Went over to the TT for friday's Senior TT race. As we only went for the day we went on a trip organised by the Steam Packet Co.
The trip included ferry tickets, lap of the circuit in a bus, transport up to Creg ny Baa to watch the racing, bus back to the ferry, meal on the ferry home for £60 each. Pretty good value I thought !
We sailed at 2.15am from Heysham and arrived at 5.45am at Douglas, the sea was flat calm and the skies were blue.
Arriving at the Isle of Man.
We caught the bus in Douglas and went on a lap of the circuit.
This is the start line/grandstand in Douglas taken through the bus window!
The Island is a beatiful place,green rolling hills and coast.
Here are a few scenery pics to give you an idea.
We eventually arrive at Creg ny Baa and grabbed a seat in the grandstand.
You can get close to the action, this is a shot of the run down from the Creg to Douglas. The crowd can't get much closer than that!
The road over the mountain is made 'one way' for TT fortnight to prevent head on crashes. The marshalls meet up at the Creg and have to remove the temporary traffic lights, signage and cones before the race starts.
I have found out that my camera is not up to action shots so apologies for the picture quality!
The race started and first away from Douglas was Gary Johnson. He eventually finished 3rd.
On the first lap both Steve Plater and John McGuinness broke the lap record from a standing start!
John McGuinness
Steve Plater
On the second lap John McGuinness smashed the outright lap record with an average speed of 131.578mph! Disaster struck on lap 4 when his chain snapped and he retired from the race, he was leading by 19secs at the time!
John McGuinness.
It was a day of drama for a few riders, Ian Hutchinson crashed at Quarter Bridge, Guy Martin retired with a broken chain after his pit stop, and Keith Amor's rear wheel spindle would not go back in after a tyre change, and Bruce Anstey retired with smoke coming out of his engine.
Ian Hutchinson
Keith Amor
Bruce Anstey
This left Steve Plater leading from local lad, Connor Cummins, and Gary Johnson.
Connor Cummins
Cummins leading Amor before Amor retired.
Gary Johnson nearly case to grief at Creg ny Baa, he came in too hot and just got it stopped before he hit the straw bales!
Gary Johnson just missing the bales.
The time that Gary lost at the Creg meant that Steve Plater caught and passed him on the next lap to not only lead the race but to lead on the road, as Johnson had started before Plater.
Plater leading Johnson.
Final result was Plater, Cummins and Johnson.
We then had a look around the bike park and found a couple of nice brits buried amongst the fast plastic.
Then it was back to Douglas on the bus.
This is the Tower of Refuge built on Conister Rocks in Douglas Bay in 1832.
Here is a couple of shots of Douglas.
It was then time for a walk to the famous Bushys Bar!
The three guys in the foreground are Paul, Graham and Ian who went with me.
And this is me in the bar on the ferry, sun burned, knackered, but happy!
A bloody good day out!
The trip included ferry tickets, lap of the circuit in a bus, transport up to Creg ny Baa to watch the racing, bus back to the ferry, meal on the ferry home for £60 each. Pretty good value I thought !
We sailed at 2.15am from Heysham and arrived at 5.45am at Douglas, the sea was flat calm and the skies were blue.
Arriving at the Isle of Man.
We caught the bus in Douglas and went on a lap of the circuit.
This is the start line/grandstand in Douglas taken through the bus window!
The Island is a beatiful place,green rolling hills and coast.
Here are a few scenery pics to give you an idea.
We eventually arrive at Creg ny Baa and grabbed a seat in the grandstand.
You can get close to the action, this is a shot of the run down from the Creg to Douglas. The crowd can't get much closer than that!
The road over the mountain is made 'one way' for TT fortnight to prevent head on crashes. The marshalls meet up at the Creg and have to remove the temporary traffic lights, signage and cones before the race starts.
I have found out that my camera is not up to action shots so apologies for the picture quality!
The race started and first away from Douglas was Gary Johnson. He eventually finished 3rd.
On the first lap both Steve Plater and John McGuinness broke the lap record from a standing start!
John McGuinness
Steve Plater
On the second lap John McGuinness smashed the outright lap record with an average speed of 131.578mph! Disaster struck on lap 4 when his chain snapped and he retired from the race, he was leading by 19secs at the time!
John McGuinness.
It was a day of drama for a few riders, Ian Hutchinson crashed at Quarter Bridge, Guy Martin retired with a broken chain after his pit stop, and Keith Amor's rear wheel spindle would not go back in after a tyre change, and Bruce Anstey retired with smoke coming out of his engine.
Ian Hutchinson
Keith Amor
Bruce Anstey
This left Steve Plater leading from local lad, Connor Cummins, and Gary Johnson.
Connor Cummins
Cummins leading Amor before Amor retired.
Gary Johnson nearly case to grief at Creg ny Baa, he came in too hot and just got it stopped before he hit the straw bales!
Gary Johnson just missing the bales.
The time that Gary lost at the Creg meant that Steve Plater caught and passed him on the next lap to not only lead the race but to lead on the road, as Johnson had started before Plater.
Plater leading Johnson.
Final result was Plater, Cummins and Johnson.
We then had a look around the bike park and found a couple of nice brits buried amongst the fast plastic.
Then it was back to Douglas on the bus.
This is the Tower of Refuge built on Conister Rocks in Douglas Bay in 1832.
Here is a couple of shots of Douglas.
It was then time for a walk to the famous Bushys Bar!
The three guys in the foreground are Paul, Graham and Ian who went with me.
And this is me in the bar on the ferry, sun burned, knackered, but happy!
A bloody good day out!
