Discussion
I am off to the TT this year for the first time and I'm very excited!
Whilst I've been lucky to do many motorsport related things, I know very little about the practicalities of the TT. I have travel and accommodation sorted but am just working through what are the 'must do's' and how you make them happen.
I'll be there for several days, so should (fingers crossed) see several events. I presume that its difficult to move around during an actual race so you need to station yourself beforehand. Or am I wrong?
Where are the 'must view' spots, and do you need specific access passes/grandstands? Or is it a bit like the old 'black ops' routine at Le Mans?
Any insight much appreciated, want to make the most of it!
Whilst I've been lucky to do many motorsport related things, I know very little about the practicalities of the TT. I have travel and accommodation sorted but am just working through what are the 'must do's' and how you make them happen.
I'll be there for several days, so should (fingers crossed) see several events. I presume that its difficult to move around during an actual race so you need to station yourself beforehand. Or am I wrong?
Where are the 'must view' spots, and do you need specific access passes/grandstands? Or is it a bit like the old 'black ops' routine at Le Mans?
Any insight much appreciated, want to make the most of it!
Bookmark TT radio on your phone, or take small radio with you.
https://www.iomttraces.com/follow/page/tune-into-r...
https://www.iomttraces.com/follow/page/tune-into-r...
Sidecar Man said:
You'll love it.
You can move round during races if you know how to navigate around but it's not easy. Best to get set up and sit tight.
Places to watch well
Bottom of Bray Hill
Gorse Lea
Kirk Micheal to name a few.
Are you racing this year and will you be at the sidecar festival at Cadwell in August?You can move round during races if you know how to navigate around but it's not easy. Best to get set up and sit tight.
Places to watch well
Bottom of Bray Hill
Gorse Lea
Kirk Micheal to name a few.
Sidecar Man said:
You'll love it.
You can move round during races if you know how to navigate around but it's not easy. Best to get set up and sit tight.
Places to watch well
Bottom of Bray Hill
Gorse Lea
Kirk Micheal to name a few.
Gorse Lea was always one of my favourite spots to watch. However with all the publicity it receives on YouTube it’s become a victim of its own success and is very busy. You can move round during races if you know how to navigate around but it's not easy. Best to get set up and sit tight.
Places to watch well
Bottom of Bray Hill
Gorse Lea
Kirk Micheal to name a few.
I was going to give this year a miss as we’ve been going for a number of years. However now that the event is approaching I’m so pleased I’ve booked, although only for 3 nights this year.
OP, one of the problems with the TT, is going to watch other events are a little tame by comparison. The only thing that remotely competes was the 500cc Grand Prix’s in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
I'd second the advice to take a small radio. Manx Radio broadcasts on AM & FM so you can get it up on the mountain sections too if phone reception is patchy.
You hear it wherever you go it's an integral part of the experience and provides a ton of information.
You don't say how you are travelling. If you have your own transport then the mountain section has some great views where you get more than a fleeting glimpse.
Up at The Bungalow and you'll see all the way to Brandywell (the highest point), both can be accessed from within the Course. You can get there on the Manx Electric railway too, but I guess it is rammed during TT.
Schedules change at short notice, another reason to have the radio, so have some alternatives. A wander around the paddock area is well worth it.
You hear it wherever you go it's an integral part of the experience and provides a ton of information.
You don't say how you are travelling. If you have your own transport then the mountain section has some great views where you get more than a fleeting glimpse.
Up at The Bungalow and you'll see all the way to Brandywell (the highest point), both can be accessed from within the Course. You can get there on the Manx Electric railway too, but I guess it is rammed during TT.
Schedules change at short notice, another reason to have the radio, so have some alternatives. A wander around the paddock area is well worth it.
Thank you, all super helpful.
I will have transport, so will need to plot some trips. Are there actual 'official' spectating areas (with parking) at the key spots, or do you just take your chance?
With regard to the comment about it ruining other spectacles, I'm kind of hoping it does. I find much (but not all) of modern motorsport a slightly anemic experience compared to even 20 years ago.
I will have transport, so will need to plot some trips. Are there actual 'official' spectating areas (with parking) at the key spots, or do you just take your chance?
With regard to the comment about it ruining other spectacles, I'm kind of hoping it does. I find much (but not all) of modern motorsport a slightly anemic experience compared to even 20 years ago.
Some areas have parking, usually paid for. For example at Creg Ny Baa they put up several "grandstands" and the better viewing spots are cordonned off, so it is paid entry, which makes sense if you own one of the better viewing areas. The parking is also paid for iirc, but people also just park on the roadside.
The roads are narrow, but like much of the TT the people tend to be sensible and everything works fine.
Bungalow mountain section, again most people park on the side of the road. Have a look on Google maps Streetview, it's 2 lanes with a centreline.
Bikes tend to park right up by the road and the cars after that. I've not had to walk more than a few hundred yards from the car to the Course.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.2474056,-4.46547...
Orange lines are where you might park for The Bungalow or Brandywell. Red arrow shows the temporary footbridge and Green some of the better viewing spots on that section IMO. The road is cut into the hillside up there hence on the right as you look at that map you are well above the Course and get a good view, on the other side of the road the surface is near eye level and it's a bit restricted. It does however mean yo need to "cross the Course" to get on that side, either view the footbridge or well in advance whilst the Marshalls have the roads open still.
Once you are "inside" the Course then crossing to the outside is very limited. All access points have marshalls and roads usually close 30 (?)mins before any activity to allow Marshalls to check the Course etc.
I think the crossing at Braddan Bridge is the only crossing point open during racing or when the Course goes live.
The roads are narrow, but like much of the TT the people tend to be sensible and everything works fine.
Bungalow mountain section, again most people park on the side of the road. Have a look on Google maps Streetview, it's 2 lanes with a centreline.
Bikes tend to park right up by the road and the cars after that. I've not had to walk more than a few hundred yards from the car to the Course.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.2474056,-4.46547...
Orange lines are where you might park for The Bungalow or Brandywell. Red arrow shows the temporary footbridge and Green some of the better viewing spots on that section IMO. The road is cut into the hillside up there hence on the right as you look at that map you are well above the Course and get a good view, on the other side of the road the surface is near eye level and it's a bit restricted. It does however mean yo need to "cross the Course" to get on that side, either view the footbridge or well in advance whilst the Marshalls have the roads open still.
Once you are "inside" the Course then crossing to the outside is very limited. All access points have marshalls and roads usually close 30 (?)mins before any activity to allow Marshalls to check the Course etc.
I think the crossing at Braddan Bridge is the only crossing point open during racing or when the Course goes live.
They do open some crossing points between races if the time/schedule allows tho they are not set in stone.
Crossing points I've used are Cronk y voddy crossroads,top of Barragarow, sulby crossroads. So you could say watch a race at Brandywell then come down cross the circuit at Cronk and from the outside you can access Ballacraine, Gorse Lea etc for the second race
Or watch from the bungalow then cross at sulby and from there access milntown,Ramsey etc.
On the west coast the pinch point is Kirk Michael. When the roads are closed you cannot get past so it's a choice of north or south of this point other than going all the way round via Douglas
towser44 said:
Ooo, reading this with interest, I'm off the first time this year too. Saturday evening to Friday evening, so only practice week, but for just over £200 for 6 nights camping and the ferry including the bike I couldn't say no!
How did you manage to get that for that price?In case anyone is still wanting to go to the 2025 TT The IOM Steam Packet ferry operator is releasing more tickets for the 2025 TT on Monday 10-Mar-25 @ 8.30am. Generally this is where people initially paid a deposit but did not go ahead with the booking so the tickets are being released back on sale.
TT Live Pass 2025 now available.
https://ttplus.iomttraces.com/products/2025-tt-liv...
Use Code TTFAN25 to get 25% off.
https://ttplus.iomttraces.com/products/2025-tt-liv...
Use Code TTFAN25 to get 25% off.
Sidecar Man said:
Tango13 said:
Are you racing this year and will you be at the sidecar festival at Cadwell in August?
Not at the TT this year But will be at all the BSB sidecar rounds and the sidecar festival. On with Bell Racing Someone I work with would love a couple of laps in a sidecar outfit, she's abosolutely tiny so you could probably duct tape her to the fairing without anybody noticing...
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