without any hint of irony. Fackin norvern mahnkay.
I rather get the impression he's operating at a different metabolic rate
to the rest of us, rather like a shrew on 300 heart beats per minute.
Gyp
<bastard...@gmail.com> writes
>I've also been watching the Guy Martin 2007 lap; now this *is* quick:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb3cbxJ9a38
>
>(and part 2)
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHs11-uP3k
I may watch it later. For now I'm going to ride my bicycle in the
sunshine
Bear
I've got to go shopping for grub for dinner.
If it's nice tomorrow I might dig the R1 out, but I've no idea of any
decent biking roads around London anymore, and the 413 is a fair way
away ...
Colin Irvine
>I've also been watching the Guy Martin 2007 lap; now this *is* quick:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb3cbxJ9a38
>
>(and part 2)
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHs11-uP3k
>
>(fastest ever on-board video lap of the TT course, apparently - a 129.8
>mph lap, captured on video)
>
>... but he talks *so* fast it's very difficult to work out WTF he's
>saying ... and even when you do make out what he's saying, it's in
>northern ... I've never heard anyone use "sen" or "me-sen" before
>without any hint of irony. Fackin norvern mahnkay.
Easy when you speaka da lingo.
I found myself clenching my hands all the way round!
Renewed respect for Champ. What was it - close on 115 mph on a 600cc?
--
Colin Irvine
ZZR1400 BOF#33 BONY#34 COFF#06 BHaLC#5
http://www.colinandpat.co.uk
Wicked Uncle Nigel
<lo...@bottom.of.home.page> typed
>
>Renewed respect for Champ. What was it - close on 115 mph on a 600cc?
It's a couple of years back, it's probably a 118 by now.
--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"
I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.
Beelzebub_on_Mac
> ... but some won't.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
>
> (Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
>
> The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
> is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
> funny, and some lovely comments. Including the "respect to DJ, thanks"
> at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
> his early visits.
>
> I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
> revving a bike to the maximum :)
The most impressive thing was how fast it didn't look IYSWIM - looked
so controlled and relaxed, but the hedges and buildings went by at a
cracking rate.
Liked his commentary, but I thought he said respect to Joey not DJ,
however, I'm renowned for my cloth ears.
T i m
>On Tue, 19 May 2009 14:54:59 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>... but some won't.
>>
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
>>
>>(Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
>
>Bloody marvellous.
>
Indeed and whilst I have no interest in doing that sort of thing
myself, it is fascinating to watch.
Question for those who do do such things then. On a course like that
where I guess you can't see much round many of the corners (buildings
etc), how much of the speed we see from the video is ridden at 'that
moment' rather than from memory / experience?
I mean because I'm not a fast rider / driver I know I couldn't see /
work out what was coming up next as fast as they appear to do and
probably turn the wrong way (through a house). Do these guys have a
subconscious co-pilot in their heads, reading out the speeds / gears /
directions, information learned from numerous laps during practice
regular yearly attendance?
T i m
Bear
c5530c...@z7g2000vbh.googlegroups.com>, Beelzebub_on_Mac says...
> On 19 May, 14:54, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > ... but some won't.
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
> >
> > (Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
> >
> > The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
> > is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
> > at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
> > his early visits.
> >
> > I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
> > revving a bike to the maximum :)
>
> The most impressive thing was how fast it didn't look IYSWIM - looked
> so controlled and relaxed, but the hedges and buildings went by at a
> cracking rate.
Indeed. *Almost* relaxed. And note how little the 600 is getting
thrown around.
> Liked his commentary, but I thought he said respect to Joey not DJ,
> however, I'm renowned for my cloth ears.
No, it's "mark of respect to DJ ... thanks DJ" ... it's at the point
near Crosby where DJ died.
Bear
You have to know the course. No human being could ride it "reactively",
as it were. Not at those speeds.
It's said Joey Dunlop knew the course so well he was able to drive it
(in a car or on a bike) in thick fog (and believe me, they get some
*really* thick fog on the IoM) or, famously, scaring the living shit out
of Hector Neil (of TAS fame) when they were driving a hire car back to
the hotel at 4 am, from Ramsey to Douglas (over the Mountain) with
Hector good-naturedly ripping the piss out of Joey for not knowing the
course as well as he said he did.
So Joey turned the car's lights out and drove in pitch black, with his
foot still welded to the floor, over the mountain. Neil said something
like "I screamed at Joey to stop, then screamed some more, coz I was
absolutely terrified, but Joey just said "hush now, you're putting me
off" ... I've never gone so quiet in all my life."
When asked how he was able to do it, Dunlop claimed he could hear the
difference in tarmac surface through the tyres and this, coupled with
the angle the road was at, and the occasional bump or manhole cover, was
enough to tell him exactly where he was.
Probably the best commentated lap is DJ's 2002 effort, where he points
out little things like yellow hydrant plates and suchlike, and how you
need to hit this one, or be 6 inches to the left of that one ... Joey's
lap is also lovely, more for how relaxed he is about it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbMO9U7COJo
Champ's also got a funny tale about a mate of his and an Irish road-
racer's abilities on the Mountain, in thick fog, but I'll let him tell
it.
T i m
wrote:
>> Question for those who do do such things then. On a course like that
>> where I guess you can't see much round many of the corners (buildings
>> etc), how much of the speed we see from the video is ridden at 'that
>> moment' rather than from memory / experience?
>>
>
>You have to know the course. No human being could ride it "reactively",
>as it were. Not at those speeds.
Ah, ok, I feel a bit better now then. I have had my racing, hand / eye
coordination moments and won a few RC Car events (just local club
level) but they are generally achieved with a semi-plan view of the
entire track. Having said that I did seem to have an advantage over
many when we were all presented with a new course. I seemed to be able
to absorb it quicker and the others then caught up. [1]
>
>It's said Joey Dunlop knew the course so well he was able to drive it
>(in a car or on a bike) in thick fog (and believe me, they get some
>*really* thick fog on the IoM)
There were a few patches on the video where I would have pulled over
for a cuppa. ;-)
<snip>
>
>So Joey turned the car's lights out and drove in pitch black, with his
>foot still welded to the floor, over the mountain. Neil said something
>like "I screamed at Joey to stop, then screamed some more, coz I was
>absolutely terrified, but Joey just said "hush now, you're putting me
>off" ... I've never gone so quiet in all my life."
I bet! (crap).
>
>When asked how he was able to do it, Dunlop claimed he could hear the
>difference in tarmac surface through the tyres and this, coupled with
>the angle the road was at, and the occasional bump or manhole cover, was
>enough to tell him exactly where he was.
I guess we all do that to some extent (especially when riding
motorbikes), avoiding manhole covers on corners or potholes in the
roads we ride regularly.
>
>Probably the best commentated lap is DJ's 2002 effort, where he points
>out little things like yellow hydrant plates and suchlike, and how you
>need to hit this one, or be 6 inches to the left of that one ... Joey's
>lap is also lovely, more for how relaxed he is about it all:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbMO9U7COJo
Nice. I assume there is *some* possibility of an unseen animal being
on the road under the dark trees?
>
>Champ's also got a funny tale about a mate of his and an Irish road-
>racer's abilities on the Mountain, in thick fog, but I'll let him tell
>it.
K. ;-)
T i m
[1] And if you did make a big mistake and sent yer car spinning
through the pits or into the wall you didn't (generally) get hurt
(I've seen some burns after batteries have caught fire and some badly
cut / bruised ankles). ;-)
Champ
>Question for those who do do such things then. On a course like that
>where I guess you can't see much round many of the corners (buildings
>etc), how much of the speed we see from the video is ridden at 'that
>moment' rather than from memory / experience?
As Bear says, it's all track knowledge. I'm a decent Manx GP rider,
not a TT star like Harris, but I could almost tell you every bump on
the course. I could certainly tell you every manhole cover - in fact,
I know enough about every 'instant' of the course such that I wouldn't
be able to describe it to you in real time, if you see what I mean.
Champ
wrote:
>Probably the best commentated lap is DJ's 2002 effort, where he points
>out little things like yellow hydrant plates and suchlike, and how you
>need to hit this one, or be 6 inches to the left of that one
That's pretty standard stuff even amongst MGP riders, to be honest.
>Champ's also got a funny tale about a mate of his and an Irish road-
>racer's abilities on the Mountain, in thick fog, but I'll let him tell
>it.
OK then...
My mate Rob did many TTs, back in the days when there was early
morning practice as well as evening practice. As you can imagine, the
mornings could often be foggy, especially on the mountain.
So, one morning Rob is peering into the murk over the mountain, doing
about 50mph instead of 150, when there was a sudden buzz of noise, and
a bike overtook him at twice his speed.
The next morning, the same thing happened, and this time Rob was just
able to catch his number before he disappeared. So, back in the
paddock, he tracked the rider down, who unsurprisingly turned out to
be Irish. Rob asked him how he could go so fast in the fog, and the
guy replied "when the vis is good, I count between gear changes,
braking markers, turn in points. Then when the vis is bad, I count to
know where I am"
The next morning, it was foggy again, but there was no sign of the
counting irishman. Later that day in the paddock Rob saw him, walking
with the aid of crutches:
"What happened to you?"
"I lost count".
T i m
<snip>
>The next morning, the same thing happened, and this time Rob was just
>able to catch his number before he disappeared. So, back in the
>paddock, he tracked the rider down, who unsurprisingly turned out to
>be Irish. Rob asked him how he could go so fast in the fog, and the
>guy replied "when the vis is good, I count between gear changes,
>braking markers, turn in points. Then when the vis is bad, I count to
>know where I am"
>
>The next morning, it was foggy again, but there was no sign of the
>counting irishman. Later that day in the paddock Rob saw him, walking
>with the aid of crutches:
>
>"What happened to you?"
>
>"I lost count".
Hehe.
Thanks. T i m
T i m
>On Tue, 19 May 2009 21:16:55 +0100, T i m <ne...@spaced.me.uk> wrote:
>
>>Question for those who do do such things then. On a course like that
>>where I guess you can't see much round many of the corners (buildings
>>etc), how much of the speed we see from the video is ridden at 'that
>>moment' rather than from memory / experience?
>
>As Bear says, it's all track knowledge. I'm a decent Manx GP rider,
>not a TT star like Harris, but I could almost tell you every bump on
>the course. I could certainly tell you every manhole cover - in fact,
>I know enough about every 'instant' of the course such that I wouldn't
>be able to describe it to you in real time, if you see what I mean.
I do.
So, put on a new cct you ride it as fast as you can see it for the
first lap?
T i m
Simon Wilson
>
> So, put on a new cct you ride it as fast as you can see it for the
> first lap?
>
Or faster. The first time I went around Cadwell I sort of foolishly let
myself get dragged along with others. Around Gooseneck it's completely
blind and I nearly papped myself as I really didn't have a clue where
the road went.
Still, I didn't crash and so therefore was safe. (tm) Champ :)
--
/Simon
Champ
<lo...@bottom.of.home.page> wrote:
>Renewed respect for Champ. What was it - close on 115 mph on a 600cc?
Tragically, I seem to have lost the PDFs that I'd downloaded which had
the time for each lap in the race. But I remember the laptime tho -
19 mins, 36.something seconds, which is a smidge under 115.5mph. My
race average (from a standing start, and including a stop for fuel)
was 113.32mph
Champ
<w...@wicked-uncle-nigel.me.uk> wrote:
>Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Colin Irvine
><lo...@bottom.of.home.page> typed
>>
>>Renewed respect for Champ. What was it - close on 115 mph on a 600cc?
>
>It's a couple of years back, it's probably a 118 by now.
"The older I get, the faster I was"
Champ
>So, put on a new cct you ride it as fast as you can see it for the
>first lap?
Slower.
If you go as fast as you can, your brain is 100% occupied with dealing
with doing this, and doesn't have any capacity to 'learn' the track.
If you ride at 90%, the other 10% is picking up reference points, etc.
One of the things that distinguishes the outright top level GP riders
is their ability to go insanely fast *and* remember (and reply to
their crew) what the bike is doing.
The Older Gentleman
> "What happened to you?"
>
> "I lost count".
Superb :-))
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Triumph Street Triple Honda XBR500 CB400F
SH50 MZ TS250 GHPOTHUF1 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom
Nothing damages a machine more than an ignoramus with a manual, a
can-do attitude and a set of cheap tools
Bear
> On Tue, 19 May 2009 21:36:51 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >> Question for those who do do such things then. On a course like that
> >> where I guess you can't see much round many of the corners (buildings
> >> etc), how much of the speed we see from the video is ridden at 'that
> >> moment' rather than from memory / experience?
> >>
> >
> >You have to know the course. No human being could ride it "reactively",
> >as it were. Not at those speeds.
>
> Ah, ok, I feel a bit better now then. I have had my racing, hand / eye
> coordination moments and won a few RC Car events (just local club
> level) but they are generally achieved with a semi-plan view of the
> entire track. Having said that I did seem to have an advantage over
> many when we were all presented with a new course. I seemed to be able
> to absorb it quicker and the others then caught up. [1]
Again, see Champ for details, but it's generally accepted wisdom that
you need 3 years at the TT to stand any chance of winning; year one, you
learn which way the corners go. Year 2, you do the same thing, but at
race pace.
Year 3 you are hopefully at or near your best (I'm talking about the pro
riders here).
> >It's said Joey Dunlop knew the course so well he was able to drive it
> >(in a car or on a bike) in thick fog (and believe me, they get some
> >*really* thick fog on the IoM)
>
> There were a few patches on the video where I would have pulled over
> for a cuppa. ;-)
Believe me, that's *nothing* on that video.
Last year, having been over for the TT on the SRAD, I returned for the
MGP on the R1. I went out one morning for a crack at The Mountain, as I
like that bit more than almost any other place on the course (as the
areas where a road rider can go apeshit aren't many, and are reducing,
year on year, my top fave being Quarry Bends, but it's a bit of a pain
riding the entire "slow"/legal course, just for a crack at the fast
bits).
Just before the Ramsey hairpin (before you join The Mountain) there's a
matrix road sign, which was flashing ambers and said something like
"WARNING! FOG ON MOUNTAIN! SEVERELY REDUCED VISIBILITY!".
Being the thick cunt I am, I thought "it'll be a bit of mist", and TBH
I'd always wanted (having heard tales from Champ and others) to see just
how scary the visibility could get up on The Mountain. So I completely
ignored the sign, and set off - it's a nice touch on the IoM that they
don't stop you doing stuff, they just warn you and let you get on with
it.
Waterworks was fine, ditto the Gooseneck, and I was laughing my arse off
while piling up the Mountain Mile, patting myself on the back for going
past said sign, as I was getting The Mountain to myself, all to my ...
... and then the world ended.
It was like hitting a solid wall of cotton wool. I'm not ashamed to say
I utterly, totally, shat myself, and had *just* enough presence of mind
not to brake too hard, as it struck me that, if I wandered off-line as a
result, I was liable to have a very, very big accident.
So I let the bike run down on the overrun, slower and slower, waiting to
pick up a gear when I felt safe. That didn't happen. I found the right
hand side of the road purely by dint of feeling the grit, and seeing
*something* solid off to my right. Ok, so I'm on the wrong side of the
road ... ok, no worries, I'll just move left until ... FUCK!
Almost dumped it into a ditch on the left.
I don't know the course very well, but I recognised Guthries well enough
(or the painted walls just before it at least) to make that corner, and
by this time I was doing about 40 mph in 1st. Embarrassing. I worried
for a moment about being collected from behind, then realised no-one in
their right mind would be out in this. Keeping an ear out for Irishmen,
I proceeded with due caution.
I don't know what the record is for the slowest time from midway up the
Mountain Mile to Windy Corner, but I'm confident I smashed it, the wrong
way. You could have used a calendar. Every now and again, the mist
cleared *in an instant*, and I was left in clear air, wondering WTF was
going on, and feeling a total burk for going so slowly, so I'd open up
again, only to hit another wall of marshmallow half a mile later. The
first 2 corners of the Verandah were fine ...
... and then it went white again.
I even considered, a couple of minutes in, turning around and heading
back, but that struck me as totally daft, as I'd a) be on the "wrong"
side of the road, b) wouldn't have any clue as to the sequence of
corners, c) I'd have the traffic (if anyone else had been as stupid as
me and gone for it) in my face (after a near miss on my first TT I
never, ever, go the "wrong" way round The Mountain) and d) I would have
felt a total twat explaining what I did later to the lass I stay with
when I'm over there, a very amusing V-Raptor pilot, who can spang across
the mountain like her arse is on fire.
So I pressed on. I actual time it was probably only 10 mins or so, but
subjectively it seemed to take a month or two. To give you some idea, I
knew the Creg was "imminent" when I felt the yump that's a couple of
hundred metres off it, but I still managed to nearly go straight into
the Creg's car park ... the only reason I didn't was that I caught a
flash of black-and-white out of the corner of my eye, knew that meant
"corner!", and knew the only corner it could be was the Creg, so steered
right and prayed. Even then, it was touch and go. And no, I'm not
exaggerating.
Seriously; I've been to the eastern and western seaboards of the US,
fishing off sand banks, and I've been out on the moors in both Dartmoor
and Exmoor (and brought people off the moor on the latter, back when I
used to orienteer), as well as the Derbyshire Dales and Yorkshire Moors.
I have never, in all my life, seen fog like The Mountain on the IoM ...
in *August*
> >When asked how he was able to do it, Dunlop claimed he could hear the
> >difference in tarmac surface through the tyres and this, coupled with
> >the angle the road was at, and the occasional bump or manhole cover, was
> >enough to tell him exactly where he was.
>
> I guess we all do that to some extent (especially when riding
> motorbikes), avoiding manhole covers on corners or potholes in the
> roads we ride regularly.
You normally do that with your eyes shut then?
Coz that's the equivalent skill :)
> >Probably the best commentated lap is DJ's 2002 effort, where he points
> >out little things like yellow hydrant plates and suchlike, and how you
> >need to hit this one, or be 6 inches to the left of that one ... Joey's
> >lap is also lovely, more for how relaxed he is about it all:
> >
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbMO9U7COJo
>
> Nice. I assume there is *some* possibility of an unseen animal being
> on the road under the dark trees?
Someone was killed a few years back when a horse got out, on a straight
bit of road, and it got collected at 160+
Nowadays they seem to take a *lot* of efforts to ensure that doesn't
happen, such as radio adds to warn the sister/sheep-fucking locals to
keep their livestock (human and otherwise) inside during TT week (and
there are fines if you don't), but yes, sure, there's no *guarantee* of
anything; you want safe, fuck off and play PlayStation :)
I for one rejoice at the fact they still let people do this, though for
how much longer I have no idea.
BTW, have you ever been?
> >Champ's also got a funny tale about a mate of his and an Irish road-
> >racer's abilities on the Mountain, in thick fog, but I'll let him tell
> >it.
>
> K. ;-)
I see he's posted it. It's a corker, and tells you everything you need
to know about Irish road racers. Smashing chaps. Several screws loose.
Champ
wrote:
>Again, see Champ for details, but it's generally accepted wisdom that
>you need 3 years at the TT to stand any chance of winning; year one, you
>learn which way the corners go. Year 2, you do the same thing, but at
>race pace.
That used to be the wisdom - if anything it was more than three.
But in recent years people like Steve Plater and Guy Martin have
turned up and gone fast from day one.
SD
wrote:
>... and then it went white again.
I recall a similar incident when I went - we troggled up from Laxey on
the tram, in brilliant sunshine. Tina wandered off to the trig stone,
I wandered off to compose the photo, turned around, and she'd
vanished!
One minute it was clear as a bell, the next - pea souper.
Walked back down to the tram halt - sunshine
--
Salad Dodger
Bear
Keeps you sharp :)
BTW, have you any interest in returning again?
PS: Beers. Must do soonest. I'm off on tour shortly.
SD
wrote:
>
>BTW, have you any interest in returning again?
Possibly. Would prob avoid TT, tbh, though I recently found the
scrapbook diary I kept when I went in '83.
By 'eck, I were a scrawny git.
Might try the Manx.
>
>PS: Beers. Must do soonest. I'm off on tour shortly.
How shortly is shortly?
--
Salad Dodger
Eddie
>
> Just before the Ramsey hairpin (before you join The Mountain) there's a
> matrix road sign, which was flashing ambers and said something like
> "WARNING! FOG ON MOUNTAIN! SEVERELY REDUCED VISIBILITY!".
Somewhere in the archives, there's an account of me leading AndrewR over
the Mountain (his first time), at stupidly-dark o'clock in the morning,
when all I could see was the cat's eye in the verge next to me, and the
cat's eye in front. Oh, and a great big shadow from the twat behind me
with his headlights on (not that he had much choice). If you were doing
40mph at Guthries, I'm very impressed.
I didn't know whether to concentrate on trying to remember where the
road went, or looking for the scattered remains of a Beemer from Bonwick
going over an hour in front of us with a whispering devil on his
shoulder... "go on, it's flat from here..."
--
Eddie ed...@deguello.org
His: SL Mille, Elefant 900
Hers: Monster S4R (deceased) http://www.last.fm/group/ukrm
Bear
> On Wed, 20 May 2009 00:28:59 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >BTW, have you any interest in returning again?
>
> Possibly. Would prob avoid TT, tbh, though I recently found the
> scrapbook diary I kept when I went in '83.
>
> By 'eck, I were a scrawny git.
>
> Might try the Manx.
Why not come over this year?
I'll be there ... although that's not necessarily an encouragement.
> >PS: Beers. Must do soonest. I'm off on tour shortly.
>
> How shortly is shortly?
TT 6th-16th June, Euro Tour 1st July - 1st September.
So if not convenient shortly, could do window 18th-28th July?
Bear
> Bear wrote:
> >
> > Just before the Ramsey hairpin (before you join The Mountain) there's a
> > matrix road sign, which was flashing ambers and said something like
> > "WARNING! FOG ON MOUNTAIN! SEVERELY REDUCED VISIBILITY!".
> < snip >
>
> Somewhere in the archives, there's an account of me leading AndrewR over
> the Mountain (his first time), at stupidly-dark o'clock in the morning,
> when all I could see was the cat's eye in the verge next to me, and the
> cat's eye in front. Oh, and a great big shadow from the twat behind me
> with his headlights on (not that he had much choice). If you were doing
> 40mph at Guthries, I'm very impressed.
Don't be. I'm famously stupid. I don't generally realise how stupid I
have been until after the event. Plus this was in "daylight", although
TBH I doubt there was much difference between it and darkness.
Guthries is basically straight on (slightly right), at those speeds,
*if* you've caught the flash of white either side, off your headlights,
that indicate the twin white walls just before you get there.
SD
wrote:
>In article <77gtsaF...@mid.individual.net>, SD says...
>> On Wed, 20 May 2009 00:28:59 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >BTW, have you any interest in returning again?
>>
>> Possibly. Would prob avoid TT, tbh, though I recently found the
>> scrapbook diary I kept when I went in '83.
>>
>> By 'eck, I were a scrawny git.
>>
>> Might try the Manx.
>
>Why not come over this year?
In parts froggish during August.
June is parts porridgey.
July is parts Phlegmish.
>
>I'll be there ... although that's not necessarily an encouragement.
>
>> >PS: Beers. Must do soonest. I'm off on tour shortly.
>>
>> How shortly is shortly?
>
>TT 6th-16th June, Euro Tour 1st July - 1st September.
>
>So if not convenient shortly, could do window 18th-28th July?
I can do Tue, Wed or Thu next week ...
--
Salad Dodger
eamonn....@gmail.com
> In article <8760e47e-f143-43d5-8c47-
> c5530c839...@z7g2000vbh.googlegroups.com>, Beelzebub_on_Mac says...
>
>
>
> > On 19 May, 14:54, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > ... but some won't.
>
> > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
>
> > > (Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
>
> > > The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
> > > is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
> > > at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
> > > his early visits.
>
> > > I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
> > > revving a bike to the maximum :)
>
> > The most impressive thing was how fast it didn't look IYSWIM - looked
> > so controlled and relaxed, but the hedges and buildings went by at a
> > cracking rate.
>
> Indeed. *Almost* relaxed. And note how little the 600 is getting
> thrown around.
I just love watchin these guys, have Joeys one on VHS but hadn't
watched it in yonks, he's so low key. Master of the understatement.
But they're all mind bending, i mean i like riding fast, flat out
even, but on "those roads" at "those speeds"..... the skill and talent
is so beyond me i almost cant relate to it. Guy Martins lap is just a
hoot, i know the resolution is shite and all on me gammy laptop, but i
actually cant keep up in terms of anticipating cornering inputs, turn
in has happened before i can see corner coming!
Despite reducing me to a slack jawed yokel, I love watchin those
boys....
Bear
67f4af...@n8g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>, says...
> On May 19, 9:24ï¿œpm, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > In article <8760e47e-f143-43d5-8c47-
> > c5530c839...@z7g2000vbh.googlegroups.com>, Beelzebub_on_Mac says...
> >
> >
> >
> > > On 19 May, 14:54, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > ... but some won't.
> >
> > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
> >
> > > > (Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
> >
> > > > The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
> > > > is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
> > > > at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
> > > > his early visits.
> >
> > > > I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
> > > > revving a bike to the maximum :)
> >
> > > The most impressive thing was how fast it didn't look IYSWIM - looked
> > > so controlled and relaxed, but the hedges and buildings went by at a
> > > cracking rate.
> >
> > thrown around.
>
> I just love watchin these guys, have Joeys one on VHS but hadn't
> watched it in yonks, he's so low key. Master of the understatement.
The guy I met at last year's TT, a local called "Tommah", who kindly
lets me watch the racing from his front garden, TT and MGP, just as they
exit Parliament Square, had a long chat with me (over a few beers) about
who was the greatest.
He really rated DJ, for pure pace, but still loved Joey most, because
"he never looked like he was even bothering" ... he said that
inexperienced photographers used to miss Joey shots, because they'd take
in his body language and "effort", and line up for a slow-moving shot
... and Joey would flash by at high speed, way ahead of their framing.
He apparently rarely looked like he was even awake, let alone trying.
Which that "V Four Victory" footage confirms. He looks *so* relaxed,
and yet he's really travelling.
> But they're all mind bending, i mean i like riding fast, flat out
> even, but on "those roads" at "those speeds"..... the skill and talent
> is so beyond me i almost cant relate to it. Guy Martins lap is just a
> hoot, i know the resolution is shite and all on me gammy laptop, but i
> actually cant keep up in terms of anticipating cornering inputs, turn
> in has happened before i can see corner coming!
> Despite reducing me to a slack jawed yokel, I love watchin those
> boys....
Me too. It's one of those times when I honestly don't mind being put in
my place. The degree of skill and courage is enough to garner respect
from anyone with even half a brain.
Bear
> On Wed, 20 May 2009 00:38:17 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >In article <77gtsaF...@mid.individual.net>, SD says...
> >> On Wed, 20 May 2009 00:28:59 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >BTW, have you any interest in returning again?
> >>
> >> Possibly. Would prob avoid TT, tbh, though I recently found the
> >> scrapbook diary I kept when I went in '83.
> >>
> >> By 'eck, I were a scrawny git.
> >>
> >> Might try the Manx.
> >
> >Why not come over this year?
>
> In parts froggish during August.
> June is parts porridgey.
> July is parts Phlegmish.
So come over late August :)
MGP rocks. Different to TT, and the roads are greasy with snotter-oil,
but it still rocks.
> >I'll be there ... although that's not necessarily an encouragement.
> >
> >> >PS: Beers. Must do soonest. I'm off on tour shortly.
> >>
> >> How shortly is shortly?
> >
> >TT 6th-16th June, Euro Tour 1st July - 1st September.
> >
> >So if not convenient shortly, could do window 18th-28th July?
>
> I can do Tue, Wed or Thu next week ...
Cool. Pick one that's good for you, email me, and suggest a venue :)
eamonn....@gmail.com
> In article <181ee639-78ad-4c19-b484-
> 67f4af741...@n8g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>, says...
>
>
>
> > On May 19, 9:24 pm, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > In article <8760e47e-f143-43d5-8c47-
> > > c5530c839...@z7g2000vbh.googlegroups.com>, Beelzebub_on_Mac says...
>
> > > > On 19 May, 14:54, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > ... but some won't.
>
> > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
>
> > > > > (Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
>
> > > > > The riding is impressive enough (the corner speed he carries on the 600
> > > > > is amazing), but it's his commentary I absolutely adore ... really
> > > > > at the point where Dave J died ... IIRC DJ helped him out with advice in
> > > > > his early visits.
>
> > > > > I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
> > > > > revving a bike to the maximum :)
>
> > > > The most impressive thing was how fast it didn't look IYSWIM - looked
> > > > so controlled and relaxed, but the hedges and buildings went by at a
> > > > cracking rate.
>
> > > thrown around.
>
> > I just love watchin these guys, have Joeys one on VHS but hadn't
> > watched it in yonks, he's so low key. Master of the understatement.
>
> The guy I met at last year's TT, a local called "Tommah", who kindly
> lets me watch the racing from his front garden, TT and MGP, just as they
> exit Parliament Square, had a long chat with me (over a few beers) about
> who was the greatest.
>
> He really rated DJ, for pure pace, but still loved Joey most, because
> "he never looked like he was even bothering" ... he said that
> inexperienced photographers used to miss Joey shots, because they'd take
> in his body language and "effort", and line up for a slow-moving shot
> ... and Joey would flash by at high speed, way ahead of their framing.
>
> He apparently rarely looked like he was even awake, let alone trying.
>
> Which that "V Four Victory" footage confirms. He looks *so* relaxed,
> and yet he's really travelling.
Ah, that's the thing that distiguishes him, or at least made him so
endearing to fans, the so laid back he'd nearly fall over. Countless
interviews full of understatement and self effacement. Joey was
special.
Love the "some fellas are scared o tha walls here, i'm no scared. Ya
can touch yer helmet of tham walls there...." ye gods......
> > But they're all mind bending, i mean i like riding fast, flat out
> > even, but on "those roads" at "those speeds"..... the skill and talent
> > is so beyond me i almost cant relate to it. Guy Martins lap is just a
> > hoot, i know the resolution is shite and all on me gammy laptop, but i
> > actually cant keep up in terms of anticipating cornering inputs, turn
> > in has happened before i can see corner coming!
> > Despite reducing me to a slack jawed yokel, I love watchin those
> > boys....
>
> Me too. It's one of those times when I honestly don't mind being put in
> my place. The degree of skill and courage is enough to garner respect
> from anyone with even half a brain.
absolutely. entirely comfortable with fact that these boys, and champ
and no doubt others here, could leave me standing on me gixxer thou
whilst wringing a Superdream through those bends. Churlish not to doff
ones cap to superior skill and larger cahunas.....
Must go to IOM one of these yrs.... never been
Bear
6b0a61...@z7g2000vbh.googlegroups.com>, says...
> On May 20, 1:09ï¿œam, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > The guy I met at last year's TT, a local called "Tommah", who kindly
> > lets me watch the racing from his front garden, TT and MGP, just as they
> > exit Parliament Square, had a long chat with me (over a few beers) about
> > who was the greatest.
> >
> > He really rated DJ, for pure pace, but still loved Joey most, because
> > "he never looked like he was even bothering" ... he said that
> > inexperienced photographers used to miss Joey shots, because they'd take
> > in his body language and "effort", and line up for a slow-moving shot
> > ... and Joey would flash by at high speed, way ahead of their framing.
> >
> > He apparently rarely looked like he was even awake, let alone trying.
> >
> > Which that "V Four Victory" footage confirms. ï¿œHe looks *so* relaxed,
> > and yet he's really travelling.
>
> Ah, that's the thing that distiguishes him, or at least made him so
> endearing to fans, the so laid back he'd nearly fall over. Countless
> interviews full of understatement and self effacement. Joey was
> special.
> Love the "some fellas are scared o tha walls here, i'm no scared. Ya
> can touch yer helmet of tham walls there...." ye gods......
I don't know if this story's true, but I was told he once returned to
the pits with a fucking great gouge in one side of his lid, and said
"could you please ask Mrs <whatever> at <name of place> not to trim her
hedge again?"
The story was he'd been used to running up against the wall with
overhanging plants, until he felt the plants grip his leathers, so he
knew where he was.
Trouble was, the plants concealed a stone wall, so when she trimmed
them, the first point of contact was the stone wall.
I'm fairly sure it's cobblers, but it's a lovely story.
> > > But they're all mind bending, i mean i like riding fast, ï¿œflat out
> > > even, but on "those roads" at "those speeds"..... the skill and talent
> > > is so beyond me i almost cant relate to it. Guy Martins lap is just a
> > > hoot, i know the resolution is shite and all on me gammy laptop, but i
> > > actually cant keep up in terms of anticipating cornering inputs, turn
> > > in has happened before i can see corner coming!
> > > Despite reducing me to a slack jawed yokel, I love watchin those
> > > boys....
> >
> > Me too. ï¿œIt's one of those times when I honestly don't mind being put in
> > my place. ï¿œThe degree of skill and courage is enough to garner respect
> > from anyone with even half a brain.
>
> absolutely. entirely comfortable with fact that these boys, and champ
> and no doubt others here, could leave me standing on me gixxer thou
> whilst wringing a Superdream through those bends. Churlish not to doff
> ones cap to superior skill and larger cahunas.....
>
> Must go to IOM one of these yrs.... never been
Why not go this year? TT is early June, MGP is late August.
Ferry bookings still available for both.
ￜ25 per night in a HomeStay (stay in a local's place, and invariably
have a great time).
Every biker should do it at least once. I was ok with it the first time
I was over, but it wasn't until I went back last year, and just got
*loads* of laps in, that it finally got to me. Once it has, you won't
want to miss it. I went back for the MGP 2 months later, and just
adored it.
eamonn....@gmail.com
> In article <5af25b11-fa7b-4a88-8c4a-
> 6b0a61c14...@z7g2000vbh.googlegroups.com>, says...
>
>
>
> > On May 20, 1:09 am, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > The guy I met at last year's TT, a local called "Tommah", who kindly
> > > lets me watch the racing from his front garden, TT and MGP, just as they
> > > exit Parliament Square, had a long chat with me (over a few beers) about
> > > who was the greatest.
>
> > > He really rated DJ, for pure pace, but still loved Joey most, because
> > > "he never looked like he was even bothering" ... he said that
> > > inexperienced photographers used to miss Joey shots, because they'd take
> > > in his body language and "effort", and line up for a slow-moving shot
> > > ... and Joey would flash by at high speed, way ahead of their framing.
>
> > > He apparently rarely looked like he was even awake, let alone trying.
>
> > > and yet he's really travelling.
>
> > Ah, that's the thing that distiguishes him, or at least made him so
> > endearing to fans, the so laid back he'd nearly fall over. Countless
> > interviews full of understatement and self effacement. Joey was
> > special.
> > Love the "some fellas are scared o tha walls here, i'm no scared. Ya
> > can touch yer helmet of tham walls there...." ye gods......
>
> I don't know if this story's true, but I was told he once returned to
> the pits with a fucking great gouge in one side of his lid, and said
> "could you please ask Mrs <whatever> at <name of place> not to trim her
> hedge again?"
>
> The story was he'd been used to running up against the wall with
> overhanging plants, until he felt the plants grip his leathers, so he
> knew where he was.
>
> Trouble was, the plants concealed a stone wall, so when she trimmed
> them, the first point of contact was the stone wall.
>
> I'm fairly sure it's cobblers, but it's a lovely story.
>
yeah, even if it is, it captures his style...
> > Must go to IOM one of these yrs.... never been
>
> Why not go this year? TT is early June, MGP is late August.
>
> Ferry bookings still available for both.
>
> £25 per night in a HomeStay (stay in a local's place, and invariably
> have a great time).
>
> Every biker should do it at least once. I was ok with it the first time
> I was over, but it wasn't until I went back last year, and just got
> *loads* of laps in, that it finally got to me. Once it has, you won't
> want to miss it. I went back for the MGP 2 months later, and just
> adored it.
Alas heading for Mugello next week. Maiden (overseas) voyage on me
gixxer, with a day or five of french alps on way back. Did check dates
at some point with intention of going this year, but had italian job
booked. Am certain I will though, it clearly has to be done....
hmmmm <ponders MGP>
TT has to be done tho.....
Bear
@s28g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>, says...
> On May 20, 1:37ï¿œam, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > In article <5af25b11-fa7b-4a88-8c4a-
> > > Must go to IOM one of these yrs.... never been
> >
> > Why not go this year? ï¿œTT is early June, MGP is late August.
> >
> > Ferry bookings still available for both. ￜ
> >
> > ￜ25 per night in a HomeStay (stay in a local's place, and invariably
> > have a great time). ￜ
> >
> > Every biker should do it at least once. ï¿œI was ok with it the first time
> > I was over, but it wasn't until I went back last year, and just got
> > *loads* of laps in, that it finally got to me. ï¿œOnce it has, you won't
> > want to miss it. ï¿œI went back for the MGP 2 months later, and just
> > adored it.
>
> Alas heading for Mugello next week.
Nice!
> Maiden (overseas) voyage on me
> gixxer, with a day or five of french alps on way back. Did check dates
> at some point with intention of going this year, but had italian job
> booked. Am certain I will though, it clearly has to be done....
You'll love the Mugello trip I'm sure, but yes, do the TT and/or MGP.
> hmmmm <ponders MGP>
Well worth it.
Fewer cocks on the road, getting in your way, or worrying you by braking
way late as they desperately try to keep up.
Any bike you've ever loved is there. Seriously; name *any* bike you've
ever loved, and at least one example will be on the Island, and a good
many more you just stand and gawp at.
> TT has to be done tho.....
TT for the racing, MGP for the atmosphere and riding.
eamonn....@gmail.com
> In article <49219aa4-f4c4-4579-a724-8096115fc944
> @s28g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>, says...
>
>
>
> > On May 20, 1:37 am, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > In article <5af25b11-fa7b-4a88-8c4a-
> > > > Must go to IOM one of these yrs.... never been
>
>
> > > Ferry bookings still available for both.
>
> > > have a great time).
>
> > > Every biker should do it at least once. I was ok with it the first time
> > > I was over, but it wasn't until I went back last year, and just got
> > > want to miss it. I went back for the MGP 2 months later, and just
> > > adored it.
>
> > Alas heading for Mugello next week.
>
> Nice!
>
> > Maiden (overseas) voyage on me
> > gixxer, with a day or five of french alps on way back. Did check dates
> > at some point with intention of going this year, but had italian job
> > booked. Am certain I will though, it clearly has to be done....
>
> You'll love the Mugello trip I'm sure, but yes, do the TT and/or MGP.
Oh i will, this is me third time. Mugello is just nuts, italian mayhem
at its best, and rossi always pulls out the stops...
> > hmmmm <ponders MGP>
>
> Well worth it.
>
> Fewer cocks on the road, getting in your way, or worrying you by braking
> way late as they desperately try to keep up.
>
> Any bike you've ever loved is there. Seriously; name *any* bike you've
> ever loved, and at least one example will be on the Island, and a good
> many more you just stand and gawp at.
>
> > TT has to be done tho.....
>
> TT for the racing, MGP for the atmosphere and riding.
Hmmmmm Maybe the MGP as intro to IOM not such a bad plan, less hectic,
get to know lie o the land etc.....might root out diary @work
tomorrow, peer into current a/c and dust off the abacus and see if it
can be swung!
Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
Bear
@m24g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>, says...
> On May 20, 1:58ï¿œam, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > You'll love the Mugello trip I'm sure, but yes, do the TT and/or MGP.
>
> Oh i will, this is me third time. Mugello is just nuts, italian mayhem
> at its best, and rossi always pulls out the stops...
Cool. It's on my "must do" list.
> > > hmmmm <ponders MGP>
> >
> > Well worth it.
> >
> > Fewer cocks on the road, getting in your way, or worrying you by braking
> > way late as they desperately try to keep up.
> >
> > Any bike you've ever loved is there. ï¿œSeriously; name *any* bike you've
> > ever loved, and at least one example will be on the Island, and a good
> > many more you just stand and gawp at.
> >
> > > TT has to be done tho.....
> >
> > TT for the racing, MGP for the atmosphere and riding.
>
> Hmmmmm Maybe the MGP as intro to IOM not such a bad plan, less hectic,
> get to know lie o the land etc.....might root out diary @work
> tomorrow, peer into current a/c and dust off the abacus and see if it
> can be swung!
Cool :)
> Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
> vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
I'm wouldn't pretend to be a "vet" compared to many around here - done
the TT twice, and the MGP once. But yes, I know some stuff, and others
here know lots more.
Just do the MGP. I have a feeling you'll love it.
Bear
> In message <MPG.247cca928...@news.individual.net>, Bear
> <bastard...@gmail.com> writes
> >... but some won't.
> >
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lhb_PdTEA&feature=related
> >
> >(Shaun Harris TT'03 Onboard GSXR600)
> >
>
>
> >I also love the expression "screaming its ring out" as an indication of
> >revving a bike to the maximum :)
>
> of it I'd not be so sure
Just found this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5obq4Zt-t1A&feature=channel
Not the last word in speed, but an interesting camera angle, in that the
cam's lid mounted.
Higgins
> July is parts Phlegmish.
Cup of tea, sir?
Andy Bonwick
>Bear wrote:
>>
>> Just before the Ramsey hairpin (before you join The Mountain) there's a
>> matrix road sign, which was flashing ambers and said something like
>> "WARNING! FOG ON MOUNTAIN! SEVERELY REDUCED VISIBILITY!".
>< snip >
>
>Somewhere in the archives, there's an account of me leading AndrewR over
>the Mountain (his first time), at stupidly-dark o'clock in the morning,
>when all I could see was the cat's eye in the verge next to me, and the
>cat's eye in front. Oh, and a great big shadow from the twat behind me
>with his headlights on (not that he had much choice). If you were doing
>40mph at Guthries, I'm very impressed.
>
>I didn't know whether to concentrate on trying to remember where the
>road went, or looking for the scattered remains of a Beemer from Bonwick
>going over an hour in front of us with a whispering devil on his
>shoulder... "go on, it's flat from here..."
That was Foz telling me we were on the mountain mile and I should nail
it but I was too busy worrying where the road had gone to tell him to
fuck off. I'm pretty certain that we were all still pissed that
morning so getting to the ferry was a minor miracle.
Andy Bonwick
wrote:
>In article <q1sbe6-...@deguello.org>, Eddie says...
>> Bear wrote:
>> >
>> > Just before the Ramsey hairpin (before you join The Mountain) there's a
>> > matrix road sign, which was flashing ambers and said something like
>> > "WARNING! FOG ON MOUNTAIN! SEVERELY REDUCED VISIBILITY!".
>> < snip >
>>
>> Somewhere in the archives, there's an account of me leading AndrewR over
>> the Mountain (his first time), at stupidly-dark o'clock in the morning,
>> when all I could see was the cat's eye in the verge next to me, and the
>> cat's eye in front. Oh, and a great big shadow from the twat behind me
>> with his headlights on (not that he had much choice). If you were doing
>> 40mph at Guthries, I'm very impressed.
>
>Don't be. I'm famously stupid. I don't generally realise how stupid I
>have been until after the event. Plus this was in "daylight", although
>TBH I doubt there was much difference between it and darkness.
>
>Guthries is basically straight on (slightly right), at those speeds,
>*if* you've caught the flash of white either side, off your headlights,
>that indicate the twin white walls just before you get there.
Guthries is before the Mountain Mile so you're getting it mixed up
with somewhere else because your original post states:
>Waterworks was fine, ditto the Gooseneck, and I was laughing my arse off
>while piling up the Mountain Mile, patting myself on the back for going
>past said sign, as I was getting The Mountain to myself, all to my ...
>
>... and then the world ended.
You can't really confuse the long straight(ish) bit with any other
section on the mountain so you're probably thinking of the bridge
after you done most of the mile.
Pete Fisher
<bastard...@gmail.com> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>> get to know lie o the land etc.....might root out diary @work
>> tomorrow, peer into current a/c and dust off the abacus and see if it
>> can be swung!
>
>Cool :)
>
>> Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
>> vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
>
>I'm wouldn't pretend to be a "vet" compared to many around here - done
>the TT twice, and the MGP once. But yes, I know some stuff, and others
>here know lots more.
>
>Just do the MGP. I have a feeling you'll love it.
Beware that the Mona's Isle experience can become addictive. I first
went in 1971 (watching Ago on the MVs) and find myself drawn back there
nearly every year.
There are challenging roads away from the course and loads to see apart
from the racing. I realised last year that I had never been inside the
Camera Obscura on Douglas head, so that is on the list for the this
year.
These days I only go to the MGP (except for the TT centenary which was a
must). Don't be dismayed by the high incidence of white hair and old
bikes on the ferry, there are still a few folk pressing on well aboard
modern machinery.
Sadly, one or two of the most definitive places to watch (IMO) are no
longer accessible, but to make up for it there are some available now
that were not years ago.
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: Pe...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
CT
> In article <o96615p1p3fsqho9b...@4ax.com>, T i m says...
> >
> > Nice. I assume there is some possibility of an unseen animal being
> > on the road under the dark trees?
>
> Someone was killed a few years back when a horse got out, on a
> straight bit of road, and it got collected at 160+
1986, IIRC. Or might have been '85.
Anyway, someone had crashed and the air ambulance had landed to take
them to Nobles hospital. As it took off, it spooked the horse, which
bolted, jumped the fence just as a rider was passing.
I was in the grandstand listening to the commentary which suddenly went
silent afer a "Holy Crap!" or somesuch.
--
Chris
T i m
>It was like hitting a solid wall of cotton wool. I'm not ashamed to say
>I utterly, totally, shat myself, and had *just* enough presence of mind
>not to brake too hard, as it struck me that, if I wandered off-line as a
>result, I was liable to have a very, very big accident.
Only ever been even near that one when coming back from a RC Car race
at Brean Sands. Mate and I in his Dolomite Sprint <g> and being tired
and me being pissed, didn't notices we'd turned right instead of left
and were heading for Exeter instead on London. We turned round and
headed back (took another hour to get were we started). Then I fell
asleep and woke up a bit later in said marshmallow (at 70+). I thought
we had actually died and were already in heaven.
>
>> I guess we all do that to some extent (especially when riding
>> motorbikes), avoiding manhole covers on corners or potholes in the
>> roads we ride regularly.
>
>You normally do that with your eyes shut then?
>
>Coz that's the equivalent skill :)
Well sort of. What I meant is we subconsciously move out to avoid said
pothole or change what would be our normal line to avoid the (unseen)
manhole cover.
>
>> Nice. I assume there is *some* possibility of an unseen animal being
>> on the road under the dark trees?
>
>Someone was killed a few years back when a horse got out, on a straight
>bit of road, and it got collected at 160+
Crap. I mate (at speed) hit a deer in his kitcar and the damage it did
to the car was unbelievable. See, that's something else that I'm
'aware of' when on my bike. I might be riding through some forested
area and I have seen animals (deer mainly) run across the road ahead
of me so might moderate my general riding because of such. Anyone
behind me (especially in a car) might think I'm riding slowly whereas
I'm actually riding to get from A to B and in one piece?
>
>Nowadays they seem to take a *lot* of efforts to ensure that doesn't
>happen, such as radio adds to warn the sister/sheep-fucking locals to
>keep their livestock (human and otherwise) inside during TT week (and
>there are fines if you don't), but yes, sure, there's no *guarantee* of
>anything; you want safe, fuck off and play PlayStation :)
Not got a console (don't like em) nor really into 'racing' games but
you are right.
>
>I for one rejoice at the fact they still let people do this, though for
>how much longer I have no idea.
Indeed. I'm all for letting people kill themselves if they want to.
>
>BTW, have you ever been?
Nope. The thing with me is whilst I would be interested for a bit I
get bored very easily (although I might like to go to the IoM in
general etc). Saw a round of some bike thing at Brands (SB's?) and we
sort of walked round the course, watching the bikes where we could.
Soon after we watched the Touring Cars at Silverstone and drag racing
at the Pod. It was all new for our daughter and ok for me once in a
while but I won't be rushing to do any of it again for another 20
years or so. We all agreed what was much more fun was actually being
IN my BIL's Disco going round a 4X4 course at Abbingdon. ;-)
>
Daughter would like to get back into 'off road' riding but not Motor
cross or what trials has become these days (she had a PW50 when she
was 7 and a TY80 when she was 9). I think it's probably going to be
just a bit of green-laneing. We think riding the slippery stuff can
help yer on-road riding and if you do come a cropper you are probably
less likely to do any major damage. ;-)
T i m
Champ
<Pe...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Beware that the Mona's Isle experience can become addictive.
You can say that again :-)
--
Champ
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger
ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R600 racer (for sale) | ZX10R racer (broken)
neal at champ dot org dot uk
Jim
> That used to be the wisdom - if anything it was more than three.
>
> But in recent years people like Steve Plater and Guy Martin have
> turned up and gone fast from day one.
There's been some talk about the F1 chaps learning new circuits by
playing computer games - perhaps the same thing happens for the IoM?
Jim
> Anyway, someone had crashed and the air ambulance had landed to take
> them to Nobles hospital. As it took off, it spooked the horse, which
> bolted, jumped the fence just as a rider was passing.
That actually happened to me this morning on the way in. Came round a
corner, a horse was munching grass on the inside verge against a wall,
startled and leapt out into the road in front of me.
Luckily it was across the road before I reached it.
That was only the first incident: the second one was encountering a roll
of turf slap bang in the middle of a 90mph bend.
The world is out to get me today.
higgins@work
>
> Crap. I mate (at speed) hit a deer in his kitcar and the damage it did
> to the car was unbelievable.
I hit a deer on my bike, the damage I did to the deer was entirely
believable.
CT
> That actually happened to me this morning on the way in. Came round a
> corner, a horse was munching grass on the inside verge against a wall,
> startled and leapt out into the road in front of me.
It was a pony[1], surely?
> Luckily it was across the road before I reached it.
>
> That was only the first incident: the second one was encountering a
> roll of turf slap bang in the middle of a 90mph bend.
>
> The world is out to get me today.
Well, if you will live in the wilds...
[1] What is the difference, actually? Just size?
--
Chris
Jim
> > That actually happened to me this morning on the way in. Came round a
> > corner, a horse was munching grass on the inside verge against a wall,
> > startled and leapt out into the road in front of me.
>
> It was a pony[1], surely?
> [1] What is the difference, actually? Just size?
Yes. A pony is just a small horse, AIUI.
eamonn....@gmail.com
> In article <fcceddd2-a183-48b2-a72d-ef0a639bd0b2
> @m24g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>, says...
>
> > > You'll love the Mugello trip I'm sure, but yes, do the TT and/or MGP.
>
> > Oh i will, this is me third time. Mugello is just nuts, italian mayhem
> > at its best, and rossi always pulls out the stops...
>
> Cool. It's on my "must do" list.
Highly recommended. The first year i was there, rossi won obviously,
but capirossi melandri and biaggi were second to fourth, in some
order. The italians went bananas. Attendance was over 100k more than
half on bikes, and we to our regret thought we were clever by leaving
bikes outside circuit in secure parking. After the podium the
marshalls opened the gates onto the track letting any and all nutters
on the track. quadbikes with half a dozen eyties, goldwings, scooters,
fieldbikes, litre bikes, i saw three guys on a fireblade. Some dudes
were bimbling, some were head down knee down flat out thru the
throngs. On me mates camcorder my voice can be heard saying "if i
wasnt actually looking at this, i wouldnt believe it" More and more
bikes on track, some stunting. Health and safety the back o me nads!
It was only when a few alfredos decided it would be amusing to start
going COUNTERCLOCKWISE that the marshalls started to calm things down.
Mentalists all.
Stunting through the (dense) crowd is still normal. its expected. plus
impromtu hillclimbs with unfeasible numbers of italians in vests
clinging onto a single scooter. all for bravado and the amusement of
the crowd.
top event.
> > Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
> > vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
>
> I'm wouldn't pretend to be a "vet" compared to many around here - done
> the TT twice, and the MGP once. But yes, I know some stuff, and others
> here know lots more.
>
> Just do the MGP. I have a feeling you'll love it.
ooooh me too, methinks...
CT
But what defines "small"? Hands high?
'Ang on...
<fx:Googles>
From Wikipedia:
"For many forms of competition, the official definition of a pony is a
horse that measures less than 14.2 hands (hh) 58 inches (150 cm) at the
withers. Horses are 14.2 or taller."
Right.
"The International Federation for Equestrian Sports defines the cutoff
point at 148 centimetres (58 in) without shoes, or 149 centimetres (59
in) with shoes."
Ah, so that's slightly different then.
"However, the term "pony" can be used in general (or affectionately)
for any small horse, regardless of its actual size or breed."
Oh, fuck...
"Furthermore..."
You know what? I don't care anymore!
--
Chris
eamonn....@gmail.com
> In communiqué <MPG.247d6f585856f81d98a...@news.individual.net>, Bear
> <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>
>
>
> >In article <fcceddd2-a183-48b2-a72d-ef0a639bd0b2
> >@m24g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>, says...
> >> Hmmmmm Maybe the MGP as intro to IOM not such a bad plan, less hectic,
> >> get to know lie o the land etc.....might root out diary @work
> >> tomorrow, peer into current a/c and dust off the abacus and see if it
> >> can be swung!
>
> >Cool :)
>
> >> Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
> >> vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
>
> >I'm wouldn't pretend to be a "vet" compared to many around here - done
> >the TT twice, and the MGP once. But yes, I know some stuff, and others
> >here know lots more.
>
> >Just do the MGP. I have a feeling you'll love it.
>
> Beware that the Mona's Isle experience can become addictive. I first
> went in 1971 (watching Ago on the MVs) and find myself drawn back there
> nearly every year.
Meh
As years go by, i spend more and more money and time on bikes and
biking.
Went alps once, and have gone back for the last five years(not cheap),
cant face winter without it. I have long since yielded to the
inevitability of this growing and powerful addiction.
In fact in modern parlance, its a disease, we should get assistance
from the NHS!
At the very least a support group...
Anyways, if the IOM gets under me epidermis, i wont grumble or fight
the disease, just roll with it.
Bikes rock, after all.
> There are challenging roads away from the course and loads to see apart
> from the racing. I realised last year that I had never been inside the
> Camera Obscura on Douglas head, so that is on the list for the this
> year.
>
> These days I only go to the MGP (except for the TT centenary which was a
> must). Don't be dismayed by the high incidence of white hair and old
> bikes on the ferry, there are still a few folk pressing on well aboard
> modern machinery.
>
> Sadly, one or two of the most definitive places to watch (IMO) are no
> longer accessible, but to make up for it there are some available now
> that were not years ago.
Still all sounds good!
Eddie
> Jim wrote:
>
>> Yes. A pony is just a small horse, AIUI.
>
> But what defines "small"? Hands high?
>
> 'Ang on...
>
> <fx:Googles>
>
> From Wikipedia:
> You know what? I don't care anymore!
It's a load of pony, that's for sure.
--
Eddie ed...@deguello.org
His: SL Mille, Elefant 900
Hers: Monster S4R (deceased) http://www.last.fm/group/ukrm
Nige
<eamonn....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:fcceddd2-a183-48b2...@m24g2000vbp.googlegroups.com...
>
>Oh i will, this is me third time. Mugello is just nuts, italian mayhem
>at its best, and rossi always pulls out the stops...
We're off this year :)
Eddie
>
> Bikes rock, after all.
A touch more rebound damping should sort that out.
eamonn....@gmail.com
> eamonn.deba...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Bikes rock, after all.
>
> A touch more rebound damping should sort that out.
Fnarr!
eamonn....@gmail.com
> <eamonn.deba...@gmail.com> wrote in message
Molto bene!
The Older Gentleman
Very interesting article in this month's Top Gear mag about finding a
new racing car wiizard by inviting gamers to try their chances on the
real thing. Turns out that excellent reactions and hand-eye
co-ordination do indeed transfer from the screen to the track.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Triumph Street Triple Honda XBR500 CB400F
SH50 MZ TS250 GHPOTHUF1 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom
Nothing damages a machine more than an ignoramus with a manual, a
can-do attitude and a set of cheap tools
Bear
8fcf72...@f16g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>, says...
> On May 20, 2:38ï¿œam, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > In article <fcceddd2-a183-48b2-a72d-ef0a639bd0b2
> >
> > > On May 20, 1:58ï¿œam, Bear <bastardDOTb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > You'll love the Mugello trip I'm sure, but yes, do the TT and/or MGP.
> >
> > > Oh i will, this is me third time. Mugello is just nuts, italian mayhem
> > > at its best, and rossi always pulls out the stops...
> >
>
>
> Highly recommended. The first year i was there, rossi won obviously,
> but capirossi melandri and biaggi were second to fourth, in some
> order. The italians went bananas. Attendance was over 100k more than
> half on bikes, and we to our regret thought we were clever by leaving
> bikes outside circuit in secure parking. After the podium the
> marshalls opened the gates onto the track letting any and all nutters
> on the track. quadbikes with half a dozen eyties, goldwings, scooters,
> fieldbikes, litre bikes, i saw three guys on a fireblade. Some dudes
> were bimbling, some were head down knee down flat out thru the
> throngs. On me mates camcorder my voice can be heard saying "if i
> wasnt actually looking at this, i wouldnt believe it" More and more
> bikes on track, some stunting. Health and safety the back o me nads!
> It was only when a few alfredos decided it would be amusing to start
> going COUNTERCLOCKWISE that the marshalls started to calm things down.
> Mentalists all.
Sounds superb :)
> Stunting through the (dense) crowd is still normal. its expected. plus
> impromtu hillclimbs with unfeasible numbers of italians in vests
> clinging onto a single scooter. all for bravado and the amusement of
> the crowd.
> top event.
<adds to list>
TBH, if it had fallen during our "planned" time I think we'd have gone
for it.
Next year, it'll be (probably) the TT, and possibly the NW200 too,
although the NW200 is a long way to go for pissy weather and one day's
racing :) And at least one MotoGP and/or WSBK round somewhere exotic,
like maybe Monza or Mugello.
> > > Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
> > > vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
> >
> > I'm wouldn't pretend to be a "vet" compared to many around here - done
> > the TT twice, and the MGP once. ï¿œBut yes, I know some stuff, and others
> > here know lots more.
> >
> > Just do the MGP. ï¿œI have a feeling you'll love it.
>
> ooooh me too, methinks...
You get to see some great racing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/2821893776/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/2821051949/
You get to see truly daft and amazing bikes. Last year, there was a
collection of MVs (original ones, not the modern stuff) and Bimotas that
a bunch of insane Norwegians had brought ... had they taken a ferry?
Course they hadn't - they'd ridden them down to Calais and caught the
Chunnel. They were utterly insane, in that Scandewegian "I am talking
in a very calm and measured voice, without getting at all excited, but
the words coming out of my mouth are fucking barking" way.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/2821692268/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/2820851551/
Then there's the bloke with the Busa. Which he's got a 1600 kit in.
And a turbo.
Oh and then there's the nitrous too ...
And really *interesting* bikes, like a bloke with a very simple, air
cooled RD 400 engine, clearly tuned to within an inch of its life, in a
simple, tubular frame, with a monoshock rear. 2 spots atop the bars,
fuck all that's not relevant. Looked gorgeous. Seemed to go ok too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/2820854665/
Or a full-scale GP rep, where some chap had taken an RG500 lump, bapped
it til it screamed, then put it into a meticulous copy of one of
Schwantz's bikes, including a one-off frame, and replica paintjob, down
to meticulous research as to which stickers Schwantz had on his bike
that particular weekend - ie it's not just a rep of a specific bike,
it's a rep of a specific bike on a specific weekend.
He'd even worked out the dimensions of some parts of the frame by
getting hold of a pic of Schwantz stood next to the bike with the
plastics off, knowing Schwantz's height, and going from there ... later
he "managed to convince Suzuki to let me measure the thing for real" ...
completely obsessed. He was a Brit, but he could tell you every single
result Schwantz was ever involved in, and no I don't mean just the GP
results either :)
Or just really clean classics, like this 9,000 mile example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/2821689060/
And then there's this bloke (although TBH this was at the TT, not the
MGP) - probably my all-time fave builder:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67658643@N00/165244233/
That, my friend, is a Kawasaki V12. Champ, WUN and I poured over the
thing for ages, and the bloke was (again) of that down-to-earth, quiet
form of lunacy, where he was describing planning and doing things in a
quiet monotone, but the things he was casually talking about doing were
clearly beyond 99% of home builders to do ("the crank's not actually
*that* hard to do ... well not compared to the electrics, at any rate
..."). And the entire thing, IIRC, only took him about 9-10 months to
do, from start to finish, working evenings and weekends.
Note the cunningly enlarged petrol tank. And yes I had a *good* look at
it and no, you can't see the join. It's perfect.
Keen yet? :)
Bear
> In communiquￜ <MPG.247d6f585...@news.individual.net>, Bear
> >In article <fcceddd2-a183-48b2-a72d-ef0a639bd0b2
> >@m24g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>, says...
> >> Hmmmmm Maybe the MGP as intro to IOM not such a bad plan, less hectic,
> >> get to know lie o the land etc.....might root out diary @work
> >> tomorrow, peer into current a/c and dust off the abacus and see if it
> >> can be swung!
> >
> >Cool :)
> >
> >> Whenever i get it together, i'll be on to you (and the rest of the IOM
> >> vets here) for the inside track, so to speak.....
> >
> >I'm wouldn't pretend to be a "vet" compared to many around here - done
> >the TT twice, and the MGP once. But yes, I know some stuff, and others
> >here know lots more.
> >
> >Just do the MGP. I have a feeling you'll love it.
>
> Beware that the Mona's Isle experience can become addictive. I first
> went in 1971 (watching Ago on the MVs) and find myself drawn back there
> nearly every year.
>
> There are challenging roads away from the course and loads to see apart
> from the racing. I realised last year that I had never been inside the
> Camera Obscura on Douglas head, so that is on the list for the this
> year.
That's one I want to do this year too. And the Laxey Wheel.
> These days I only go to the MGP (except for the TT centenary which was a
> must). Don't be dismayed by the high incidence of white hair and old
> bikes on the ferry, there are still a few folk pressing on well aboard
> modern machinery.
Never mind that - there are still a few folk (well more than a few
actually) still pressing on well aboard old piles of shite :)
Plus they seem to break down every 5 mins, so you stop and offer to
help/give a lift, so you meet new people fairly regularly too.
> Sadly, one or two of the most definitive places to watch (IMO) are no
> longer accessible, but to make up for it there are some available now
> that were not years ago.
I'm just hoping Tommah's quad bypass was successful - he's a top laugh,
and watching from a front garden on the exit of Parliament Square is top
fun, although I'm going to take L to a few places this year - Glen Helen
is a must too, IMHO; great food & booze, and a good vantage point to see
just how fast those guys can corner.
Where else would you suggest for L's first time?
Bear
I could see that for the basic layout, but I would imagine that half the
skill is knowing the precise camber/hazards etc, associate with each
section.
Also, and ICBW, I still think it took Plater and Martin, great though
they are, a couple of years to win anything. Being fast is only half
the problem - you still have to get the machinery home.
Bear
says...
Cheers :) I'm talking about that little left kink followed by the right
hander - it's at 3m32s on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHs11-uP3k&feature=channel_page
And yes, I got it wrong - the "straight" I took to be the mile was the
one following Joeys ... mind you I had a good excuse - I couldn't see my
hand in front of my fucking face, and was doing 40 :)
I so need a detailed map of the course.
Champ
wrote:
>In article <ja1de6-...@acquisitions.striven.940>, Jim says...
>> Champ <ne...@champ.org.uk> wrote:
>> > That used to be the wisdom - if anything it was more than three.
>> >
>> > But in recent years people like Steve Plater and Guy Martin have
>> > turned up and gone fast from day one.
>>
>> There's been some talk about the F1 chaps learning new circuits by
>> playing computer games - perhaps the same thing happens for the IoM?
>
>I could see that for the basic layout, but I would imagine that half the
>skill is knowing the precise camber/hazards etc, associate with each
>section.
Agreed.
>Also, and ICBW, I still think it took Plater and Martin, great though
>they are, a couple of years to win anything. Being fast is only half
>the problem - you still have to get the machinery home.
Well, neither have yet won anything at the TT. But my point is that
they're proper fast. Plater did something like 122mph lap in his
first year, Martin was similarly quick off the bat.
Bear
d8a234...@h23g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>, higgins@work says...
heh.
My dad once hit a smallish deer with a Chevrolet Caprice Classic station
wagon:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/3467302638_79d518c726.jpg
Despite weighing fuck knows how many tonnes, and only doing about 60,
the car was *totalled*
At the time, most people in the US didn't wear seatbelts. My dad, being
a Brit, tended to on long journeys. The state trooper who arrived a few
mins later said the belt was all that saved his life.
They found bits of engine a fair way from the car.
Tricky coves, deer.
Champ
>Bear wrote:
>
>> In article <o96615p1p3fsqho9b...@4ax.com>, T i m says...
>> >
>> > Nice. I assume there is some possibility of an unseen animal being
>> > on the road under the dark trees?
>>
>> Someone was killed a few years back when a horse got out, on a
>> straight bit of road, and it got collected at 160+
>
>1986, IIRC. Or might have been '85.
Yep. 1986
>Anyway, someone had crashed and the air ambulance had landed to take
>them to Nobles hospital. As it took off, it spooked the horse, which
>bolted, jumped the fence just as a rider was passing.
Brien Ried crashed, as you say, and it was Gene McDonnel who was
killed.
>I was in the grandstand listening to the commentary which suddenly went
>silent afer a "Holy Crap!" or somesuch.
I remember that, tho I can't remember where on the course I was
watching from that day.
CT
> Where else would you suggest for L's first time?
Well, you've already said you're going to take her up the Laxey Wheel...
--
Chris
CT
> On 20 May 2009 08:48:26 GMT, "CT" <m...@christrollen.co.uk> wrote:
> > Bear wrote:
> >>
> >> Someone was killed a few years back when a horse got out, on a
> >> straight bit of road, and it got collected at 160+
> >
> > 1986, IIRC. Or might have been '85.
>
> Yep. 1986
Wahay! Still, it could only have been one of three years that I went
to the TT.
> > Anyway, someone had crashed and the air ambulance had landed to take
> > them to Nobles hospital. As it took off, it spooked the horse,
> > which bolted, jumped the fence just as a rider was passing.
>
> Brien Ried crashed, as you say, and it was Gene McDonnel who was
> killed.
Did you have to look that up?!
> > I was in the grandstand listening to the commentary which suddenly
> > went silent afer a "Holy Crap!" or somesuch.
>
> I remember that, tho I can't remember where on the course I was
> watching from that day.
It's the one and only time I've watched a race from the grandstand
because my GF of the time wanted some "comfort". I'd much rather be
out on the course somewhere. Preferably near a pub.
--
Chris
Ace
wrote:
>In article <7Af53GGF...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk>, Pete Fisher says...
>> There are challenging roads away from the course and loads to see apart
>> from the racing. I realised last year that I had never been inside the
>> Camera Obscura on Douglas head, so that is on the list for the this
>> year.
>
>That's one I want to do this year too. And the Laxey Wheel.
I know it may sound sacriligious, but consider taking the Manx
Electric Railway from either Douglas or Ramsey. I'm not a massive fan
of trams, trains or similar, but it made for an interesting day out,
mitigating against the fact that I had Champ's dad with me at the
time.
Although actually he's not a bad ol' fella, all things considered.
Champ
wrote:
>Cheers :) I'm talking about that little left kink followed by the right
>hander - it's at 3m32s on this:
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHs11-uP3k&feature=channel_page
I can't see youtube at work, so I'll have to check it later.
>And yes, I got it wrong - the "straight" I took to be the mile was the
>one following Joeys ... mind you I had a good excuse - I couldn't see my
>hand in front of my fucking face, and was doing 40 :)
There's not not really much of a straight following Joey's - it's a
few 100 meters at most. But the next complex is Guthries, and it is a
long left hander followed by a tight right hander. Then there's an
un-named left hander, and un-named right hander over the white-walled
bridge, and then you're onto the Mountain Mile.
Champ
>Champ wrote:
>> > Anyway, someone had crashed and the air ambulance had landed to take
>> > them to Nobles hospital. As it took off, it spooked the horse,
>> > which bolted, jumped the fence just as a rider was passing.
>>
>> Brien Ried crashed, as you say, and it was Gene McDonnel who was
>> killed.
>
>Did you have to look that up?!
<shuffles feet>
Only cos I couldn't remember O'Donnel's surname
CT
> On 20 May 2009 12:42:05 GMT, "CT" <m...@christrollen.co.uk> wrote:
> > Champ wrote:
>
> >> Brien Ried crashed, as you say, and it was Gene McDonnel who was
> >
> > Did you have to look that up?!
>
> <shuffles feet>
>
> Only cos I couldn't remember O'Donnel's surname
Seem like you still can't.
--
Chris
Mark Olson
> CT wrote:
>> Jim wrote:
>>
>>> Yes. A pony is just a small horse, AIUI.
>>
>> But what defines "small"? Hands high?
>>
>> 'Ang on...
>>
>> <fx:Googles>
>>
>> From Wikipedia:
> < snip >
>> You know what? I don't care anymore!
>
> It's a load of pony, that's for sure.
Q. What did the pony say when it coughed?
A. Excuse me, I'm a little hoarse.
Bear
> On Wed, 20 May 2009 13:18:00 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >In article <7Af53GGF...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk>, Pete Fisher says...
>
> >> There are challenging roads away from the course and loads to see apart
> >> from the racing. I realised last year that I had never been inside the
> >> Camera Obscura on Douglas head, so that is on the list for the this
> >> year.
> >
> >That's one I want to do this year too. And the Laxey Wheel.
>
> I know it may sound sacriligious, but consider taking the Manx
> Electric Railway from either Douglas or Ramsey.
No we're well into that sort of thing.
ogden
> I know it may sound sacriligious, but consider taking the Manx
> Electric Railway from either Douglas or Ramsey. I'm not a massive fan
> of trams, trains or similar, but it made for an interesting day out,
> mitigating against the fact that I had Champ's dad with me at the
> time.
>
> Although actually he's not a bad ol' fella, all things considered.
And what did you reckon of Champ's dad?
--
ogden
Bear
says...
> In article <cou715l1s69b8rc6s...@4ax.com>, Ace says...
> > On Wed, 20 May 2009 13:18:00 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >In article <7Af53GGF...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk>, Pete Fisher says...
> >
> > >> There are challenging roads away from the course and loads to see apart
> > >> from the racing. I realised last year that I had never been inside the
> > >> Camera Obscura on Douglas head, so that is on the list for the this
> > >> year.
> > >
> > >That's one I want to do this year too. And the Laxey Wheel.
> >
> > I know it may sound sacriligious, but consider taking the Manx
> > Electric Railway from either Douglas or Ramsey.
>
> No we're well into that sort of thing.
Meant to mention; Jayne & Andria had their wedding (well ok, civil
ceremony) reception on this:
And it was absolutely magical.
Pete Fisher
>and watching from a front garden on the exit of Parliament Square is top
>fun, although I'm going to take L to a few places this year - Glen Helen
>is a must too, IMHO; great food & booze, and a good vantage point to see
>just how fast those guys can corner.
>
>Where else would you suggest for L's first time?
Hmm. Most of the places we go don't tend to have booze on tap but Glen
Helen is certainly worth a visit.
One place we return to regularly is Kerrowgarrow on the run in to
Ballacraine. The first time we watched there many years ago there was
just us and the marshals. Between races the owners of the little cottage
brought us all cups of tea. Now a fair few get there. You can still get
cups of tea/coffee and home made cakes sold for charity. You can even
get to and from it when the roads are closed from St Johns if you know
which little lane to take and aren't put off by appearing to ride
through the grounds of a house. Parking can be a bit tight, though there
is a field which is OK if not wet.
Definitive place for getting a sense of frighteningly fast and by no
means as straight as it may seem on a road bike.
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: Pe...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
Bear
> In communiquￜ <MPG.247e05534...@news.individual.net>, Bear
> >In article <7Af53GGF...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk>, Pete Fisher says...
> >
> >I'm just hoping Tommah's quad bypass was successful - he's a top laugh,
> >and watching from a front garden on the exit of Parliament Square is top
> >fun, although I'm going to take L to a few places this year - Glen Helen
> >is a must too, IMHO; great food & booze, and a good vantage point to see
> >just how fast those guys can corner.
> >
> >Where else would you suggest for L's first time?
>
> Hmm. Most of the places we go don't tend to have booze on tap but Glen
> Helen is certainly worth a visit.
I don't *need* booze, you know.
Plus, if necessary, I can always carry it in this here spiffy Ventura
Aero Spada VII which, I noticed today, has integral shoulder straps
built-in, to turn it into a back pack. Cool or what?
(mind you, it sodding well should come with everything, the bloody price
it was).
> One place we return to regularly is Kerrowgarrow on the run in to
> Ballacraine. The first time we watched there many years ago there was
> just us and the marshals. Between races the owners of the little cottage
> brought us all cups of tea. Now a fair few get there. You can still get
> cups of tea/coffee and home made cakes sold for charity. You can even
> get to and from it when the roads are closed from St Johns if you know
> which little lane to take and aren't put off by appearing to ride
> through the grounds of a house. Parking can be a bit tight, though there
> is a field which is OK if not wet.
Noted, ta.
> Definitive place for getting a sense of frighteningly fast and by no
> means as straight as it may seem on a road bike.
Also noted, ta. I want to do one day on one of the "speed" places.
Ace
wrote:
>I don't *need* booze, you know.
*thud*
ogden
> On Wed, 20 May 2009 13:20:20 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >In article <ja1de6-...@acquisitions.striven.940>, Jim says...
> >> Champ <ne...@champ.org.uk> wrote:
> >> > That used to be the wisdom - if anything it was more than three.
> >> >
> >> > But in recent years people like Steve Plater and Guy Martin have
> >> > turned up and gone fast from day one.
> >>
> >> There's been some talk about the F1 chaps learning new circuits by
> >> playing computer games - perhaps the same thing happens for the IoM?
> >
> >I could see that for the basic layout, but I would imagine that half the
> >skill is knowing the precise camber/hazards etc, associate with each
> >section.
>
> Agreed.
>
> >Also, and ICBW, I still think it took Plater and Martin, great though
> >they are, a couple of years to win anything. Being fast is only half
> >the problem - you still have to get the machinery home.
>
> Well, neither have yet won anything at the TT. But my point is that
> they're proper fast. Plater did something like 122mph lap in his
> first year, Martin was similarly quick off the bat.
I've just done a 120mph flying lap on a 600.
I used to be faster though.
--
ogden
Bear
Yes, I realise that may come as a shock, but these days I can take it or
leave it, as appropriate.
But L moved in today, so we're celebrating.
<fx: opens bottle of champagne>
Hurrah and huzzah!
Higgins
> In article <1d70147e-51c2-4c29-aab6-
> d8a234...@h23g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>, higgins@work says...
>> On 20 May, 10:53, T i m <n...@spaced.me.uk> wrote:
>>> Crap. I mate (at speed) hit a deer in his kitcar and the damage it did
>>> to the car was unbelievable.
>> I hit a deer on my bike, the damage I did to the deer was entirely
>> believable.
>
> heh.
>
>
> the car was *totalled*
>
The benefit of a bike is that it tends to cut through the animal
>
> They found bits of engine a fair way from the car.
I was finding bits of fur for ages.
Champ
>On Wed, 20 May 2009 13:27:11 +0100, Bear <bastard...@gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Cheers :) I'm talking about that little left kink followed by the right
>>hander - it's at 3m32s on this:
>>
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHs11-uP3k&feature=channel_page
>
>I can't see youtube at work, so I'll have to check it later.
That's Guthries.
>>And yes, I got it wrong - the "straight" I took to be the mile was the
>>one following Joeys ... mind you I had a good excuse - I couldn't see my
>>hand in front of my fucking face, and was doing 40 :)
>
>There's not not really much of a straight following Joey's - it's a
>few 100 meters at most.
...and having checked the video, it's about 10 seconds...
--
Champ
ZX10R (road), ZX10R (race; breaking), GPz750 turbo (classic) Hayabusa (touring)
To email me, neal at my domain should work.
Champ
>I know it may sound sacriligious, but consider taking the Manx
>Electric Railway from either Douglas or Ramsey. I'm not a massive fan
>of trams, trains or similar, but it made for an interesting day out,
>mitigating against the fact that I had Champ's dad with me at the
>time.
>
>Although actually he's not a bad ol' fella, all things considered.
heh. D'you know, you prolly spent more time with him that day than I
have in the last 30 years :-)
platypus
> In article <07nK5QNh...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk>, Pete Fisher
> says...
>> In communiquￜ <MPG.247e05534...@news.individual.net>, Bear
>> <bastard...@gmail.com> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>>> In article <7Af53GGF...@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk>, Pete Fisher
>>> says...
>>>
>>> I'm just hoping Tommah's quad bypass was successful - he's a top
>>> laugh, and watching from a front garden on the exit of Parliament
>>> Square is top fun, although I'm going to take L to a few places
>>> this year - Glen Helen is a must too, IMHO; great food & booze, and
>>> a good vantage point to see just how fast those guys can corner.
>>>
>>> Where else would you suggest for L's first time?
>>
>> Hmm. Most of the places we go don't tend to have booze on tap but
>> Glen Helen is certainly worth a visit.
>
> I don't *need* booze, you know.
>
> Plus, if necessary, I can always carry it in this here spiffy Ventura
> Aero Spada VII which, I noticed today, has integral shoulder straps
> built-in, to turn it into a back pack. Cool or what?
>
> (mind you, it sodding well should come with everything, the bloody
> price it was).
ISTR that mobile phone stuff on the island is a bit pricey. Vodafone has
just cut their roaming charges to UK levels for the summer, for 35 countries
including pretty well all of Europe /and the Isle of Man/ and this is
available on a free PAYG SIM...
Champ
wrote:
>> Definitive place for getting a sense of frighteningly fast and by no
>> means as straight as it may seem on a road bike.
>Also noted, ta. I want to do one day on one of the "speed" places.
For me, it's what watching at the TT is all about.
Suggestions:
- Ago's Leap at the bottom of Bray Hill. Big crowds, so get there
early.
- The Crosby Hotel. Locked in while the roads are closed, but hey -
it's a pub
- Gorse Lee. Park at the Hawthorn, walk down before roads close and
find somewhere in the hedge to hide. You're stuck there all day, but
one of the *truly* scary corners.
- Ballaspur. Sit on the bank of the right hander. Where I took the
UKRm crew for the first evening practise in 2002.
- End of Cronky-y-Voddy
- Top of Barragarrow
- Bottom of Barragarrow
- Somewhere (anywhere) in Kirk Micheal
- Ballacry (jump 1/2 mile after Ballaugh Bridge). Park in Ballaugh
and walk down old railway line.
- Several places between Ginger Hall and Ramsey, too difficult to
describe
- 2nd kink after Gooseneck. Lots of walking through heather reqd.
- George's folly (RH kink before the Black Hut"
That should do for now... :-)
Ace
>On Wed, 20 May 2009 14:46:31 +0200, Ace <b.ro...@ifrance.com> wrote:
>
>>I know it may sound sacriligious, but consider taking the Manx
>>Electric Railway from either Douglas or Ramsey. I'm not a massive fan
>>of trams, trains or similar, but it made for an interesting day out,
>>mitigating against the fact that I had Champ's dad with me at the
>>time.
>>
>>Although actually he's not a bad ol' fella, all things considered.
>
>heh. D'you know, you prolly spent more time with him that day than I
>have in the last 30 years :-)
Heh. Actually had a nice day out and was glad of the company. At
times.
dog
> But L moved in today, so we're celebrating.
ah, cool. but isn't it a bit of an arse of a commute for her?
--
dog
rsv1000rf two#5 pwcram#3
Bear
> Bear wrote:
> > But L moved in today, so we're celebrating.
>
> ah, cool. but isn't it a bit of an arse of a commute for her?
Only for the next couple of weeks [1]. Then she leaves her job, we go
touring, and then she starts September at the college 5 mins walk away.
[1] and TBH not even then - she's the boss, so she gets to turn up a bit
late if the tube's bad