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Isle of Man TT 2024 is published!

Event review - Isle of Man TT 2023

Possibly the greatest TT in living memory!

9 days of perfect weather. Records broken almost every session. A brilliant group of customers and huge successes from all our supported teams and riders.

Can we improve on this??

Gordon arrived a couple of days early to get things set up and the final details sorted out. Unfortunately his co-guide had to cancel at the last minute owing to family issues, thankfully Gordon has been doing this event since 2012 and was able to manage it all solo!

FRIDAY 2.JUN

With some early birds we caught the final practice day Friday mainly from Bray Hill. As usual the bikes hitting top speed at the bottom of the hill was breathtaking.

We also visited the paddock where Gordon ran into an old friend and customer Con Blias from Australia. Con used to run the Bimota team, and now operated the new Street Diner team featuring racers Sam West and one of the only American riders Chris Sarbora, both running superstock and supbike. Another pair we were to watch over the week!

Our opening dinner took place in the yummy asian fusion restaurant Bonzai. We welcomed guest speaker SImon Patterson and introduced our sponsored rider from Czech Republic Michal "Indi" Dokoupil. Indi will play an integral part of the tour for the next 9 days as we follow him and his small independent team through the event!

SATURDAY 3.JUN

We head up for some course-side action at the fastest point of the circuit: the Sulby straight. We have booked a catering tent right at the end of the straight with a private grandstand as well as the usual beer & grub. Best of all we were joined by the fastest ever newcomer, Glenn Irwin. Glenn raced the TT just one year in 2022 for Honda, and clocked his stunning debut. However he decided not to pursue road racing, and focus on his short circuit (where he is doing very well!). It was great to be able to pick his brains about his experiences!

There is a cool hand painted sign across the road from us: "Speed Limit 199mph". I hope they didn't arrest Michael Dunlop when the previous day he hit 200!

SUNDAY 4.JUN

For race day 2 we ventured up to the iconic Creg-ny-ba for one of the best views on the circuit. They feature an old-style open top double decker bus, which we took over. Great viewing, great beer, and yet more of the great Superbike race action that would define the week!

That evening we catch up with Indi and his team in the pub to celebrate his superb 13th in the Supersport race Saturday, missing the 'Silver' replica by less than 1 second, but nevertheless a great result from this 'back of the paddock' team!

MONDAY 5.JUN

Sadly we wave goodbye to our 3-night 'Introductory' guests; and welcome the next batch of 6-night "race week" clients. A small group who were already in town or arrived early in the morning joined Gordon for his private tour of his favourite bits of the Isle of Man. Starting with the memorial to "Flying Scotsman" Steve Hislop, we moved on to the famous Laxey Wheel; the unique Tynwald outdoor parliament and lunch; the beautiful city of Peel and its iconic castle; and ending at the delightfully eccentric Murray's Motorcycle Museum -- an amazing collection built by one man over 50 years.

In the evening we hosted our annual "Riders' Dinner" where we invite a top journalist and our supported riders to share their experiences and questions over a nuce buffet dinner and drinks. Simon Patterson took on the rol of compere, and we met again with Indi and our supported Superbike star James Hillier. A fascinating evening!

TUESDAY 6.JUN

Race day 3 is packed with action - and we take it all in at the legendary Ginger Hall around mile 20.5. We have a private hospitality tent with free flow beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as lunch. Best of all we get to spend the day with renown racer and infamous wise-guy Steve Parrish.

Steve regaled us with anecdotes from his chequered career with many hilarious moments. And just being able to chat at length and share a beer with this legend was a real treat.

However even Steve got upstaged -- several of us were enjoying the wonderful pints at the main bar when in walked movie star Channing Tatum! Gordon had met him before, and started a conversation over beer, but mainly was preoccupied introducing Channing to the Pole Position guests and snapping photos... :-)

But the magic of the Ginger Hall was not over just yet. A Superstock bike pulled off at the pub late in the race. After the race was over we made our way to the other end of the pub where the rider was enjoying a well-earned Guinness. To our surprise, it turned out to be the American Chris Sarbora who we had just met Friday! He had experienced mechanical issues and decided to retire -- choosing the best pub on the course for this! We brought Chris to our hospitality tent and introduced him to Steve Parrish and the guests. He may have gotten more attention that either Channing or Steve!

Chris joined our coach on the way back to the paddock -- narrating the course in reverse! Several of us got off the coach at the paddock and visited his garage, as well as that of Indi and James Hillier.

(Sadly Chris would announce his permanent retirement from road racing the following day, citing a loss of confidence. A brave and wise decision, we hope to catch up with him in the future)

WEDNESDAY 7.JUN

For race day 4, we go to the paddock. All guests view from the iconic main grandstand, and several upgrade to be guests of Klaffi sidecars, running the indomitable team of Ben & Tom Birchall.

An insider's tour of the paddock, a detailed examination of the Birchall's bike and of course after their record-breaking victory, we meet the boys themselves and examine the trophies! Several of us wander up to Governors -- the slowest corner on the circuit -- to watch some of the supersport racing, while other chill in the lovely Klaffi hospitality, open bar and perfect weather!

Wednesday evening was the new Monster Evening of Speed where several Monster sponsored riders from motorsports were introduced in the VIP pavilion.

A lovely evening where we met and got selfies with many top riders, including Dean Harrison, John McGuinness, James Hillier (again!) and others.

THURSDAY 8.JUN

The second 'rest day' still sees us busy as usual! In the morning we are to do our traditional slow lap of the course narrated by James Hillier. Unfortunately - and the first time ever - James is pulled away by his main sponsor, so our friend Indi steps up to fill the shoes! Indi has actually had more laps of the TT course than James!
He delivered a spellbinding corner-to-corner narration, realy opening our eyes to what an incredible feat and act of courage racing this circuit is! It seemed almost surreal as we laughed at Indi's jokes about entering a corner at deadly speeds, judging his line by just brushing the wall with his shoulder and avoiding the slippery white markings on the pavement. At 170mph.

We stop at the Creg-ny-ba for a superb buffet lunch and Indi tells stories of how we got involved in racing, stretching back to his rocky childhood. The revelation of his more personal side endeared him to everyone.

We complete the course and return to the paddock; paying visits to Indi's micro-garage; then to the vastly contrasted works garage of James Hillier's OMG Yamaha.

In the evening we organise a spectacular display of the Red Arrows aerial acrobatic team! :-)

FRIDAY 9.JUN

This year the TT has introduced more race days; so we had to come up with something new for Race Day 5. This was meant to be a 'hedgerow viewing' day, and for this we selected the lovely private garden on the Signpost corner, near the end of the circuit. The lovely Martin and Julie open their front lawn looking straight onto the corner for all comers with no charge. Selling sandwiches and soft drinks (augmented by a cooler of beer we had brought!) they also took donations for a riders' support charity -- to which we all donated heavily. Especially with the perfect weather this was an idyllic setting. From there we could also walk down to The Nook -- a fast section where the bikes zoom past with little more than a blade of grass between them and spectators, or cross the Hailwood footbridge and walk up to the famous Cronk-y-mona

A great day of racing and viewing, and we paid especial attention to the lightweight class which was Indi's strongest. We followed his progress lap by lap as he worked his way up the standings, finally taking 9th overall -- a personal record, a silver replica and meeting his stated goal of the week to achieve a top 10!

Our cheers soon turned into beers as we met up with Indi and his small team at the hotel bar and popped a couple of champagne bottles!

SATURDAY 10.JUN

Senior race day at last! The climax of the TT and once again perfect weather to cap the most beautiful TT in memory.

We break into two groups. Indi, who is not racing today, takes one group up to the Creg where we have space at the stunning terrace. Fantastic viewing, free flow sublime beer & wine, great food. It doesn't get better! And of course a top racer on hand to comment on it all! nobody wanted to leave when it was over!

The other group was in the VIP where we had a table in the 'Mercury Club' and a table in the 'Legends Club'. Both are in the superb VIP pavilion with open bar, buffet, private grandstand and guest speakers, including the Superbike podium finishers! Guests of the Legends Club were personally looked after by TT legend Phil Macallen - the first racer ever to win 4 races on one TT week. AS part of the experience they visited the control tower, stood on the start grid for the Sr Race, joined the press and team principals at parc ferme, and attended the podium celebration! We met all the winning riders as well as some other legends such as Brian Reid and Keith Amor.

We also witnessed a stunning tour de force by Peter Hickman, who set another record with an astonishing 135mph lap!

We paid our last visits to James (who took a very respectable 6th, a little down from his 4th in the first superbike). We also managed to catch up with the super charismatic Chris Sarbora who explained his thinking and reasons for retirement. We wish him all the best of luck for his short circuit career!

In the evening we had an informal drinks reception, where Indi and his team came by showing off his newly minted Silver replica for the Lightweight race of Friday. Many beers were consumed!

SUNDAY 11.JUN

Sadly most guests depart the island -- again in perfect weather!

For a few staying on we organised a trip to Murrays Motorcycle museum, then off to lunch and an idyllic afternoon at Castletown, ending at Gordon's favourite pub on the planet -- the famous Glue Pot.

No better way to cap off the TT!

Can't wait until 2024!