Jim Sinnott wrote:Good to see Mike the Bike remembered with affection
Quite right !
I was fortunate enough to be doing my first TT the year SMB made his comeback - the first time I'd been to the TT as well - I'd been to watch at the Manx - but nothing could match that year at the TT.
I was also fortunate enough to meet an experienced TT rider on the boat over - he & his friend spent a lot of time during the fortnight helping us out - taking us for laps in their car - delivering beer & generally guiding a raw newcomer.
My mate Mal Corfield has been telling the story of "when we fixed hailwood's seat" for years - and to prove it - here's a picture (or two)
The modified "Hailwo" seat.
The modification kit.
Ex TT racer (in the middle) - was Terry Grotefeld.
2 strokes are the future...
TZ Parts List http://tz350.co.uk
Had to laugh at this I heard somewhere... "You can't polish a Turd"
Nick Crowe and Darren Hope finishing 2nd in race a 2003. But seeing hopey in tears in the winners enclosure summed it all up whats it must be like to get on the podium at the TT. Class team
As a spectator on my first trip to the IOM circa 1980 was seeing Alex George 'Flat' in 5th round Cronk ny Mona,,,,,I wasn't expecting the ferocity of an approaching motorcycle...
During the same trip I failed to speak to Rolf Steinhousen as we passed each other on Nobles Park, simply coz I was in AWE of the man...
The Yamaha Roadshow at the Villiers Hotel.....
The choice of Coaches to take to you to various Points on the TT course.
Being able to sit on the inside of Govenor's bridge.
The Irish bar on the prom, where I met my hero Mr Ray MCcullugh what a guy...
1st and only tt 96, first time down bray hill I held it flat in 6th and same with hillberry flat in 6th, kenny Howles told me do it 1st lap or you will panic 2nd lap.
Friday morning session fisher past me at the cronk and I thought i'd follow him but knew he would disappear and he thought the same, seeing him look over his shoulder at gooseneck with us tucked in behind and giving him a wave was priceless, then he was gone. At the end of that session he couldn't believe we'd stuck with him and we were 5th fastest with our first ton lap ....what a feeling when we seen the time sheet.
Due to that we went faster again Friday night and ended the week 11th fastest from a start number of 49 on 101 mph with Molly on 109 .
Deubel and Scheidegger just a few feet apart at Hillberry`65.I was 14 and never expected such a fantastic sight.
Wed evening practice, 1970 me in the chair of a 750 BSA.Thought we were going pretty quick as Enders drifted past us
around the end of Cronk-y-Voddy.Must have been 30 mph faster.Awesome.
1969 500 Windy Corner.Enders and Schauzu so fast, so smooth.Fath`s howling URS laying down streaks of rubber,almost sideways.,
Ago`s immaculate style and line for each and every one of six laps at the right hander before Ballacraine 1969.
Dieter Busch warming Enders` HBM BMW,paddock `74.The beautiful machine and mesmerising sound.
To finish,the fiendish sound of the Honda six`s around the Island.About another hundred or more memories.
Last edited by phillippe on Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.
!954 on a 500 solo. The works NSUs passing me along sulby straight and Ruoert Hollaus poking a wagging tongue at me as he passed.
!952 GP.on a 350 Norton.Missing the finishing flag at the grandsatnd after v7 laps and doing the full 8
Opening the course in 1959 after the senior on a sidecar with Eric Oliver.
Proof riding the Clypse course in January 1954.
Going through the bottom of Barregarow with Eric in 1960. Wow!! Don't remember the crash soon after on the left after Guthries.
I've got so many!! All together over 40 trips to the Island. Wish I could emigrate.
Glad someone`s remembered the Lido - a trip ,to the TT`s never been the same since that went!
`78 was awesome; I went for the full 2 weeks that year and every day was beautiful, with just a couple of hours of rain on Mad Sunday afternoon, which we spent in the old snooker hall! Everyone was mad for Hailwood`s return, but I was convinced he`d struggle to match his hayday after such a lay off and on a Duke as well. I was worried he`d be remembered for failing to cut it at his come back, or even worse, that he`d try too hard and crash. What happened was beyong my wildest dreams! Watched him reel in Read, at the Creg (on the infield, down from the corner - why did they get rid of that footbridge?) We were all just praying that the Rita would last the 6 laps! There`s never been an atmosphere anything like that night in Douglas - amazing!
I think Tappo`s right though - that first plunge down Bray hill, on a chilly dawn at Monday`s early morning practise and thinking how fantastic - you`d got the best part of a fortnight in front of you, to do it again and again! Mind you, it always went far too quickly! Even when the event itself lost a lot of it`s appeal, that never failed to hit the spot and then some!
I can just about remeber being a wee nipper and my dad marshalling at the bottom of Hilberry. I never thought or any of them would ever get around that corner, I kept shouting at Dad 'Dad Dad did you see that!!!', after a while it must have got tiresome and he gave me 'The Look'. I kept quiet but eyes wide open and mouth agape as I watched every single one. From that moment on I loved racing, from that moment I knew that some day I wanted to do that.
I can remember being at Braddan Church the day that Chris Guy was winning over the mountain in treacherous conditions and because of Mick Grant phoning in the race was stopped and had to be re ran. Everyone was gutted as Chris Guy was head and shoulders above everyone else. This bloke turned up on a Pink bike and handed it to the others on a silver plate, dished up cold and wet, and showed them how to ride..... I was gutted for him....
Sidecar moment was watching Moly and my good old mate Colin Hardman around Braddan Bridge and everyone standing clapping and cheering, it was a great sight....
what a fantastic feeling ...and at 74 and 60 and 3/4 
