Isle of Man TT 2012 Q&A

Thinking of making the trip for 2012.No bike just on foot maybe someday I'll be lucky to have a bike there but not this time.Many here have had experience on the island and I need some information.How many days are needed realistically to take it all in? Where on the course is a 'must' for viewing? While the races are on is it possible to relocate to other parts of the course?

you might want to check into lodgings and flights, it's been a while, but 15 years or so you either paid through the nose or slept under a park bench - and believe it or not, 6 months in advance is (was) very last minute booking for TT week

Man I better get cracking so.

good luck - if you get there you'll love it (assuming you like motorcycles, beer and great atmosphere) don't miss the Douglas sprint.
even the police have fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1HqiUeK ... _embedded#!

Best thing you can do as a life time experience. Been there twice, '79 and '80. Brought a BSA 650 Tbolt over from Pomgolia (England) and a mate shipped his JPN over from West Australia. That had a short and flamboyant life in 1980 exploding into a million pieces from a spectacular prang at Kate's Cottage.

Spent a month each visit. Practise week is followed by race week so there's 14 days you must be there. Get in at least a week early and leave one week later if you can afford the time. As the track is about 39 miles long, you best get to the inside region. There are numerous small roads leading to excellent viewing spots, and that is one of the main reasons foe getting to the IoM before practise week so you can suss out where and how to get around.

There are many rallys and exhibits, public transport is pretty good and if you carry a helmet you can hitch a ride no probs, people on bikes will stop for a fellow rider on foot. Its cafe racer heaven, never saw a chopper once, but maybe today there are likely to be the odd Harley looking badly out of place like a beer gut in a bikini contest.

You may also be able to hire a bike there on a day basis which would be handy. Our accomodation was a tent at one of the many camping grounds. It was all pretty basic but in those days we lived on beer and beans anyway.

When I have the means to ditch the wife and kids, I'm going to go and live there.

Mick

Anyway we can watch this live in the US?

speirmoor said:

Anyway we can watch this live in the US?

Click to expand...

I've been looking and can't find one. Discovery HD used to show highlights of days races, but I can't find any evidence that they will be doing so this year. Speed showed it a number of years earlier - but when I contacted them about if they would be running it again, they responded (1st surprise) that the viewing figures were too low (2nd, bigger surprise)
Every time I was working in a bar and it was on - that is what was on the TV's - never got one negative comment, even from the chopper and Harley crowds, everyone would just watch it in disbelief and/ or awe.

ITV may have some content online but their schedule is not finalized yet.You can access UK content with a Proxy server.Anyone in the UK know whats being shown and on what channel?

Hers a start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVXc29Zg ... re=related

Chucking I.o.M. in Google will get a wealth of drivle , a 1/4 worth looking at .

Best thing is to book bed & broad though IOM tourist Broad. I wish I had the first time cause I booked to bed & breakfast in 1988 six months with a deposit in advance, 2 weeks before the TT they send my money back saying they had overbooked. Tourist Broad says it happens every year, they get your deposit interest free for 6 months- a dirty trick. I ended up in Castletown and not Douglas and had to travel some 10 miles everyday.
Whether you fly there or go via the IOM Steam Racket Boat Company (another rip off!) you can get to the Bungalow via the electric tram on race days from Douglas, sadly Murray’s motor museum is no longer there.
Expect some daylight & nightly entertainment like the Red Arrows (if they are booked)
Hope you have a great time, there are lots going on but you really need a bike or car to enjoy the experience including the Mad Sunday when the roads are turned one way traffic from Ramsay to Douglas so you can ride the bike hell for leather like the racers over the mountain section.

Love the TT but not been for a few years unfortunately, but I will be watching the highlights here in the UK on ITV4, a digital channel. I don't know if other countries can access the channel through the internet but here is a link http://www.itv.com/sport/isleofmantt/

The races are normally shown on TV at 9pm on the same day, unless cancelled due to weather. They also show lots of documentaries about the TT and profiles of riders.

One of our favourite spots was at the top of Bray Hill just after the start/finish line going down to Quarterbridge, there is a corner shop by the crossroads where you can get a decent view and is VERY close to the racers, so close that the police will move you if there is a risk of being splattered by Guy Martin or some other nutter, a straw bale is not good enough protection apparently! I loved the sidecars too, you feel a 'bumphh' as the sidecar pushes a huge wedge of air in front of them at 100+mph

yes ITV is the way to go it seems.I can watch here with a proxy server.Surprised its not on live over there on TV though, fantastic viewing all the same.

Probably don't show it live in case of bad weather on the mountain section. I remember being stuck at Kirk Michael for hours waiting for the race to start! it doesn't make good TV! We made the mistake of riding on the outside of the circuit, and the road is closed at Kirk Michael, always better to travel inside the circuit

Well its 2.5 years later but I'm going! Bags packed,taxi called and catching a plane to Dublin.Staying there for two night the on to the island on Monday in time for the for the first race. Not sure how good my internet will be there but look for SPEIRMOOR on Instagram for updates.

Better late than never so got out and break a rule or two for us home bound ones.