There are people who like the TT. There are people who love the TT. There are those who eat and breathe the TT. And then there is Ian ‘TTFan’ Huntly.

If any sport has a more loyal or more knowledgeable follower than Ian, I’ve never heard of them. It is not simply a question of longevity, even though Ian has been travelling to the races each year for more than half a century. Ian’s passion for this unique motorbike festival is rooted deep in his DNA. He never switches off. If he is not on the Isle of Man spectating – and, sadly, not even Ian can arrange for the races to take place every fortnight of the year – he is reviewing previous events, contributing to websites and message boards, monitoring broadcasts, burrowing through his extensive personal archive, planning his next trip or checking that day’s conditions on the Mountain Course via webcams.

Something else Ian is very good at is providing encouragement. Ian is on the side of anyone who has the good of the TT at heart, and given his wealth of experience that backing counts for a lot. Riders, administrators, crew members, fellow-supporters and most certainly radio commentators have good cause to appreciate the frequent cheery message or wise word.

I wish Ian well with this latest venture, just one more contribution to the TT from someone with the rare distinction of being a fan who became part of the event.

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Foreward by PAT SLINN
(Ducati mechanic with
Tony Rutter and Mike Hailwood)

IT IS A GREAT HONOUR FOR ME TO BE ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE A FOREWARD TO THIS UNIQUE AND FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF IAN HUNTLYS 70 YEARS OF MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE ISLE OF MAN TT RACES.

IT WOULD IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ANYBODY WITH MORE GENUINE LOVE, OR DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISLE OF MAN TOURIST TROPHY RACES THAN IAN HUNTLY.

FROM THE VERY MOMENT THAT THE FERRY DOCKED AT THE IOMSPC BERTH IN DOUGLAS, CARRYING A YOUNG SCHOOLBOY AND HIS MUM AND DAD ON A VERY WET AND BLUSTERY DAY IN JUNE 1947 NOBODY REALIZED THAT IT WOULD BE THE START OF A EXTRAORDINARY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL, EVENTFUL, CHARISMATIC, AND CONTROVERSIAL SPORTING EVENTS IN THE WORLD.

OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS IAN HAS BECOME THE ISLE OF MAN TT'S MOST DEDICATED AND FAITHFUL FAN, HE HAS A EXTRAORDINARY AND DETAILED KNOWLEDGE AND MEMORY OF RESULTS, EVENTS, PERSONALITIES COMPETITORS AND THEIR MACHINES, AND INDEED LEADER BOARD POSITIONS IN VARIOUS RACES. IANS DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF THE NOTORIOUS ISLE OF MAN TT MOUNTAIN CIRCUIT AND HIS MEMORY OF RESULTS AND EVENTS HAS BEEN "USED" BY MANY OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS OVER THE YEARS. JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SEEK OUT IAN PRIOR TO THEM SENDING OFF TO THEIR EDITORS THEIR OWN COPY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THE STORY IS CORRECT. IAN HAS EVEN WORKED AS A JOURNALIST HIMSELF AT THE TT, AND BECAME KNOWN AS " MR TT ".

MANY COMPETITORS HAVE BEEN THANKFUL TO IAN FOR HIS GENEROUS FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP AS WELL AS HIS MORAL SUPPORT. IAN HAS HELPED MANY A YOUNG TT NEW-COMER TO HELP THEM LEARN THE TT CIRCUIT BY DRIVING THEM AROUND THE CIRCUIT IN HIS OWN CAR, AND USING HIS COUNCIL, ENCOURAGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE.

DURING THE LAST 70 YEARS IAN HAS COME TO KNOW, AND IS INDEED A FRIEND OF MANY OF THE TT'S GREATEST RIDERS AND THEIR TEAMS, HE HAS GOT TO KNOW, AND SPENT TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND IS WELCOME IN THE MOTOR HOMES AND WORKSHOPS OF MANY OF THE WORLDS TOP TEAMS.

IT HAS INDEED BEEN BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOUR TO COME TO KNOW, AND CALL A FRIEND, IAN HUNTLY.....THE WORLDS GREATEST TT FAN.