This one is for passengers only!

[morgs]

I imagine cost is an issue also, i know its cost for both parties and without sounding out of turn what does the passenger get out of it ?? apart from the the thrill, buzz, challenge and honour to have completed the TT course. Is that enough in this dodgy financial climate ??

[tufty113]

I imagine cost is an issue also, i know its cost for both parties and without sounding out of turn what does the passenger get out of it ?? apart from the the thrill, buzz, challenge and honour to have completed the TT course. Is that enough in this dodgy financial climate ??

COST!!!!!!!!!! yes it is expensive but the cost for most passengers is very small compared with the drivers cost normally.....the passenger gets the same out off it as the driver...the chance to do the tt!!!!!!!!!!

[Helen Gibson]

Hmm, Morgs, I think some drivers might say the passenger gets all that, just as the driver gets all that... but the driver tends to get all the really big bills ! Don't think the driver gets more out of it than the passenger... I always reckoned I was getting just as much fun ??
Some passengers, of course, pay an equal share, and they tend to be the ones who ride with the same driver all year, and they are a permanent team . Probably the best possible arrangement, but I think there are drivers who would be happy to have you just riding.

[tufty113]

spot on helen....with injury both at the tt and short circuit we also have seen a decline ......

[Helen Gibson]

Ho hum ... so much driver error........................ damaged passengers littering the place ....LOLOL!
Passengers are the bounciest people ever, and usually return!

[bruce moore]

just to put it into perspective,the travel fund has never changed in all the years of going,never has it included the passenger, the steam racket company have been extorting money out of everyone that goes accross since the year dot,and to be quite honest the atmosphere to me anyway is not the same.The TT paddock seems to have lost alot of the characters like Des founds,Franco Martinel,Tappo,Joe Hayes,John Booth,Mick Harvey,to name but a few,theres still alot of good people,but its changed.as for your original topic,for a non paying passenger with a family of 4,car and caravan,it still costs the best part £1500 to get there and survive ,fuel and food etc,as a driver the TT is as expensive as you want to make it,if your prepared right and lady luck is on your side,from experience the average rider needs a couple new tyres,get your old ones cut,new chain,couple of oil changes and fuel(PUMP not racing) and you can have a wonderful time with a couple of good results on an affordable budget . and a good crack with the right crowd

[tufty113]

just to put it into perspective,the travel fund has never changed in all the years of going,never has it included the passenger, the steam racket company have been extorting money out of everyone that goes accross since the year dot,and to be quite honest the atmosphere to me anyway is not the same.The TT paddock seems to have lost alot of the characters like Des founds,Franco Martinel,Tappo,Joe Hayes,John Booth,Mick Harvey,to name but a few,theres still alot of good people,but its changed.as for your original topic,for a non paying passenger with a family of 4,car and caravan,it still costs the best part £1500 to get there and survive ,fuel and food etc,as a driver the TT is as expensive as you want to make it,if your prepared right and lady luck is on your side,from experience the average rider needs a couple new tyres,get your old ones cut,new chain,couple of oil changes and fuel(PUMP not racing) and you can have a wonderful time with a couple of good results on an affordable budget . and a good crack with the right crowd

yet again..your spot on.....

[long legs]

well , you either want to do it or not ,if as a passenger you want to you would jump on with any one , coz you want to do it that bad , yes i agree it costs a fortune to get to the iom , never mind staying there for nearly three weeks ,the trouble is .......... solo riders can not now jump on as a passenger at the drop of a hat ,you have to have a int non championship licence (i think ) and have to have done six meets (wich i agree with ) , i suppose there just aint enough passengers out there to fullfill the drivers needs , its all about pollotics and insurance now adays ,just look at the trouble me and combes and howles and carl had last year , they wouldnt let me passenger !! , the cost needs to come down and the rules relaxad a bit , if theres a passenger out there with a novice /clubmans licence who we all know is a star of the future then let him or her race ! , i was allowed a international licence within eight monthsof starting out , coz somebody new somebody at the ACU and went to race in gedene , wooo hooo , but that sort of thing dont go on any more , coz of insurance bollox !!! , any way dont as a passenger ever be pushed into the hardest and bestest thing i have ever done in my whole life ............... THE TT , make your own minds up , and give helen a ring when you have

[bruce moore]

totally agree winnie,theres nothing like it,i missed last year(gutted) and that would mean the best part of this year to re-qualifiy for next year ! so i think realistically ,do i want to wait another year???? no.,but i would encourage anybody who hasnt raced there,to have ago before its not there anymore.

[Helen Gibson]

Yes, guys... DO IT NOW... it may not be there soon, and that will be because not enough people come and do it. That would make me a very sad Helen

[sidecarf11]

You know it is the one thing I really miss is the shear passion of people like Bruce and Mick harvey just to mention two out of the many that I got to meet. Sidecar racing is their life and love. It is true what Bruce said about there are great racers out there that would race the TT but for one reason or another they don't quite meet the criteria.
Money has always been an issue with sidecar racing as nine times out of ten it comes out of your own pocket, I hate to think how much me and Bruce spent when we worked together The ideal situation would be for the Manx government to cover all transport cost ie free ferry to and from the island plus free fuel for all racing teams, after all if no racers went to the island the government would not have an economy We all know this will never happen !!!
So maybe you need to look into making the TT part of a sponsored championship so newcomers can get the amount of signatures they need and perhaps get some money whilst they are racing?

[ryan94]

Helen im planning on doing the TT in the next couple of years,

Im currently planning on coming over on the of 1st june for some of practice week and watching the saturday race.

The biggest problem i see for actually getting to race are as follows:

Currently happy racing with my driver in F1, so would need to do additional races with another driver to get used to an F2.
Need to find a driver felt comfortable with, dont know if i want a novice driver (not enough experience), dont know if i want an experienced driver (might be too fast first time out)
As someone else said, say I do manage to get prepared on an F2, get all licences and entries sorted, scrape up the funds to get out there (a few times to learn the circuit and then for 3 weeks for the races) and then im not upto or dont feel comfy with the driver etc, I have ruined someone elses trip!

So although it was one of my biggest ambitions to do the tt, every year it seems a lot easier to do it next year!

That said any chance of getting me on a newcomers visit so i can begin to make it a reality??

Thanks

Ryan

[Helen Gibson]

Just a quick reply as I'm off out to meet a former passenger and good friend! YES... PM me and I'll get you on one of the newcomer weekends.
BTW, I think you have also opened one of the subjects still not touched on regarding our difficulties...........F1 vs F2.
There are few enough sidecars anyway, but they are also divided, and only F2 s are eligible. for the TT ...rightly, I think... but it rules out those passionate about F1s
I have a couple of people lined up who want to do the TT sometime (which may be too late...) but they are F1 people who need at least a season's F2 to feel comfortable...

[morgs]

Just to clarify the TT was the pinnacle of my racing career.
The last time i did race there i'd been together with the driver for around a season and a half.
Not only did it cost me a small fortune to take the whole family for nearly 3 weeks, i did share costs.
Apart from the thrill and ( imho ) honour of riding the TT, I came away with nothing more. Financially i was desperate. ( We finished both races ).

I would hate to think the Sidecars at the TT would dwindle because of lack of passengers but is the root of this that novice / inexperienced passengers aren't being given enough chance to get up to speed and gain that experience over time on short circuits.
All i seem to hear is this passenger has jumped ship or this driver has sacked this passenger. Isn't it about being a team, trying to come to terms with each other, trusting in each other and above all perseverance. A good team is born ??

[lightning]

Some good learning points for me, i thank you all.

morgs,
my frame of mind is with your comments "isn't it about being a team...........a good team is born??"
Respect for each other and as well as all around the paddock comes into it for me.