TT (bikes)

Oh that TT. thought you meant the world cycling champs

They always said Geof Duke knew every inch of the circuit. There is film of going round and flicking his head up to miss the lamp posts.
I think they are all nutters FWIW. How many have died there now?

Howard

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
I saw some footage of the TT today. Some of it was from the on-bike cameras. There is no possible explanation for the willingness to go that fast other than insanity.

They can't possibly have the entire course memorised, surely? Does anybody know for sure?

Ive managed a 107 mph lap of the TT course during the manx gp practice

Bottom line Deane is that you do memorise the course, i started by getting the basics right then focussing on sections at a time until i could piece it all together.

Hawk

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
They always said Geof Duke knew every inch of the circuit. There is film of going round and flicking his head up to miss the lamp posts.

Missing lamp posts forchristsakes! I guess hitting one at those speeds would kind of ruin the whole day.

I thought a TT never passes without at least one fatality but I could be quite incorrect there.

Hawk

Respect.

I have to ask, did you ever think about what could happen?

Deane

Jackie Stewart can still recite every corner and gearchange of the proper Nurburgring. He can't recite the alphabet, but I don't believe that's because he's Scottish...

Tony

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
They always said Geof Duke knew every inch of the circuit. There is film of going round and flicking his head up to miss the lamp posts.

Missing lamp posts forchristsakes! I guess hitting one at those speeds would kind of ruin the whole day.

I thought a TT never passes without at least one fatality but I could be quite incorrect there.

Hawk

Respect.

I have to ask, did you ever think about what could happen?

Deane

Not on the track... before sometimes, but once your heading off down Bray Hill its the same as any other circuit, you focus on your lap... braking points and putting it all together as well as you can, there really isnt time to think about anything else..

Hawk

It looks adrenalin-packed to the outsider but I get the feeling that for the riders it could be quite rhythmic and serene. And deeply satisfying to get right as well.

..so, is any of this footage on the internet - as a lifelong biker, getting my first of 39 bikes to date at the age of 7, and despite a biking accident that left me unable to walk for 2 years, and whilst in hospital I met my wife to be...(every cloud does indeed have a grey lining...I jest..)
As soon as I was able to walk, I was on a bike again, but despite all this, I have never been to the IOM. Can you direct me to a web-site that has some of this stuff to watch ?
Mike Hailwood was a childhood hero of mine - the fact that he ground his toes away cornering sticks,(as it would) in my mind - a little more of a hero than todays motor-racing champions (formula one, anyone ??)
Hawk - as Deane says - Respect ! Bigger balls than me - ok, so not too much to boast about, but lets hope we never meet to compare...

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
I saw some footage of the TT today. Some of it was from the on-bike cameras. There is no possible explanation for the willingness to go that fast other than insanity.

They can't possibly have the entire course memorised, surely? Does anybody know for sure?

Some of them do, however having ridden the course myself it is hard to believe.

Jim Lawson - thank you for the link !
Superb stuff !

Cheers,
Steve

There is a remarkable tape of Steve Hislop commentating on a one of his laps, called "TT Flyer". Men and Motors used to show it quite frequently but doesn't appear to have been on for a while. I do suspect that it might be purchasable via the interweb, but with a tail wind might be able to copy the DVD I made off M&M (although it isn't great quality) if you are really desperate.

Definitely recommended viewing.

107 average, superb stuff.