Isle of Man TT

[RTHolmes]

been distracted by the football last week but catching up on coverage of the 2012 TT races, its just mindblowing every time I see it. I know theres a few bikers out there - anyone else watched it?




edit: in case you never heard of it its a 37miles road course on a small island in the Irish Sea. seniors race 6 laps, fastest riders are doing 130mph average laps and 190mph+ for large parts of the course. no arnco/barriers etc, just a few hay bales and lots of stone walls/kerbs/houses/bumps/jumps that will kill you. its completely bonkers.

[Nypsy]

A great event. 

I am surprised the blood sucking fiend lawyers have not killed this race.

[RTHolmes]

yeah its reassuring that its still going on. everyone is very aware of the risks involved, if people are willing to take them then fair enough I reckon. I feel no shame in saying that anyone who has a go at the mountain course on a bike at race pace has bigger balls than I want to picture

[RTHolmes]

I saw an onboard McGuiness qualifying lap with commentary last year, at one point on the mountain he says:

 " ... 5th ... 6th ... oer th' top at 'bout 180 and into the dip then right ... there allays a helicopter trying to follow us along ere, e cant keep up wi us on the straights ..."

 

[morfiend]

been distracted by the football last week but catching up on coverage of the 2012 TT races, its just mindblowing every time I see it. I know theres a few bikers out there - anyone else watched it?

(Image removed from quote.)


edit: in case you never heard of it its a 37miles road course on a small island in the Irish Sea. seniors race 6 laps, fastest riders are doing 130mph average laps and 190mph+ for large parts of the course. no arnco/barriers etc, just a few hay bales and lots of stone walls/kerbs/houses/bumps/jumps that will kill you. its completely bonkers.

 Was always a big fan of the TT but it's hard to get coverage this side of the pond. While the bikes are much faster these days I still think the real riders rode single 500's,Norton Manx anyone??


   I hope to see some coverage but not holding my breath either.


   

[RTHolmes]

unlike any race track, the TT course hasnt been changed for safety reasons because ... its just normal roads used for racing so I reckon the riders today are at least as ballsy as the riders in the past. the bikes were considerably slower in the past but the surface wasnt great (my aunt raced in the mid '60s and said the mountain road was like a farm track )

[Seanaldinho]

Was always a big fan of the TT but it's hard to get coverage this side of the pond. While the bikes are much faster these days I still think the real riders rode single 500's,Norton Manx anyone??


   I hope to see some coverage but not holding my breath either.


   

Velocity channel does a decent coverage. DirecTv channel 281

[morfiend]

Velocity channel does a decent coverage. DirecTv channel 281

  I dont get that up in Canukville!

  Holmes,no doubt your right the riders still need brass ones for sure! It's just that today you have antilock discs,superior tires,better helmets and riding equipment.

  I liken it to F1,they still have risks but they are much reduces from days gone past.

  And lastly who doesnt like the sound of a big single thumper!



   

[xNOVAx]

In case you guys haven't seen this.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1698010/

Really well done documentary about the TT.  Watched it the other day and it was pretty amazing. Those guys are right on the edge of crazy.

[SIK1]

Isle of Man is insane. 
Velocity does have pretty good coverage. 
Honestly I'm surprised more people don't die. I've seen a couple of guys bounce off stone walls.   

[Seanaldinho]

Isle of Man is insane. 
Velocity does have pretty good coverage. 
Honestly I'm surprised more people don't die. I've seen a couple of guys bounce off stone walls.   

The biking suits nowadays are truly incredible.

[Rob52240]

We need to get the US interested in the TT.  Most of us have no idea wtf it is if you bring it up, even amongst avid riders (v twins especially).

I'd like to see them bring back Group B rally as well.  In the deep south I'm sure they'd change it to a dirt figure 8 track and put the pedals on the opposite side as the steering wheel.

If any Europeans feel like reciprocating, have a look at sprint cars or Top Fuel.  I know we can't seem to get past ovals and drag strips here... but 800 HP on dirt or 7000+ HP on pavement is very exciting to watch.

Ecomentalists who find this excessive might like roto-tiller racing.  Those guys are on foot and going faster than Olympians by the simple use of using a garden implement to pull them as they run.  I'm serious, it's a friggin awesome spectacle of psuedo-motorsport action on a budget even a drunkard Irishman on the dole could afford.