Day 3 – this is our first full day on the Island and we decide to have a bike free day and take the bus into Douglas, that way we can have a beer or three.

As well as Bushy’s tent on the front Monster Energy have a tent too, so a couple of Guinness in the hot sun are the order of the day and in due course we are joined by Paddy from MAG and Riders Are Voters and his friend Glen who is over from Canada and test riding the new Triumph Sprint GT.

Both Bushy’s and Monster say that far less bike fans are riding in for drinks this year. You now lose your licence in the UK as well as the Isle of Man and there is definitely a police presence, so I guess riders have decided its just not worth it.

Waiting For Sidecar Practice To Start

It is Sidecar Practice this evening so we walk up to the Grandstand and my first taste of what the racing is like on the Isle of Man – wow! I know I keep mentioning the weather but it is that hot we are wearing sun hats and sun cream and our friends are talking about ‘bringing’ us again because of the great weather!

Moly (Dave Molyneaux) sets the best time in practice.

We head back down into Douglas for more beer and experience Friday night on Douglas seafront. Apart from all of the motorcyclists its like Friday night in any large town in the UK – a bit like Marmite – you either love it or you hate it!

Day 4 (Saturday) and racing starts proper. For the first days racing roads closed later than normal, with racing due to start at 12 noon roads close at 10.30am. Greg took us on an great back road up to the Gooseneck, which I thought was an excellent place to watch, the riders have just come out of Ramsey and are approaching the climb up the mountain.

There is lots of low hanging mist today at various places on the course which meant delays to the racing and the Superbike TT eventually started at 3.30pm. I would say the only people happy about the delay was the food van, that was doing a roaring trade!

I can’t tell you what it feels like when you hear over the radio the riders starting that first race, then reports from Glen Helen and then Ramsey Hairpin and then they they are racing a couple of feet from where you’re sitting, wow!

I know this is getting to be a bit of a theme – but The Gooseneck seemed to be one of the few places on the course bathed in hot sunshine and much sun cream was in evidence and the crowd in good spirits.

A couple of hundred people were watching from The Gooseneck and there was only one Portaloo, her indoors was not happy and can’t say I blame her. This was to be a recurring problem at watching spots that were not pubs. Can’t be money related surely?

We had a small blip with the bike today. Tight right hand turns kept blowing fuses. On the plus side I was allowed by a very friendly policeman to park it where it conked out (rather than the official car park) which was very convenient indeed. Common sense policing, sadly lacking in the UK.

A 10 amp fuse suffices and it’s several days before we find a garage that sells motor spares, oh the irony.

Dave Molyneux at The Gooseneck

The second race of the day was the first sidecar race of the week, which was re-scheduled to 6.15pm. This was what I had been waiting for. The slightly slower speeds meant this was a great vantage point for seeing the action not to mention that Moly and Klaus Klaffenbock fought it out the whole race. Moly was the favourite but KK took a surprise victory mere seconds ahead.

Klaus Klaffenbock passes Tim Reeves

It was getting late and we were glad to be able to make an exit as hunger had well and truly got a grip. First stop was a pint at the Queens at Laxey and then we were taken to the excellent Fish and Chip emporium which is Jak’s Diner at Glen Groudle. The Cod, Chips and Mushy Peas plus a cup of tea were truly first class and it would definitely not be the last visit there.

Tomorrow Mad Sunday….