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THE DAY TRIPS TO THE TT

There were years when I did the full practice week and middle weekend, but returned home to complete exams or do three days work ----- then I came back for the Fridays races (The Senior plus 50cc etc)...

The trip was from Newcastle upon Tyne and we set off by coach at 6pm to get to Liverpool at just before midnight to catch the ferry. The Packet would c-r-a-w-l over the Irish Sea arriving in time so that we could land at a respectable hour (so we didn't make a noise !)....It was murder standing off Douglas, waiting to get permission to dock, especially if the crossing had been rough !!

Most of the lads would sleep in bus shelters...........but I was fortunate in having the hotels where I had spent practice week, leaving the front door open so I could get in, have a kip in the lounge, have a shower, change my clothes then eat a super breakfast. I even got a packed lunch !! I was allowed to take a few close friends in as well, the hotel made a few bob off the breakfasts !!




We saw the racing, had a few drinks and caught the 6pm ferry back.

We were knackered when we arrived home on Saturday morning in time for breakfast...

Trouble was I got dragged out shopping !! I was glad to see my bed on Saturday night !!!

Cost in the 1960s £ 5 !!! subsidised by our local motorcycle club.

Cost in the 1980s £35 !!! subsidised by MCN.



OTHER TRIPS TO THE ISLE OF MAN


In September 1964, I had gone to work in the hospital as usual...At 9am, I mentioned to the boss that the Manx was on...

"Go" he says (He already knew how much I enjoyed the annual TT)

We weren't particularly busy and I had a few days holiday in hand ---- so I 'phoned a local taxi to go the airport (it wasn't far) and caught the early "business flight" to the Isle of Man.

Two hours later (Still before lunch !) I phoned my Mum to say I wouldn't be home that evening...She said "Are you going to the cinema ?" --- "No" I said" - I'm in Douglas at the Manx." Angry Silence !!!

She then said that I must be mad and she could hear the bikes in the background ! I was up at the grandstand having got another taxi from Ronaldsway...........

After the exciting racing I had to go to the shops on Broadway for toothbrush and toothpaste, a pair of jeans, a pair of spare undies and a Manx tee-shirt, which I still have ....(I had flown over in my work suit with nothing else!!)

I was able to book in and stay at my usual TT Hotel........I had three good days (Wed Thur Fri) and was back to work on the Saturday ! Now I am reading all about that special Manx again having found a Motorcycle magazine from that year!



In 1995 my father was seriously ill and I was at his bedside as much as possible. I was almost ready to give up my TT for that year and in fact a reports appeared in various motorcycle related magazines to say I would miss it.



However, I went to see him one evening and he said to me "Keep the TT sequence going for us" --- He had been going to the TT since the 1920s and saw me as the follow on in the Huntly name.

So I managed, at short notice, to get a seat on the local motorcycle club trip,leaving from Reading on the Thursday, travelling up to Liverpool in time for the midnight ferry.....After docking in Douglas I went to the hotel where I stayed each year, I was allotted a room to catch some sleep, have a shower then have breakfast with the people in the hotel who said they had missed me.

I saw the races from the Grandstand are then went for a couple of beers in Strand Street. Back on the boat and then the long coach ride back to Reading in time for breakfast. The sequence was intact even though it had been a flying visit ! I brought back all the items that the press office and my pals in the hotel had saved for me...


Finally, in 2001 we were all booked up to go to the TT when it was announced that the TT would be cancelled due to the risk of Foot and Mouth disease.




Not because of it, but due to the risk of it, appearing on the Island.

I was feeling quite low as were many other fans then one of my pals said that he was going over on business, did I want to ride shotgun.

So it was up to Liverpool and over on the ferry, to stay with friends for four days durung what would have been Race Week....I was surprised to see just how many people actually went over even though there was no TT. I picked up a few souvenirs including items that had been printed for the "TT that never was"...In fact it gave us an opportunity to commemorate Joey Dunlop who after his great TT in 2000, had died on July 2nd after crashing his Honda 125cc on a circuit in Talinn, Estonia....

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