Off topic: biker nutters!
Discussion
Caught part of a program on sunday on that dodgy sky channel men&motors. They had a camera mounted on the front of a superbike with a top rider charging round the isle of man TT circuit. I've never seen anything like it in terms of scary speed. How scary? Try 180mph down twisty bumpy country roads! Couldn't tear my eyes away from the insane speed of solid objects blurring in and out of view. You really do have to see it to believe it. This guy knew the track like the back of his hand and was turning into corners almost before they appeared! It was like the video was stuck on fast forward. The proximity of stone walls and houses at this speed is mental! Hopefully to be repeated at some point. Totally redefines speed and bravery. Awesome!
One of my previous vocations was as a quad bike instructor. We had the hire quads restricted right down, but the instructors' quads totally maxed. We used to hit 70-80mph when we went out on our own. Doesn't sound much, but hitting a jump on a dirt track at 70 odd is a bit of an eye opener !!! 
Yup, those TT boys (and some girls) are in a different league to short circuit riders, in my opinion. If you think it looks fast from behind the screen, you should see it from the side of the road. I went to the TT a few years ago and believe me there is NOTHING that will prepare you for the sensation of the first rider screaming through on evening practise. You are literally stood right by the side of the road. Run off?? What run off??
The best/most mental bit has got to be Bray Hill soon after the start. You plunge down this hill, which is steeper than it looks on telly, past all these pre-war semi-detached houses,through the bottom and up the other side over Ago's Leap at about 140mp/h, with the bike rearing up in front of you.
I believe the current lap record is an average of 125 mp/h for 37 and 3/4 miles. Shocking!
Shocking.
The best/most mental bit has got to be Bray Hill soon after the start. You plunge down this hill, which is steeper than it looks on telly, past all these pre-war semi-detached houses,through the bottom and up the other side over Ago's Leap at about 140mp/h, with the bike rearing up in front of you.
I believe the current lap record is an average of 125 mp/h for 37 and 3/4 miles. Shocking!
Shocking.
My dad has a video called White Charger when Norton entered their first TT race in many years I beleive it was Steve Hislop riding and they had a camera mounted on the fairing so you could see the forkes? going up and down and a smaller pic in one corner of the screen showing the rev counter and Speedo 
Most unreal and heroic thing I have seen in a long time.
Most unreal and heroic thing I have seen in a long time.
hey herts biker, took a new triumph daytona 955 out for a spin yesterday, It felt like the isle o man TT!! I didnt even open it fully, went from 8 mph to 65mph in a nod of the head, i hit the brake and got it to 30mph even quicker, but wow was the scenery rushing past me in a wild way! those big bikes pick up way too fast. went straight back to the shop and bought it.
I've been to the TT a few times and they have to be the biggest nutters on the planet. I often wonder how they get on their bikes with gonads that big!!! On the start/finish straight there is a telephone box which has about 6 inches of hay and vinyl sheeting on. I can only assume it is to protect the telephone box as the rider would have no chance if he hit that. Hats off to those guys.
I saw it too.......good to know I wasn't the only one watching Men & Motors last night
!! I couldn't believe the pace that guy was setting going round the TT course...I mean there was no room for error ANYWHERE!!! He must have a trailer behind him with his balls in it they are so big!
!! I couldn't believe the pace that guy was setting going round the TT course...I mean there was no room for error ANYWHERE!!! He must have a trailer behind him with his balls in it they are so big!As another side issue has anyone heard about the amazing tuning potential of the suzuki hayabusa bike? This company adds a turbo charger to pump out a staggering 400bhp - in a bike for christ sake?! Can you imagine the rush of acceleration with that kind of tvr power in a bike? If that's a tad limp wristed for you they can add a nitrous kit to that too. Like I said - nutters!
www.holeshotracing.co.uk/
www.holeshotracing.co.uk/
The Joey Dunlop(King of the Mountain) Memorial Video has a section when he took a camera round in the 70's/80's. The camera is mounted on the tank (bloody awkward to ride round) and this video highlights sections with a running commentary from Joey himself. There is a chicane section - left in right out - between to high walls. Joey's comment "you often scrape your helmet on these walls as you go through".(behave!) Additonally on this video there is a clip of Joey winning in the wet in 96? as he goes down Bray Hill on the 250 Honda and the back wheel lights up at around 120mph on the way down. They are all something special to do this, but to win 26 TT's in all classes was exceptional.
Interesting aswell is that his brother Robert Dunlop has just won his damages case and settled for the sum of £700,000 for when his rear wheel collapsed in '86 at the island causing major injuries and nearly costing him his life. Amazing he came back to race a bike at all. Last year he was unbeaten on the Irish roads.
What a family.
One of my best friends is from the Isle of Man and has many grusome tales of when they get it wrong. As to how long they will continue to let this go on is debatable. Indeed the Clerk of the Course from Dundrodd (Ulster GP) said at the end of last year that it was too dangerous to continue with deaths to marshals, spectators and riders in Ireland last year.
It should never be stopped of course. These guys choose to do this, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest spectacles in motorsport.
I'll be at the BSB, WSB and GP rounds in this country this year. Still trying to get to the Island though !
Interesting aswell is that his brother Robert Dunlop has just won his damages case and settled for the sum of £700,000 for when his rear wheel collapsed in '86 at the island causing major injuries and nearly costing him his life. Amazing he came back to race a bike at all. Last year he was unbeaten on the Irish roads.
What a family.
One of my best friends is from the Isle of Man and has many grusome tales of when they get it wrong. As to how long they will continue to let this go on is debatable. Indeed the Clerk of the Course from Dundrodd (Ulster GP) said at the end of last year that it was too dangerous to continue with deaths to marshals, spectators and riders in Ireland last year.
It should never be stopped of course. These guys choose to do this, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest spectacles in motorsport.
I'll be at the BSB, WSB and GP rounds in this country this year. Still trying to get to the Island though !
I highly recommend a copy of any of the Duke videos 'TT On Bike' series. I have No. 2 and it featured Steve Hislop recording the fastest ever recorded lap with a camera on board, though I think somone may have gone faster now. Steve provides some commentary with the video and the casualness with which he describes what he's doing is quite awesome, "....so as I approach this crest, doing about 155mp/h, I hook top gear as we go over the top, tends to stop the bike wheelieing too much....." 
In reply to the Hole Shot racing thing. The guy who owns one of the haybusas with a turbo, I believe currently holds the UK Land speed record for a bike, something like 220 mp/h. The bike wheelies with every gearchange - it's a battle just to keep the front wheel down, let alone keep it in a straight line. I guess that's why he teamed up with Dax Cars; 400hp in a bike and you're never going to be able to fully appreciate it without needing an underwear change every twist of the throttle.
In reply to the Hole Shot racing thing. The guy who owns one of the haybusas with a turbo, I believe currently holds the UK Land speed record for a bike, something like 220 mp/h. The bike wheelies with every gearchange - it's a battle just to keep the front wheel down, let alone keep it in a straight line. I guess that's why he teamed up with Dax Cars; 400hp in a bike and you're never going to be able to fully appreciate it without needing an underwear change every twist of the throttle.
As to how long they will continue to let this go on is debatable. Indeed the Clerk of the Course from Dundrodd (Ulster GP) said at the end of last year that it was too dangerous to continue with deaths to marshals, spectators and riders in Ireland last year.
I'm going to the Manx GP this year
I don't think they will ban this sport. Everybody that goes and participates in these races either as a spectator/marshal/rider know the risks involved. As does anyone that takes part in any sport. Also the island uses these races as a large part of their tourist trade. The only restriction that might come in may be reducing the power of the bikes (similar to world rally) but I doubt it.quote:
Joey's comment "you often scrape your helmet on these walls as you go through".(behave!)
a Bit nearer to home if anyone trackdays at Oulton Park have a look at the armco on the left hander just before the start finish straight it is a multi coloured mass of marks most of these are car paint but a large % percentage are from riders leathers as thier shoulders brush it, it sounds worse than it is and most riders at a national level on a familiar track will hit the same spot within 20mm lap after lap.
quote:
Interesting aswell is that his brother Robert Dunlop has just won his damages case and settled for the sum of £700,000 for when his rear wheel collapsed in '86 at the island causing major injuries and nearly costing him his life.
The claim was also against Honda who still hold the whole the Dunlop Family in very high regard and paid up with no hard feeling (they made ten times that on the back of his brother in from Robert himself)
quote:
One of my best friends is from the Isle of Man and has many grusome tales of when they get it wrong. As to how long they will continue to let this go on is debatable. Indeed the Clerk of the Course from Dundrodd (Ulster GP) said at the end of last year that it was too dangerous to continue with deaths to marshals, spectators and riders in Ireland last year.
It should never be stopped of course. These guys choose to do this, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest spectacles in motorsport.
The TT and Manx GP are worth too much to the Islands economy and will NEVER stop. They may have more safety restraints and even a power limit possibly but the fact will always remain that many racers espire to a TT ride and are willing to ride there.
Personally I never have, I raced because I loved the thrill and calculated the risks, but wasn't prepared to risk that much for a single race. It may expalin why I was never a Champion or a God like Joey Dunlop but I have riden with and partnered many riders who have raced on the Island and the views of each of them is that it is an experience that they wouldn't have missed but tend to do a few times and get out while the going is still good and the luck holds! I respect that 100%
>> Edited by mel on Tuesday 12th February 17:14
Try these videos out. Updated daily on MCN's sitwe they have out a few videos on from the Isalnd of late. One 'bring on the bends' fairly accurately portrays what we are discussing.
Todays one shows Ian Duffus going through 'bungalow'. Listen to his comments about David (Jefferies - current outright lap record holder) and the tramlines....
Superb !
www.motorcyclenews.com/news/video?sectionID=50681&navID=10
Todays one shows Ian Duffus going through 'bungalow'. Listen to his comments about David (Jefferies - current outright lap record holder) and the tramlines....
Superb !
www.motorcyclenews.com/news/video?sectionID=50681&navID=10
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