Isle of Man Race

[bikeseamus]

Hi Fellas
             A friend of mine here immigrated to America 18 years ago, from England.  We were wondering about the Isle of Man race in June, and whether it is recommended by you guys.

  It seems as though accommodations would be stretched a bit, and the Inns would be packed years in advance.

      Any of you attended it?    Any recommendations?        I'm grateful for anything you can tell us about it.

                 Thanks,     Jim

[Steve Lake]

well, myself, my son and a mate are going....booked our ferry tickets a year ago, I tried for a date change last week and there wasn't anything available.   some campsites arn't open yet, so don't know if we can find anything or not, certainly all the accomodation will be booked..... but try.......you might get lucky

[Bill Rutter]

Try the Isle f Man Tourist Board, they might be able to help. Quite a few locals open up their homes to guest during T.T. week as well. Indeed, does it have to be the T.T.? (yes, I appreciate it will be the Centenary) as the Manx GP is just as exciting but a lot less busy.
try:   isleofmantt.com

[guest27]

The TT is like nothing on Earth - apart from the Manx GP that is.  There are supposed to be more tented villages etc going up for the event - BUT and this is the big BUT - ferrys were always booked up best part of a year in advance - and this being the Cent maybe more so - also being as the Steam Packet is still a union closed shop the prices are really high - Friends from the Black Forest area of Germany find that the ferry crossing costs more than the rest of the trip put together.  However coming from the states I guess you could be looking at flying.

The Manx people are great and if you were to go, try to get there for a few weeks, I love Practice week and all the littrle events around that, then there is the mayhem of race wek, then the whole place slips back into the 1950s when all the TT visitors go home - a real contrast.

The crab salads at the Electric Cafe (never remember if it is Spanish Point or Point of Ayre - Southern tip any way) are real good.

We have always stayed on Quayles Farm at Union Mills - a real big campsite for the TT and a real small one when you go there for honeymoon in October...  If they are still running that is.

Woould love to go back to the TT - but may try to make the Manx GP instead soon.

R

[Ken]

I went a few years ago  and they say that the IOM tourist board always manage to find accommodation for everyone even if its a tent. Not sure if its true but the locals say that..
Ken

[beeman]

Spare tickets go back on sale from the steam packet company at the end of the month, when any unpaid ferry tickets go back on sale. Try on or as near the 28th as possible. Best bet is to fly and drive.
Accommodation camping is always available somewhere! and maybe a house share may be on but don't wait to long as most were booked last year.
My advice is to go, took my mate, from Detroit, pillion in 2000 and he reckoned that it was the best weeks biking/beerdrinking/craic he had ever had. (not much of a recommendation as he was from Detroit)

If you decide to come and have problems with where to stay put  a posting on the forum and I might be able to give you some addresses to try but with no promises of success.

[bikeseamus]

  Thanks, Fellas.   All of you.

             Looks like the Manx GP would be better for us.

   I didn't realize it was the Centennial this year, and demand for everything will be higher than ever.

             Bumping around as a lost green first time foreign visitor should be better timed, and will.

  I also appreciate your offers of help, so if any of you ever fly into Indianapolis for the Indy 500, or ever decide to attend AMA Vintage days in Ohio for the biggest bike meet in the World, just say the word.

                             I have two adjoining vendor's places reserved there every year.

    I also have beer and BBQ ribs with your name on them, and can smooth out your landing.
 
                   Keep it in mind, and thanks again.    Jim

[Bruce]

If your going to the Manx GP please note that the Norton Owners Club has their International Rally during the event so if your interested come and have a look, all being well I will be attending on My Norton 1951 Big4 if you have a look around the pictures on this site you will see it.Hopefully if we meet up there we can have a chat and a beer.

Bruce

[beemanjohn]

Don't be put off bikeseamus, many of the visitors are new to the island. As long as you have the language of biking you will have no difficulty getting along, or finding your way around. The island always somehow gets things done if you trust in fairies. ( a little bit of folklore for the uninitiated).

[Richard Marshall]

I may have access to four or five ferry tickets.  £185 return with bike for anybody interested.

There are five of us going over from Lampeter, but some others have dropped out.

Email me off list if interested.

Richard