Isle of Man TT 2011

[Fridgy]

Hey guys, long time reader, first time poster.

Was hoping to get some inside tips from any IOM TT regulars, I'm and Aussie now permanently living in Edinburgh and have a great opportunity to stay with friends for this years race.

Their house backs onto the course on Mountain Road so I will be watching a fair bit from there but wanted to know any 'must see' vantage points. Also any must do activities during the race week.

Thanks in advance

[brett750]

hi, ive been for the past 2 years and ive just booked today for this year.

you have to go to bray hill, you can watch half from the top near the petrol station and half from the bottom, you need to see them go flat out down the hill then see the fairings bottom out as they reach the bottom and go back up the other side.

sign post corner is good and i hear they have changed it for this year, also near sing post there is a slow esses section where some people over shoot. ive never watched from here but i plan to this year.

i also enjoyed watching from up at the creg pub. get a taxi up and make a day of it with a few pints.

speaking of pints. as daft as it sounds the racing isnt everything, some of the fun to be had on a night is great and theres some great little pubs scattered about on the front. and if your going on a bike i enjoy riding the coast road to the mountain and also peel is a nice ride of an evening.

im hoping this year is going to be a good un, cant wait.


enjoy,

[f1fan111]

If your looking for good ideas look or ask on iom tt website as there is a forum there with advise where to go. I normally get to see pratice week and senior race day due to working. I like Glen helen as get a nice view but are stuck there allday due to being on the inside of the course. cronky voddy straight is great as can sit right next to track and feel them go by you. Alot can depend on how you are getting around aswell.

[Quickly]

Hey man, just up the road from you in Dundee, making my fifth trip over this year. Some places to watch from:

The Bungalow - it's a must do, especially if you get the tram up from Laxey. Do it for a race on a nice sunny day, the atmosphere is incredible especially on a last lap where things are getting really close. Senior TT recommended, and it's a big enough section you'll have no trouble getting close to the action.

Cronk-y-Voddy Straight - my favourite place, watched from here on my first trip and have on every trip since. You can get on the banking on the left hand side and street level and have them flying past you just before they tip it into the right hander. Or get high up on the bank on the outside of the corner and watch them coming all the way up the straight, through the bend and then down the other side.

Glen Helen - really nice for an evening practice, get settled on the banking and just enjoy the bikes. Another place with a great atmosphere and good views. See: Photo

I have a few other favourites but I'm struggling to remember them now, think I'm tired! But yeah, check out the forum on www.iomtt.com for some excellent advice.

As for the rest days, the south of the island is really nice. Castletown, Port Erin, Port St Mary are all lovely little towns and it's a nice journey down there on the steam railway. There are some fantastic roads down south and along the east coast that aren't used for racing, spend a full day just exploring the island.

Peel is a lovely harbour town, this is my first year I'm not staying there. Great big beach, some fantastic pubs, the smoked kippers are to die for and there's a few museums, the castle etc to indulge your touristy side.

At Laxey you can visit Lady Isabella and the old mining tunnels burrowed into the sides of the mountains. Another nice wee beach here, they usually have some sort of classic display down by the seafront.

Ramsey is a good trip on the right day, go up for the Ramsey Sprint and they usually have a fair, autojumble etc. They used to have the Red Arrows performing at the end of the day but I think that's now reserved for Douglas.

Head up to the airfield at Jurby. There are two courses in this area, one short circuit on the airfield and another road race circuit in the lanes around the airfield. I doubt there will be racing on over TT fortnight though. But in two of the old hangars is Jurby Junk which has a simply spellbinding amount of old shit. It's great just to have a look through. The countryside around Jurby, Andreas, Bride and the Point of Ayre is really nice too. Plus no trip to the TT is complete without stopping in for TT Teas with the old birds in the church in Bride.

Depending on what dates you're there you may be able to catch some racing on the Billown Circuit - they bookend the TT with classic racing at the start of the fortnight and solo racing, featuring many of the TT stars, the day after the senior TT.

In addition to all of that there are all sorts of events put on during TT fortnight - gigs, beach racing, classic displays and non-bike related events. Be sure to buy a programme on the ferry on the way over.

Enjoy - it's a fantastic experience!
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[Fridgy]

Wow fantastic advice, cheers!

Sounds like there is loads to do for my non bike obsessed girlfriend, this will earn me back some brownie points.

The corner in the photo looks unreal, this trip is certainly a dream come true and I'll be making the most of it!

Thanks again

[Quickly]

No worries, also seeing as how you're near Edinburgh, are you aware of the racing at East Fortune this weekend? Saturday and Sunday, practice/qualifying from 9am each day with racing from 1.30 pm on Saturday and 11.30 pm on Sunday.
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[Fridgy]

I did thanks, I was going to post but I'm not sure if I'm doing overtime this w/e. If im free, I'll come along with the camera and try to get a few shots of the action.

[f1fan111]

Cronk-y-Voddy Straight - On outside of course so can move around

https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c170/f1fan111/DSCF2776800x600.jpg

https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c170/f1fan111/DSCF2861800x600.jpg

2010 senior race day shows how close you can get.

Marown Parish Church

https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c170/f1fan111/DSCF2018800x600.jpg

2010 Tuesday night pratice, that is using my 10x zoom though but can get there on outside of course. Got toliets there and cake, crisps drinks on pratice week (leave donation on table) and race days can get actual meals there also have radio TT on. 1 year even had TT dvd on in the church.

I was at Glen Helen for Manx GP take midge repellent! Can't seem to find my photos from this years manx but have some on another hard drive lol

[Quickly]

Good point that actually, get yourself an AM radio to tune into Radio TT
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