If this is your first year, or last year you could not get your head round the way the TT is run, I recommend you see at least one race from the Grandstand...

You may purchase tickets in advance so get them quickly because they sell out...

So you have bought the tickets and Saturday dawns.. Go up early to see the day unfold, the riders arrive and all the sideshows behind the stands. You can watch the pit attendants fuel up the quick fillers, set out the pit with tools, tyres etc., and also make sure that their rider has a very visible mark on the ground so that they can refuel in the right spot.

Various dignitaries arrive and the selection of music and adverts on the PA system starts the build up proper. The bikes are lined up in the collecting area, some with protective covers others with tyre heaters, Some riders are being interviewed..

The Main Commentator now starts his special chat and we hear the reports from Glen Helen and from Ramsey.. We grab a quick snack and find our seats..

The bikes are now released on to Glencrutchery Road and form a colourful queue..

We now look across at the huge scoreboard which will tell us the progress of every rider and the speed of some of these riders through the Start and finish during the race.. The scoreboard not only has the individual rider progress but also has a leader board showing the top six each lap. These are updated in a quaintly traditional way using painted-on-the-spot pieces of blackboard and the ripping off of coloured and pinned lap sheets.... Confused ? NAW--It's easy when you see it !! For this is how it has been for many years and IT WORKS ! No computerised scoreboards here folks--however the updatings come from------Yes, computerised scoreboards but these are on monitors in the press office and in the control tower and it is from these that the simple display comes to us. Don't ever change it !

The magic hour arrives and the riders set off at ten second intervals to race time... Each rider gets away and heads on down toward the top of Bray Hill to go "over the edge of the world"--- The works riders get away first and are clearly out to do their best.. The rest go off until the last rider is released. There is the sound of that last rider going off down the road and we can hear the commentary again-- It is NOT the Main Commentator speaking because the leaders are approaching Glen Helen !! The commentator at Glen Helen takes the leaders through then passes us on to Ramsey Hairpin and the leaders are there !! Clocks on the scoreboard show the progress of all the riders and we note one or two clocks have "stuck", signifying possible retirements already.. And sure enough, back at the Grandstand the commentator reports these retirements, rider OK etc, to let the pit crew and families to step down.... There's always a commercial slotted in now and an agonising wait for news of the approaching leaders..

Green lights begin showing over each riders number as he or she passes Cronk-ny-Mona and we are back with Peter Kneale who spots the first rider back screaming down the road to complete the first lap. Then another and another until there is again a constant stream of machines going through. Times begin appearing on the scoreboard and we can see each individual lap time assigned to each rider whether he be number 3 or 83. This is the interesting part since really it is not until all riders have completed a lap that we can really assess the situation..

Years ago, the numbering of riders meant that no matter how top class they were, they could be number 1 or 91 and in those days it was very difficult to appreciate who was actually leading ! With seeding the top riders to the first twenty away, it is much easier to find the top six. A second lap is similar to the first but thirsty bikes need fuelling up so in they come to have more petrol downloaded from the refuelling barrels. Top riders have back tyres and wheels changed and also swap helmets and gloves. Pitstops are carried out quite slowly really since each machine is checked by scrutineers and the roaming radio reporter sticks his microphone out at each rider to illicit a report on conditions.

More retirements are announced and then the Helicopter is heard..... It is carrying an injured rider directly to Nobles Hospital. We are very pleased to hear who it is and that the 'copter is taking him there only for assessment on a leg injury.

It really is surprising how quickly a race unfolds and at lap four, another series of pitstops are to be observed. By now you will have noticed that there have been no flying laps yet... Not until the sixth lap is there a chance for riders with half-filled tanks to do a flying lap.. By the sixth lap, most riders are beginning to tire but they still manage to change leaderboard positions.

Girls with the Laurel Leaves and the Champagne appear and the promotional totty collect in a colourful bunch near the podium ready to receive the winner. And here he is........... And that is LESS than TWO HOURS.......

Now you can go anywhere on the course for all the other races but you can remember what you have witnessed from the Grandstand



Appraisal 2

The Saturday event is a very prestigeous race, with the contest being fought between works-sponsored machines ridden by the cream of TT riders. For the last few years the race has been a HONDA benefit but, even so,the racing is close, fast and exciting. It is good race to watch from the Grandstand area, especially if this is your first TT visit for you will learn how the TT is run, see the start, watch the pitstops and wave to the winner as he crosses the line after nearly two exhausting hours at high speed. You then have time to see the winner get his laurels, his accolade and his champagne and still have time to grab a lunch or have a beer before seeing another kind of racing--the SIDECARS-

This is just as exciting as the rest but is in two "legs", first part today and the second leg on Monday. Confused ? Well there are two races with winners being declared and then there is an overall winner. Still confused ? You won't be if you watch ! There's always the Duke Video when you get home !



Appraisal 3

So we have had breakfast, made sure your camera is loaded with charged batteries with spares readily available, packed a few sarnies plus something to place between yourself and the hard grandstand seats and you make your way up to the start.

You can see the huge tower in the distance, topped by the array of T.V. and communication aerials. You arrive and park your vehicle (two- or four-wheeled) in the allocated spaces on the field. There is a buzz in the air and everybody there greets you with smiles and a handshake. You find your seat and take stock of the magnificent view. The flags of all the participating nations fly in the breeze and you can see the riders having their bikes cleared for racing.

THE START The noise of traffic slowly dwindles as the roads are closed to the public and the first of the gaudily dressed Travelling Marshalls sets off to check that all marshall posts are manned and that there have been no incidents which might interfere with the start.

The Boy Scouts come onto the start area carrying the flags of all the participating countries. The build up starts properly when the voice of of the main commentator who is in the "Tower" welcomes all of us to the days racing. He then hands over to his co-commentators to "take us round the course" and this helps us to clearly visualise a course, 37.73 miles round, over hill and dale, through tight bends, along mind-blowing straights, through villages, up and down steep hills and even over a set of railway lines !!

There is no other race course like the TT course and we are now (if we were not before ) fully aware of it !

Now comes the nonstarters list over the Tannoy, changes of entry (machines and riders) and generally fills us up with all of the information.

As the magic hour approaches the grandstand completely fills up and the riders and their mechanics begin to bring their machines on to the start area on Glencrutchery Road. The engines are started and warmed up. More travelling marshalls set off and the dais is set up for the starter.

The first of the sequentially numbered machines are now released into the " starting blocks" and the mechanic drifts to the side of the road away from his rider....The rider is now ON HIS OWN. He smiles sheepishly to his mechanic who gives a visibly nervous thumbs up..... WE ARE NOW READY !!!!!!

On the Hour the starter drops the flag and the first rider sets off on his lonely race against time. Being first away he has to remain unpassed since if he is passed it shows him he has lost at least TEN SECONDS. As the rest of the field set off The commentator talks over the noise, identifying each rider, his history, his previous results and what he is riding. When a number of riders are on their way, the next commentator takes over and continues the race picture and then he too passes to the next and so on . The commentator at Ramsey Hairpin gives us the latest information as the riders pass him to start the climb up the mountain

The Green light comes on over the riders number on the scoreboard to show us he has reached Cronk-ny-Mona and he then screams through the start to begin a second lap. More lights-----more riders completing their first lap. Someone comes into the pits to carry out an adjustment then sets off, having lost valuable time. Another coasts in slowly, his race is over already... ....

The commentary keeps us completely up to date throughout the battle and we are as drained as the riders themselves. The Pit Stops now come into the equation as riders bring nearly empty machines into their pits to refuel and change helmet/gloves etc. A welcome drink is taken via a straw. Pit stops are quickly, yet calmly carried out and away they go again. (Races can be won and lost on pit stops so care is taken not to foul it up......) And so the race continues.....................

Six laps in two hours ! Now that really is something ! The WINNER crosses the line, takes the chequered flag and the Grandstand erupts with cheers and shrieks. The members of the press run to get his comments and his machine is taken for post race examination (was he using the allowed fuel etc.) He then goes to the podium to get his winners laurels plus the champagne and has a photoshoot with the promogirls and the press. THEN IT'S BACK TO THE BEER TENT AGAIN.

Right--before I end this section I do not want you to think I am an alcoholic with all this talk of "beer tents"... The "BEER TENT" is the centre of the known universe where, after a TT race, people conglomerate to purchase a plastic pint glass of the very special celebration ale. This ale is brewed on the Isle of MAN and it is a most refreshing pint---The Isle of Man is surrounded by sea so the salty air makes you right thirsty !

We purchase rounds of this fine concoction then sit in a huge group on the grassed area behind the Grandstand with friends from all over the world. I use the word "friends" advisedly, since these people come to the Island year after year to see an event which has no comparison.

Some of us are now going off to watch the sidecars and when this race is completed, the first week of the TT festival is over