The Isle of Man TT was for many years the most prestigious motor-cycle race in the world. The racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man). It is the oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use. The official lap record for the Snaefell Mountain Course is 17 Minutes and 12.30 seconds at an average speed of 131.578 mph
There have been 237 deaths during official practices or races on the Snaefell Mountain Course.
Does Tony Blair know about this???
Those roads seem to get narrower every time I watch video from that race.
Great stuff, thanks for posting.
If you are interested in doing something really cool …. take yourself acroaa the pond and stay In the Isle of Mann …. take warm and dry clothes …. and lots of beer money.
Cheers!
I support a persons right to kill themselves for recreation.
It’s the ones that “survive” the crashes and linger on, drinking soup from a straw year after year at a publicly funded care facility that piss me off.
About 20 years ago the network(s) that covered the event used to note that on the long downhill sections that are out of the towns, the camera helicopter couldn’t keep up with bikes and had to pan and/or use zoom because the ‘copter had a terminal forward velocity of ‘only’ 160 M(yes, miles)PH.
As an ex road racer back in the 80s, even I thought these dudes were loopy. I still do. I didn’t mind falling off once in a while as long as I had some room to slide. All those stones walls don’t forgive.
@ Dan S.
And that is why the nanny state tries to eliminate anything with even a hint of risk.
@ PeterJ
Privatize health care and we can all be happy.
Dan lets get all of those office nerds who sit in front of computers all day off the public healthcare as well it is bad for their health, and there are so many more of them than a few crazy bikers. Or all those fat a*ssed teacher drones who are cooped up all day in their luch rooms etc etc.. Careful what you wish for, you could be on somebody’s list as well.
Yeah, Brina M., but the sheep are much more forgiving than the walls. Just gotta plan your trajectory…
Dan S. @ 6:56, I agree wholeheartedly.
RFB @ 7:03, you left your list a little short.
r those harley’s ?
Greatest motorbike race in the world. Now, when you visit England next time, notice the behaviour of even the commuter motor-cyclists. I was one. We risk death on a daily basis. These guys have it easy – they have no cars on the road!!!
As I recall, the last time this race was shown at SDA I commented that I couldn’t believe the stupidity not just of the cyclists, but the idiots that stood at the side of the course watching; and was called a “weenie” (or something approximating same)so this time I will say nothing!!!!
Brings a tear t’ my eye!
I gotta do the Dragons Tail one of these days soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74RQqdUly5U
Joey Dunlop owned the TT.
“237 deaths during official practices or races”
WHAT! One death is too many! We need to register the possession of motorcycles and licence the riders…wait a minute…
I watched that 3 times. Awesome. Just have to ask, did the poor guy bouncing through the sheep field make it? The slow motion makes it look less painful though.
“These guys have it easy – they have no cars on the road!!!”
Couldn’t agree more. Lived in England for 3 years while racing cars. Used to get asked all the time if it was scary. Nope…everyone was going in the same direction.
Now riding my motorcycle in downtown London during rush hour? That was scary!