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TTFANS TT - THE MUSICAL



From the 1980s to the present day, a number of musical stage shows have appeared, related to the most unsual subjects...We all remember MAMMA MIA (ABBA, the Musical), Sweeney Todd, and.......... but can you remember if the TT has been adapted for the theatre..Well, foilks, it has --- but it hasn't yet been put on the stage.

I sat down a few years ago remembering certain tunes that made me think of the TT and I thought that this selection might make the basis of a musical which could go round the world...It's a dream but if so many other people can do it then so can I !!

I have written a script which resides in my files and I also wrote a website with the music I had picked.



T. T. - THE MUSICAL
PRACTICE WEEK

I AM
SAILING
The build up to the TT starts in February. It's the time to confirm your ferry bookings and commit yourself to going over to the Races in May and June. The overture "Sailing" sets the scene and you now find yourself in the queue on the dockside preparing to embark.

ISLE
OF MAN
We set off down the Mersey and out to sea. The bar and cafeteria open and we know we are on our way. Halfway across we are straining our eyes to see the Island come out of the haze. "Isle of Man" sets our next mood, that of anticipation and excitement.

MISTY
MOUNTAIN
Snaefell is cloaked in mist and this masks the Island right up to the point just before we cross the harbour bar. There in front of us is Douglas Bay. We can pick out St Ninians church on the top of Bray Hill and Kneales Tower at the grandstand.

ANY DREAM
WILL DO
The first few days are set aside for practice, and the fans roll in on every ferry. They start spending and wonder if they have brought enough money. Is anyone worried with all the events to come ?

S.O.S.
Ferries disengorge bikes cars and vans, all head out for their place of stay. Some come over with no place to stay so the radio is appealing for homestays and campsite spaces. The pubs do a roaring trade.

UNDER
PRESSURE
The Island fills up and the police look out for any speeding or bad riding. The course over the mountain is one-way traffic with speed limits but there's always one idiot...
The weather is good and the practice sessions go on without problems.

MAMMA
MIA
The excitement grows and we can pick out who might win the races. We go to all the other events allied to the TT and the pace quickens...
Most of the fans are now on the Island...It is difficult to find parking on the Prom

MONEY MONEY
MONEY
We are spending money like water...Some sit down and count what they have left..We are enjoying ourselves so its off to the hole in the wall for a top up.
Who cares what we spend, we are enjoying ourselves...

IT'S A
MIRACLE
The ferries have done a great job to get all the fans over from the various departure ports. We sit on Douglas Head watching the ferries coming in and going out constantly. How can the Island take so many fans ?

TELL ME
ON A SUNDAY
One week is over already, we've had good racing on the first Saturday, and there is a full week to come.Today is Mad Sunday..So let's do a lap of the TT Course.........
Over the mountain we are overtaken on both left and right !

HAVE A DRINK
ON ME
We have now made a new group of drinking mates and we sit chatting about what we have seen during the practice week.
Again we sit in our favourite pub and drink the night away.

KNOWING ME
KNOWING YOU
The sideshows are doing a roaring trade on the prom so we all try the simulators and the shuggy boat..
We get to bed as dawn is breaking....

I WANT
IT ALL
The rider we are supporting comes knocking on the door..We've only been in bed a short time. Surprisingly we are soon awake, ready for the his race, and ready to give him full support. He wants to do well in this race, for the prize money !!

THE SHOW
MUST GO ON
As we set out for the start and paddock we tune in to the task we have ahead of us. Our rider is in his leathers when we get to his bike tent....All is now ready..
We all shake hands and set about sorting the pit and the fuel.


T. T. - THE MUSICAL
ITS RACE WEEK

YOU AIN'T SEEN
NOTHING YET
The public address system is now in full swing and we hear the non starters list, the speeds attained in practising and the general race info..
We warm up the bike and tyres and then wheel it up onto the grid.

RIDING IN
THE TT RACES
We are all now totally hyped up for the race. Our rider smiles and plays with the hand brake, or anything else, to keep himself calm..The race starts and we move down the road escorting our rider until it is time for him to set off.

GREAT HIGH
MOUNTAIN
We know what our rider is thinking....It's a course which goes through villages, rises up a mountain then plunges back again to sea level, all nearly 38 miles long..The mountain also represents the awesome task ahead.

LONG AND
WINDING ROAD
Yes nearly 38 miles long, per lap, and he has to do 4 laps in his race, at high speed in oppressive temperatures.
Truly a long and winding road...

TWO
TRIBES
The TT is a race against time, so each rider is expecting pit signals to help map his progression in the race. We have stopwatches and also have spotters round the course to report on his position.....He is racing the clock..

RELAX
Once he has plunged down the fearsome Bray Hill our rider sets himself into a routine. The pace is fast but he gets into a rhythm which he can repeat each lap.
We are more than happy with his first lap time..

JUMP
Ballaugh, Ramsey, Verandah, all magic names and he takes them all in his stride..
He's doing rather well !!
The Commentator makes him fourth !!

FREEWAY
FLYER
It's the last lap and we now hear he is running third at the Bungalow and making up time on the second placed man.
Not far to go now !

FINAL
COUNTDOWN
He passes the second placed rider and head down goes for the leader. The leaders machine runs out of fuel at Hillberry and the crowd give our rider a great reception. He takes the chequered flag...He's WON !!!

ROAD
TO HELL
We all end up in the beer tent after our rider gets his laurels, talks to the press and opens the top of his leathers to cool down..
More beer here !!!

LOCAL
HERO
In the evening at the Villa Marina we see him get the trophy and a good sized cheque for his efforts. We are over the moon and we see another disgracefully late night ahead !!
What a great day it has been !

FRIENDS
Everyone suddenly wants to be our friends and we rather revel in the fact that we helped our rider to get the supreme accolade.
Another race on Friday !!

WE'LL MEET
AGAIN
We didn't do so well on Friday but he finished the race after a minor engine problem...We pack the bike and all the equipment into the van and head for the ferry. We say "see ya next year" to all and sundry....We'll be back...

ROCKS AND
THUNDER
We are on board our ferry after a brilliant two weeks on the beautiful Isle of Man..We booked for next year before we left ! Our last view of the Island is of the rocks and the sound of the sea at it disappears into the haze..

ELLAN
VANNIN
As we sit on deck with another beer, we hear "Ellan Vannin" being played on the tannoy so we pick it as the main reminder of our time at the TT.
We find it on TTFans website and download it for ourselves...

INTERPLANETARY
CRAFT
This track reminds us that we have been on another planet for two weeks so once we are docked in Liverpool and head out for the M6 South, we are back in reality. We change from Manx Radio to local radio...But what great memories we have....!


HEAR THE MUSICAL ON THIS SITE

THE MP3 VERSION


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