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UNIQUE PHOTO AT THE TT

I was over in 1961 with my parents and my girl friend ! --- Mum and Dad had a hire car but J and I tended to walk everywhere for the exercise. J had been to many motorcycling events on the mainland but this was her first TT.



On the day of the 250cc race we took the coach to Sulby and we decided to stay at the Glen Hotel wheras the other occupants decided to walk down to the Bridge. Well, we could get beer in the Hotel, and food !!

J had spent time in the Paddock with me so this was her first voyage out on to the actual course. We prepared for the start of the race and found a good place to stand.

Once the race had started we waited for the sound of approaching motorcycles and sure enough in the distance we heard the noise of what must be a Honda. The noise rose to a crescendo and flashed past. I turned to J and was surprised to see a pained shocked look on her face......Now I considered the Honda-4 to produce Classical Music but to J it was an ear-splitting scream !

This went on for the length of the race and Bob McIntyre was leading on the last lap. By now I think J had got used to the noise and was logging the riders in her notepad for my records. We waited for Bob, preparing to wave to him as he went past on his way "home". We heard the approaching Honda, revs undulating as it approached........then there was dead silence !!.......We were not sure what had happened but shortly a bike and rider could be seen coasting towards us. It was Bob Mac...he had seized the Honda and it had cried enough ! He arrived where we standing and propped the bike against the wall. He nodded and went into the hotel to get a cup of tea (I think !) I had taken a photograph coming up to me....

Once the race was over we went back to Douglas and I went straight away to the Photo shop on the sea front under the Castle Mona....It was a 24 hour service in those days so next day I went to collect my snaps. When I saw the photo of Bob Mac I immediately returned to the shop with the negative and asked for an enlargement..This took a further 24 hours.

After the Fridays Senior Race we went to the Castle Mona for a beer and Bob Mac was there. I dashed about 800 yards back to our hotel to get the photograph, and thanks to J, who had entered into conversation with Bob, he was still there. I arrived panting and begged Bob to sign my photo...He said "Och, that's when I broke it !!" and autographed my photo.

A truly wonderful, unique photo which appears below.......







BRUCE ANSTEY AND TTFAN UNVEIL A PLAQUE
AT THE SULBY GLEN HOTEL TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT

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