Privatising the TT

[Haynesy]

Not sure what to make of this...... what do those with more experience think?

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/tt- ... ng-the-tt/

[MUNGO]

What you have to understand from the off is that the Manx Government, when an unpopular move is made, hide behind the UK Government by stating "It's not our fault, as Crown Dependencies we don't have an option." To confirm this, just look at the VAT agreement between the UK Government and the Manx Government.

The Manx Government have tried to distance themselves from the bad press that loss of life on the TT course attracts. I believe there is a very real prospect of the TT being lost due to what the Manx Government want to do to it, by having someone else organise a World TT series. The TT will not continue forever, it will cease sometime (not for a very long time, I hope). Steve Hislop wrote a book with the title 'You Couldn't Do It Now', and he was correct. Imagine if it had never been run and someone approached the Manx Government with the idea of motorcycles with top speeds in excess of 200 MPH racing round what we know as the present TT course. I think someone would whisper out the side of their mouths something like "I'll keep him occupied, you go fetch the men in white coats". This is the beginning of the end for the TT, in my opinion.

[steve-e]

but could it really carry on as it was Pete? How long would the people on the Island have put up with it if the govt couldn't say it was bringing in money? I think it brings in money all year round, not a great deal yet the rest of the year but the raised profile is a long term thing (IMHO).

[Haynesy]

I don't know enough of the history and politics behind it all and find myself in two minds about this. Worried it's potentially the thin edge of a wedge though at the same time can see how such developments could really breathe some new life into it all.

I'll be watching for sure to see how things go.

[steve-e]

It has a new lease of life. The TT was something I took no interest in years back, why should I at the time? Same as World Superbikes, it gained popularity when motoGP went wrong. The sidecar World Championship is on its arse so more people want to do the TT. The British F1 is the only reason to race a long sidecar.

[Fanch]

Received by the competitors today

[MUNGO]

The TT was almost lost to Belgium in the 1920's and I feel there is a possibility of the Manx government losing it's grip on this 'cash cow' through it's endeavours to make more money. I hope my fears will not be realised.

[petercaughlin]

If the Manx government is not doing its job then at least you can gather on the grass and hold them to account,more than we can do for the morons who run this country

[MUNGO]

While the Manx Parliament is the longest continuous parliament in the world, it doesn't mean the politicians in the Manx Government (Members of the House of Keys - MHK's) are smarter than the MP's in the UK Government. They are a bunch of duffers that can compete very well with MP's for daft ideas.

[Helen Gibson]

Mungo! You should be ashamed of yourself... their ideas wildly surpass the lunacy of the UK ones ... Toilet tax, anyone? (Chief Minister "It's unfair... we know it's unfair, but we're doing it anyway") .

"My posh hotel is going bust... lend me some money"... "Certainly, sir"..Oi... let's have an enquiry... that looked dodgy . Enquiry findings: Nothing dodgy here, yessir... move along , please...

[kface]

Perhaps Helen they will privatise the ferries also, so that everyone can get here. Mind you that would be difficult when half of them have shares in it anyway.Corruption ,where?

[Helen Gibson]

Isle of Man Steam Packet is completely privatised and belongs to a Portuguese bank!

[sidecarf11]

Donnington all over again ! look what happened there Problem with this sort of thing is that there are people out there that can talk the talk but when it comes to delivering the goods there's nothing in their van beware Manx goverment