mangocrazy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 03, 2023 1:14 pmIf you want it to be... My point (as I'm sure you'll agree) is that at the Island you are way closer to the action than you are at short circuits. As the years go by, the barriers have gradually been moved further back, but you are still much closer than you would be anywhere else. You've been there, I've been there, so why are we debating this?Yorick wrote: ↑Tue Jan 03, 2023 1:04 pmFirst went in 1990. Is this like Top Trumpsmangocrazy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:53 pm I've spectated and photographed there for over 20 years.
I first went to the TT in 1970 and my last visit was in 1994, when Hizzy won the Senior on the Norton in his epic battle with Foggy on the Yamaha. For most of the intervening years I was there for Practice week and Race week and photographing for local papers and Superbike mag, so I've spectated at a large number of the corners. At Ramsey Parliament Square you could sit on the low pub wall next to the braking area with a pint in your hand and you'd be close enough to reach out and touch the riders (if you were stupid enough). I can't imagine they still allow that now...
I avoided the place until my mates retired from racing,riding at race pace around that place is borderline lunacy. IMHO of course.
I first visited the TT in 2014,I went back a few times since,but I prefer the atmosphere of the Manx / Classic TT. I also prefer the wider variety of bikes at the Classic TT.Seeing bikes like the Norton rotary,750 Srad,Ducati 888 etc in the Superbike race,plus the TZ250's & RS250R's in the lightweight .
Favourite place to watch up close is the Gooseneck,watch them coming in on the brakes & walk up the hill to watch them on full gas on the exit
You can still get close to the bikes at the Gooseneck,just that little wall between you & the bikes,but I look at where I'm going to dive to should someone slide off.The first time we visited,as a one off I took my Road Race / TT virgin mates to Bray Hill for Friday evening Practice & I was wondering how many of the spectators had wondered what they would they would do if a bike was out of control.I've since been told a few horror stories about spectators getting 'Caught up in events' at Bray Hill...