RIDING IN THE TT RACES by THE MYSTICS |
My friend Colin played drums in a local band (The Mystics) and I often used to go out round some of the working mens clubs in the area in my spare time to get the band booked in for Saturday night shows. This friend of mine was not a motorcycle enthusiast in any way whatsoever but circumstances changed that.
It was the year of the seamens strike (1966) when I had already made two trips over, the full practice week, then the middle weekend and had planned to return once more for the Senior Race. This final visit was to be by the motorcycle club coach trip from Newcastle. However at the last minute I had a phone call from the trip organiser who said that someone had had to drop out and could I bring a friend. It was frightfully short notice but I phoned Colin and asked him if he would like to come with me.
I was quite surprised but pleased to hear him say "OK" and on the Thursday evening he and I met at the coach and were waiting to climb aboard. He said for me to wait while he popped into a local camera shop..He returned with a very smart movie camera and a box of 8mm film.
He started taking moving pictures as we set off on the long drag up to Liverpool. By the time we arrived at the Pier Head it was time to change the used film cartridge for a new one..
At midnight the ferry set off on that slow crawl to arrive at 5 am in Douglas. It was a very boring crossing with most of the trippers snoring or drinking.
The ferry docked and we set out to go to my usual hotel to have a brief sleep in the lounge, then have a nice shower and a breakfast before setting out for the Grandstand area.
We saw the 50cc race and then moved down to the top of Bray Hill, crossing the road by the bridge and standing in the gateway. My pal was on to his third film by now and was really impressed as Hailwood and Agostini flashed past each lap.
Once the race was over we went down Strand Street, and had a few beers before catching the ferry back to Liverpool
We slept most of the way back because, would you believe it, I had booked the band to appear at a club on the Saturday evening.
Now, the visit to the TT had a great impression on my friend and even though he was tired out, talked constantly of the visit he and I had made.
While we had been at the TT he had heard the George Formby record of "Riding in the TT Races" and had whistled it a few times on the ferry and while he was awake on the coach.
One week later we were at another club where the group was playing and halfway through the evening, the singer of the band said" We dedicate this next tune to our manager Ian who took our drummer to the TT Races last week and the drummer won't shut up about it, because he enjoyed it so much".
Totally unexpectedly the band started playing a modernised version of George Formbys tune.....Well, I was astounded but I loved the compliment. The next day we booked a local recording studio and the band made a demo record. I contacted a few people I knew plus Jimmy Savile who played it on radio a couple of times and sent us a very nice letter which I still have in my collection !
We didn't go into the music history books but it was so nice of the band to do this for me. I still play the record sometimes, to remind me of 1966.
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