Watching it makes me think of the incredible times in motorsports that came long before me. The TT is a dinosaur. A relic of an age where sportscars and motorcycles raced through villages and countrysides as the norm rather than the exception.

Before rampant lawsuits, before prima donna drivers with 7 (or 8) digit salaries, before 500 million dollar a year budgets... There was a light car (or bike), a big motor, a driver, ten pound cast iron *********, and lots of twisty stupid fast asphalt.
<sniffle> I'm getting weepy again.

Compare the *real* Nurburgring or Pescara with the stop-go-stop-go action of Bahrain or the infield at Indy and you see how drastically things have changed. The cars are blindingly fast and technologically advanced, so we now run them on shorter, slower circuits to keep things safe.
Is this an advancement? Progress? Not in my book.

I never saw the *real* Pink Floyd live. I also never saw the Mille Miglia. And I never will, nor anything like them.
My loss.

Scott, who'd much rather see Schumacher pilot a significantly slower (but still stupid fast) car through the Italian countryside than watch him autocross an earth-bound rocketship through the infield at Indy.

 

Those guys have massive cajones. I was able to catch this at my friend's place, since I don't get speed.

I would just as much enjoy watching motoGP at Mugello, Suzuka, etc. The GP bikes are hitting 200+ mph on closed circuits, with 240+bhp.

 

who likes safe motorsports these days anyways? What could they be thinking by making motorsports more safe to participate in? geez, foolish rules organizations.

 

The Isle of Man TT is an INSANE event. The riders who run it are INSANE. A serious **** up there could have you literally splat like a bug on a windshield.

Still, I can completely understand your weepiness. I'd love to be able to run the Targa Florio - assuming my ***** and brains measured out in a speedy proportion.

But times do change. And modern safety evolved from circumstance. Think about Le Mans 55'.

Scott, who saw lots of great bands live, and even remembers some of it despite how stoned I was, and also saw great racers thru many years....and while that's all very nice, it's just not even close to being as big a deal as how good a time I (and You) can have right now!....You're yearning for an illusion.

 

I am amazed at the huge ***** those riders have. Man what do they do with all the dogs and cats on that island the day of the race? There you are running through town a few feet from all these stone and brick walls at 150mph and fido meanders out in the street. Oh s**t. I watched one guys crash footage where he miscalculated on track out and hit thankfully at least some soft barriers and then went *** over tea kettle through the air about 10 feeet off the ground for god knows how long at triple digit speeds. I am not a motorcylce rider but love watching that TT. One bad *** event that I would love to see in person.
Barry H.

 

The TT is awesome but don't forget that the British Rally Championship uses those same roads for the Manx International. One of the best in-car videos EVER (right up there with Senna qualifying at Monaco) was from inside a RWD Escort on the Manx, from back in the early '80s.

Scott describes precisely why I like hillclimbs - and I'm not surprised because he does, too. There IS an option like this in North America and you only have to look to the great white North to find it:

http://www.targanewfoundland.com/

One of these days...

K

 

aw, come on Scott... here's a tissue. Figurative offer... http://www.pahillclimb.org

I love watching Motorcycle racing, the TT is one of my favorite events. I have to confess though, I fell asleep watching it last night... got home late, turned on the tube... yeehaa!... the TT is on,... climbed in bed and was out in about 5 minutes.

Not to get morbid, but we take risks everyday, the illusion is thinking that you are not going to die.

hmmm, Tivo or new set of tires?...

-dave
8)
... or gas for the suburban?

 

yep, and here is a big "FU" to the peeps on this board that think Speed Channel is a "joke"

TT ownz

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">who likes safe motorsports these days anyways? What could they be thinking by making motorsports more safe to participate in? geez, foolish rules organizations. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You misunderstand.

I'm all for safety. As much as possible.

But making the cars faster while slowing down the circuits gains us nothing in my very humble opinion. In the same way Uncle Catch believes you should NEVER need to go back to 1st gear at any point after the start on an autocross course he also believes that 1 hairpin is plenty for any race course under 5 miles in length. Bahrain IIRC is pretty much hairpins and 90s connected by straights. The infield at Indy is much the same.

Spa... Probably off the schedule in the next couple of years. Imola... Done.
The list is about to get bigger and bigger as new tracks are added in the cigarette friendly countries. Expect these new tracks to be VASTLY different from fast and flowing as recent contructions have demonstrated. Lots of slow turns and chicanes. Don't expect to ever see another Eau Rouge.

Scott, who will say it again for those that missed it... I'd rather see Schumacher fly though the Italian coutryside or the old Nurburgring at 150mph than slam on his brakes at the end of every straight going 190mph.

 

Couldn't agree more

Brian

 

Food for thought, three competitors at were killed in crashes at this year's TT alone. Doesn't mean I didn't like watching the coverege on SPEED.

Sport
Motorcycling - Another Fatality On Island

Monday 7th June 2004

A THIRD competitor has been killed in a crash at the Isle of Man TT. Colin Breeze, a highly experienced rider suffered fatal injuries in Saturday's Formula-One race.

A 44-year-old technician, Breeze, from Kibworth, in Leicestershire, lost control of his 1000cc Suzuki at the Quarry Corners near the Sulby Wildlife Park.

He was a regular competitor in modern and classic racing and won the 1999 Senior Manx Grand Prix.

Last year he finished 10th in the Production TT. He was also Britain's Classic National Champion last year.

Mr Breeze was a single man, but leaves two children, aged 15 and nine.

The race organisers, the Manx Motor Cycle Club expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased rider.

 

anyone know where I can find some video clips of cars/bikes going throught the Isle of Man?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NJTom &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Food for thought, three competitors at were killed in crashes at this year's TT alone.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe they average about 2 deaths per year at this event. It's definitely the most dangerous sporting event I can imagine... and about the coolest thing Speed airs. I'm no motorcycle fan, but I *love* watching the Isle of Mann TT.

 

Did anyone see the story on speed about Milky and his crash?

Its a shame to see the backcountry racing dying out, too much risk for the drivers and the spectators. That was when driving was driving and your ***** had to be bigger then your brains.

but hey WRC is still around and getting more and more american publicity.

 

There's coverage of the Targa Newfoundland tonight (Saturday the 19th) on SPEED...

K

 

I agree

I want to see Nurburgring raced in all it's 17 mile long, 300-some turn glory!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kablamo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I agree

I want to see Nurburgring raced in all it's 17 mile long, 300-some turn glory!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't they run the full course for the 24-hour sedan race there? I thought I saw that on SPEED this past year, too.

That Targa Newfoundland needs to be added to my "must do" list.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WebbRacing.com &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Don't they run the full course for the 24-hour sedan race there? I thought I saw that on SPEED this past year, too.

That Targa Newfoundland needs to be added to my "must do" list.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not sure... I dont remember seeing that, although they did have the new BMW 5 series "test" (promotional test that is) on SPEED there last year.

I'm sure there are still plenty of European touring car races there, we just don't see them here in NA. It's the same with Spa-Francorchamps and Circuit de la Sarthe, as well as other legendary ones.

Maybe in 20 or 30 years we'll have more such legendary North American circuits (Road Atlanta or Mont Tremblant come to mind), right now all that is really known internationally is Indy and Laguna Seca.

Too bad speed doesn't play the old 60's Rallies anymore though... those kicked ***!