Discussion
So, not exactly a report, however Glyn and I have just come back from a 4-day tour of the Isle of Man.
If you haven’t yet made the pilgrimage, I strongly suggest you add it to your list of places to visit, even better if you can take your car. It’s a beautiful island with similar landscape to parts of Scotland or Wales. Its caked in history and almost all of it is quaint little towns and villages. Everywhere you look is immaculately clean and the people there are overwhelmingly friendly. The whole island appears to operate on “common sense” approach to everything which is so refreshing, its almost alien to us living in the south east of England. Parking is free almost everywhere and the roads are no smothered in double yellow lines... or any yellow lines for that matter.
Speed limits are strictly adhered to wherever shown and you will get a talk from the police if you ignore this. Yet anywhere that shows a national speed limit sign is derestricted, yes you read that right. You can go as fast as you want in any national speed limit area.
Yet common sense applies. Pass a copper at 150mph up the mountain pass with clear roads and under control and he’ll cheer you on.
Pass the same copper at 75mph sideways being a nobhead and he’ll throw the book at you.
It’s widely regarded there that the police are there for your safety, not to spoil your fun. Your safety as well as enjoyment is their priority and they’re all really sound folk.
In fact, they love it.
The island itself is large enough to offer plenty to explore and roads to die for, yet small enough that getting from one end to the other can be easily accomplished within an hour.
Beaches and coves with beautiful clear blue waters are available, as are wildlife areas with seals & basking sharks. There are some beautiful churches and eclectic museums to wander around too.
If you’re a petrolhead and you’ve been to the Nurburgring, you'll know what i mean when i say you get that overwhelming feeling of awe when you see it.
Those butterflies in your tummy knowing the significance of the place you’re in, and the legends that have been racing on the tarmac of which you’re standing. The whole place has a certain aura about it and the TT mountain course is no different. It’s majestic and you simply cannot take in how it’s legal to race around it. It’s absolytely jaw dropping in every sense of the word!
I’ve always been a TT fan, but my levels of respect for these guys quadrupled over the last weekend.
What it must be like to take a bike over 200mph on these roads that are barely 2 lanes wide, and lined with rock faces, cliff edges, signposts and bus stops is truly phenomenal. Not only that but to do it absolutely flat out for 4 or even 6 laps of the 38-mile course is without doubt the reason these guys and girls are considered heroes.
I’ve done over 180 laps of the Nordschleife and its never ceases to amaze me, yet i have to say without question, it has been eclipsed by the TT course this weekend.
If driving the Ring flat out is a bit nuts, the TT course is bonkers nuts on steroids!!
We are already planning our return visit
In no particular order are some snaps of our weekend
If you haven’t yet made the pilgrimage, I strongly suggest you add it to your list of places to visit, even better if you can take your car. It’s a beautiful island with similar landscape to parts of Scotland or Wales. Its caked in history and almost all of it is quaint little towns and villages. Everywhere you look is immaculately clean and the people there are overwhelmingly friendly. The whole island appears to operate on “common sense” approach to everything which is so refreshing, its almost alien to us living in the south east of England. Parking is free almost everywhere and the roads are no smothered in double yellow lines... or any yellow lines for that matter.
Speed limits are strictly adhered to wherever shown and you will get a talk from the police if you ignore this. Yet anywhere that shows a national speed limit sign is derestricted, yes you read that right. You can go as fast as you want in any national speed limit area.
Yet common sense applies. Pass a copper at 150mph up the mountain pass with clear roads and under control and he’ll cheer you on.
Pass the same copper at 75mph sideways being a nobhead and he’ll throw the book at you.
It’s widely regarded there that the police are there for your safety, not to spoil your fun. Your safety as well as enjoyment is their priority and they’re all really sound folk.
In fact, they love it.
The island itself is large enough to offer plenty to explore and roads to die for, yet small enough that getting from one end to the other can be easily accomplished within an hour.
Beaches and coves with beautiful clear blue waters are available, as are wildlife areas with seals & basking sharks. There are some beautiful churches and eclectic museums to wander around too.
If you’re a petrolhead and you’ve been to the Nurburgring, you'll know what i mean when i say you get that overwhelming feeling of awe when you see it.
Those butterflies in your tummy knowing the significance of the place you’re in, and the legends that have been racing on the tarmac of which you’re standing. The whole place has a certain aura about it and the TT mountain course is no different. It’s majestic and you simply cannot take in how it’s legal to race around it. It’s absolytely jaw dropping in every sense of the word!
I’ve always been a TT fan, but my levels of respect for these guys quadrupled over the last weekend.
What it must be like to take a bike over 200mph on these roads that are barely 2 lanes wide, and lined with rock faces, cliff edges, signposts and bus stops is truly phenomenal. Not only that but to do it absolutely flat out for 4 or even 6 laps of the 38-mile course is without doubt the reason these guys and girls are considered heroes.
I’ve done over 180 laps of the Nordschleife and its never ceases to amaze me, yet i have to say without question, it has been eclipsed by the TT course this weekend.
If driving the Ring flat out is a bit nuts, the TT course is bonkers nuts on steroids!!
We are already planning our return visit
In no particular order are some snaps of our weekend
Edited by frayz on Wednesday 23 May 14:48
Edited by frayz on Wednesday 23 May 17:11
Seriously guys, get it booked.
I doubt I’ll head back to the Ring any time soon when I can hop over to the IOM for a long weekend away with the wife.
Stunning roads you can actually enjoy without having your collar felt, shortly followed by tea and cake by the sea watching the seals.
I can also drive as much as I want without paying £28 quid a lap and spending most of that time in the car park due to TurboTed putting his Corsa VXR in the barrier at Brunchen again!
I doubt I’ll head back to the Ring any time soon when I can hop over to the IOM for a long weekend away with the wife.
Stunning roads you can actually enjoy without having your collar felt, shortly followed by tea and cake by the sea watching the seals.
I can also drive as much as I want without paying £28 quid a lap and spending most of that time in the car park due to TurboTed putting his Corsa VXR in the barrier at Brunchen again!
Edited by frayz on Wednesday 23 May 17:29
Those pictures bring back great memories.
One of my best days ever...carry-out, scran, tram up from Douglas and standing at The Bungalow half pished wind blowing like f
k loving every minute watching the TT in 1994.
If you guy's liked normal days for driving mad Sunday is sensational where the mountain is one way traffic.
One of my best days ever...carry-out, scran, tram up from Douglas and standing at The Bungalow half pished wind blowing like f
k loving every minute watching the TT in 1994.If you guy's liked normal days for driving mad Sunday is sensational where the mountain is one way traffic.
Klippie said:
Those pictures bring back great memories.
One of my best days ever...carry-out, scran, tram up from Douglas and standing at The Bungalow half pished wind blowing like fk loving every minute watching the TT in 1994.
If you guy's liked normal days for driving mad Sunday is sensational where the mountain is one way traffic.
When the roads are closed for one way is almost top of the list for reasons to go back One of my best days ever...carry-out, scran, tram up from Douglas and standing at The Bungalow half pished wind blowing like f
k loving every minute watching the TT in 1994.If you guy's liked normal days for driving mad Sunday is sensational where the mountain is one way traffic.
woodysnr said:
Went years ago with PCGB a trip they do every year and they do a couple off dawn raids round the island .I may be wrong but I am sure the time I went they closed the road and it was one way round the mountain section under a pace car .
Nice pics lovely island .
Mr GT2RS was our pace car! Nice pics lovely island .
Driven by a local racer and hillclimb champ... i was somewhat outgunned
frayz said:
Mr GT2RS was our pace car!
Driven by a local racer and hillclimb champ... i was somewhat outgunned
Was that the Mount Murray you stayed at? I went many years ago with the Dutch Porsche club. The chief Constable gave us a briefing and asked if we wanted the roads closed and the Grandstand pit lane opened and that we should behave ourselves... He was next seen coming round Creg Ny Baa in his Jam Butty Range Rover on the door handles Driven by a local racer and hillclimb champ... i was somewhat outgunned
V800MJH said:
Think that's the same one that's been on PH for a while now...https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Seems strong money at £42k with 42k miles and four owners, but given there are no others around...
MDT48 said:
Think that's the same one that's been on PH for a while now...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
yep miles is key here @ 43k and it due a >£1k service also.https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
MDT48 said:
V800MJH said:
Think that's the same one that's been on PH for a while now...https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Seems strong money at £42k with 42k miles and four owners, but given there are no others around...
Are we expected to just not drive these “drivers” cars? Just saying. Lol
frayz said:
Maybe the fact there are no others around helps it’s price point. Also have no idea why folk get so hung up on miles.
Are we expected to just not drive these “drivers” cars? Just saying. Lol
Don't shoot the messenger Are we expected to just not drive these “drivers” cars? Just saying. Lol
As I indicated, it seems to be a seller's market, so I agree on that point.
And yes, mileage wouldn't put me off a car if it has been maintained properly, but I'm just going by the kind of comments you tend to hear from people looking to buy, and for some reason mileage and number of owners seem to be oddly important to them.
It's good news that the R seems to be commanding good money, and I think its rarity will probably keep values strong. Of course that only really matters if you're planning to sell, and I can't see myself doing that any time soon
MDT48 said:
V800MJH said:
Think that's the same one that's been on PH for a while now...https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Seems strong money at £42k with 42k miles and four owners, but given there are no others around...
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