[Ducati] TT Hints and Tips

[Martin Philp]

For those first timers going to the Isle of Man this year, I've been to the 
Manx GP for the last 20 years, the TT for the last 8, I sent these random 
thoughts on surviving the TT to a few friends who went last year for the 
first time. Hope others may find it of use....

"Surviving the TT....some random hints and tips from my and others
experience. Please add to or disagree if you wish! They mainly apply if you
like riding the TT course itself, which most visitors, especially the sport
bike riders, seem to concentrate on.

Firstly, don't get carried away by the speed and excitement of it all, and
the seemingly thousands of sports bikes which go thrashing past. A number of
times I've gone for a gentle ride round only to find myself hard on the
throttle within a few miles. Remember that they're still public roads - you
may be charging round chasing that R1, being passed by a Gixxer, but then
Aunty Mavis will want to pull across the road in her old Ford Fiesta and 
won't be
expecting traffic with a closing speed of 130mph. Having said that there are
so many bikes there that normal traffic does seem to look out for them. Most
of the quick riders are very good, try following them and you could be drawn
into going faster than is safe (for you) and end up in trouble. Some are
idiots, but the end result could be the same!Although there's no national
speed limit (yet) the towns and villages do have limits, although too many
riders seem to ignore them. The police have their favourite spots to stand
with a camera gun (Sulby Bridge and Ramsey Hairpin for the last couple of
years).

Also be careful when you get back to England, it'll be back to cars
outnumbering bikes, it's also to easy to get used to travelling faster than
is safe (and legal) on more crowded roads.

Secondly, be alert when riding on the TT course in the reverse direction,
and think twice before doing it over the Mountain. Lots of people do, it's a
normal public road after all, but the majority of the bikes will be going
clockwise in the same directions as the racers. Some forget about oncoming
traffic, or simply get it wrong, and use both sides of the road. You should
be OK in the 'bottom of the triangle', Ballacraine to Douglas, and mostly OK
between Ballacraine and Ramsey. But I only go 'backwards' over the Mountain
section if I have to. If you do ride in this direction then keep well over,
don't just ride blithely up the road assuming that no one will ever come
towards you on YOUR side of the road. As an example, in 2002 I was leading
an inexperienced rider down towards Kirkmichael. I'd warned him about
keeping in, but he was still riding well over towards the center white line,
so I waved him to get further in behind me. A few seconds later someone ran
wide round a left hander (right hander for us) and well over our side of the
road. Fortunately we were now both well towards the gutter so were OK.

And thirdly, watch your mirrors, again especially over the Mountain, and
remember that that headlight in the distance could be moving far quicker
than you think. You may think you're really motoring, and so are fully
concentrating on what's in front, but there will be a lot of really quick
guys out there. If you decide to pull out to overtake, or cut a corner, you
may find that someone going a lot quicker than you is coming thru. Again as
an example, I'll never forget doing over 100 down from Kate's to the Creg on
the Paso, feeling I was going well, only to be passed by an R1 doing at
least 130 with it's front wheel in the air....

Having said the above, don't be paranoid, you can still enjoy riding the
course. And if that's not your cup of tea, there are miles of quieter roads
with great views and scenery to enjoy."

To which I'd add that I took a car in 1988 and felt really out of it, have 
only been on a bike since!

On 'Mad Sunday' (the first Sunday of race week), and Tuesday afternoon, and 
on race days after the racing's finished, the Mountain section of the course 
(about 11 miles) is made 1 way only, this is made obvous at Ramsey by road 
signs and the police. And remember there's no speed limit. Large crowds of 
bikes gather at Ramsey waiting for the off, it's like being on a starting 
grid with the police waving you off.

Looking back on what I wrote last year, the first paragraph is worth 
repeating - fatalities among visiting riders usually outnumber those among 
the racers, in 2005 I think it was double figures.

If anyone wants any other help, mail me direct.

Martin Philp
1989 Ducati Paso 750
2000 Bimota DB4ie 900

PS Ford Fiesta - small hatchback car!

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