The Place

Has anyone read the latest email from the TT organisers re the potential plans for next years TT? (Was sent on 4/11 but ive just read it).

Seperate living vehicles will be in a seperate vehicle park, which i presume means caravans, motorhomes etc so they will be away from the awnings. From a security aspect (leaving all equipment and bikes unattended overnight, is everyone ok with this?

Sidecars teams need to wear matching safety equipment which i presume means leathers and helmets? So thats an extra expense (will be over 3k for new 2x leathers ad helmets).

Sidecar crews to wear additional protective armour but no mention of what at this stage.

Plus a few other bits and pieces like no paddock vehicles during day (would they expect to carry fuel, engines etc from the car park?!).

However, no mention of any potential engine rule changes?

Havent seen anything on here of fbook so wonder what peoples thoughts are.

Competitors Personal Safety Equipment
You should have previously seen an e-mail we sent out covering off changes to the minimum standards of personal safety equipment set to be introduced ahead of TT 2017. I would appreciate any comments anyone has to make on these changes, however I am sure you will agree that they represent a positive change. There are to be two further amendments to these new regulations which we will roll out in due course, which both effect the Sidecar competitors. They are:



1) Changes to the rules laid down for body armour for sidecar competitors. Final spec TBC.

2) The requirement for all sidecar crews to wear matching personal safety equipment in terms of colour scheme etc. Final spec TBC. Dispensation option at promoters discretion to be included.


Paddock
Due to the rapid growth of the TT in physical terms, pressure on our paddock and surrounding public spaces has increased in recent years. This has manifested itself most recently in increased scrutiny from various regulatory bodies on the Island and culminating in a formal improvement notice from the Health and Safety Executive. This notice requires us to make adjustments to the way these areas are operated and demonstrate those plans by February of next year. This is a significant piece of work which will lead to wholesale change in the way the site is constructed, laid out and managed.

Attached is a draft plan of the proposed new lay out of the paddocks and surrounding areas for TT 2017. This illustrates in general terms (and not to scale) some of the changes likely to be implemented. The headline changes as it stands are as follows:



1) Site build time provision to increase from 2 to 3 weeks.

2) Specifically allocated arrival times for all vehicles at the paddock upon arrival on the IOM.

3) New layout, with clearer segregation of working and living vehicles.

4) Paddock A to no longer be main presentation paddock, with these vehicles moving to the hard standing area known as Paddock B.

5) All separate living vehicles to be positioned in a new fully serviced RV Paddock situated in Nobles Park.

6) Separate area constructed for limited camping.

7) Entire site to be operated on a pitch basis with pitches allocated before arrival.

8) All vehicles being brought to the event to be pre-registered on new event entry system, with un accredited vehicles being refused access to the site.

9) Vehicle movements in the working paddocks to be completely prohibited during core daytime hours.

10) Greater restriction on pass allocation including the introduction of charges for additional passes provided over and above a yet to be determined number.

11) Introduction of an on-site Permit Office to manage the day to day issues surrounding all passes and permits.

12) Increased regulation and enforcement surrounding fuel safety including the use of PPE for technical personnel and the mandatory provision of fire safety appliances.



This is going to be a significant change to deliver in 2017 and it requires constructive co-operation from all stakeholders. Your feedback and any initial questions on this topic are welcome.


Non Homologated Machines in Superbike and Senior TT Races
For many years the TT has allowed non homologated machines to take part at the organisers discretion in the Senior TT Race. More recently, this ruling was extended to include the Superbike TT Race as well, with the full regulations for both classes becoming identical.

In 2016 this ruling was used to allow three machines to take part. They were:



1) Honda RC213V-S ridden by Bruce Anstey

2) Suter MMX 500 ridden by Ian Lougher

3) Norton SG5 ridden by David Johnson



We have been asked by some stakeholders to re-examine the rule that currently allows these machines to take part in the TT. We would appreciate any comments anyone wishes to make on this matter at this point. Options available to us include the following:



1) No change. Machines allowed to take part as per 2016.

2) Reverse to previous situation whereby non homologated machines could take part in the Senior Race only.

3) Allow non-homologated machines to take part but with some level of performance sanction (i.e. weight)

4) Ban non homologated machines from all TT classes.

5) Consider a more open rule option for homologated Superbikes.


Our focus with this issue, as with all elements of the TT delivery, are on growing the visitor economy of the Isle of Man, and our rationale for allowing these machines previously has been sound when routed back to this objective. We accept the need to balance the views of all stakeholders however and remain grateful for the support we receive as an event from all manufacturers and teams. I hope this is the start of a reasonable and constructive debate on the matter and I look forward to accepting any views given.


Sanctions
Whilst not something we are in any way keen to use, we intend to introduce a number of formal sanction rulings into the regulations for TT 2017. This is to support effective event management and governance going forward and would be used in respect of failure to adhere to reasonable instruction and guidance from event officials, behaviour that could be considered unprofessional and which could cause reputational damage to the event, it’s sponsors and the Isle of Man itself and evidence of sporting malpractice such as intentional non-compliance with the technical regulations in an effort to gain a performance advantage.

Sanctions will include financial penalties and exclusions, including bans from subsequent events. Further details will be released in due course for comment.


Grid Size and Qualification Times
Given the ever increasing lap speeds across all classes as well as the need to increase space in the paddocks, we are considering reducing the size of the grid for all TT classes as follows:



Superbike / Senior / Superstock 68 from 72
Supersport / Lightweight 72 from 78
Sidecar / TT Zero N/A

With regards to qualifications times, it is proposed that the current qualifying position for the sidecar class is brought in line with the solo’s with the time moving from 117.5% of the third fastest qualifier to 115%.

Personally I'd be more worried about the rumours of one race in 2017 and none the year after. I'd love to know where that started.


The living vehicles is same as bsb. In reality it doesn't mean teams leaving stuff unattended. Most teams have race trucks and people sleeping in them. When Graham has had his truck in the paddock at TT mums caravan was separate down the bottom already, I assumed this was already the case.

The matching leathers and hat etc. is probably aimed at the TV coverage. As we all know TV thinks there are only four sidecars everyone else is probably fine to ignore it

Paddock vehicles, surely that means no riding scooters during the day. Instead of towing your trolleys round, walk with it. Personally I think a good idea if it stops kids running people over . I expect if you had to drop something off in the paddock by car a word with Lloyd would sort it as long as you got it back out when finished and not just left it parked up.

It's far too early to publish engine rule changes. We all know that will happen once your motors are built, and will be different to any other place you want to race a 600.

Extra protection? I'd like to know what that is about. If they made back protectors compulsory I'd agree with them, they are invaluable and some people need regulations in place to wear safety equipment.

There you go, food for thought

It seems there are people involved in the running of the event trying to justify their existance with this. The good bit about the TT is the 37 3/4 miles. The rest has been a pain for a lot of years.

I calculate that the new qualifying time is going to pretty much be a 100mph lap. I can't find the qualifying times for 2016 and it would be interesting to see how many outfits would have qualified to race this year with that lap time? does anyone know?

All the times are in timekeepers, I think this year was around 98

100mph seems about right with modern machinery and the circuit as it is now.

it's getting more like a bsb meeting every year !!

Crazy that you are going to have to lap at 100mph to qualify Where are the riders going to come from in years to come as can not see many new comers lining up to do it knowing that it is unlikely that they can achieve those speeds I take it that it is to stop the front runners getting mixed up with the back markers? How about the newcomers race is run over 2laps ? Would make it a lot safer for them

I put in a very significant and expensive effort to enter as a rookie in 2015. We failed to qualify by a couple mph. We would have been ecstatic to circulate in the race and be flagged off at the end of the 2nd lap. As it was we went home without racing which was a huge let down (especially since the expense forced me to retire and sell up and I'll be continuing to pay for it for the next 4 years). Even better would be to let a team complete the 3rd lap if they lowered their lap time to the qualifying standard but I can see how that could get complicated.

Knowing the qualifying speed was up to 100mph plus the extra expense of matching leathers & helmets and I would not even make the attempt as a rookie.

Yes, doesn't look a good way of encouraging new participants,is it a case of people who don`t actually race making the rules.

Looking at this year's list of qualifiers only 40 teams would have qualified to race if they had to do a 100mph lap. I assume that would likely stop most newcomers from qualifying to race in their first year?

My last year was some time ago now but 100mph qualy would not have been far off then. There was always a disspensation for necomers though Gavin. I know that isnt in place now but I think it should be. There are too many lapping very quickly now though. I think qualifying was 95 mph in 2003 ?

I was just fitted for leather for next season at AM Leathers he has the rules Protection equipment for 2017.

It was stated that All competitors must have knee pads built within leather as for arms & shoulders as well as a back protector (Obvious) but not built in.

I can't see sidecar passengers agreeing too well around the knee pad theory as may cause a lot of discomfort as well as another factor in the way to allow a passenger to focus on the job in hand. Drivers will be in discomfort also if they have never used before.

Sidecar race A Saturday 3rd June 14.00
Sidecar race B Friday 9th June 10.15