and less than 24 hours from taking my first 'hot' lap around the famed Mountain Course. It's the Manx GP. You've probably seen some press releases on the RRW site lately.
Got a controlled lap around 5pm local and the first practice session kicking off around 7pm. Not sure if Manx Radio (http://www.ccsforum.com/www.manxradio.com) does any broadcast of the practice, but they do for the races.
Thats great I"ll be praying for safe ride keep us posted.
Fantastic. Wish I was in your boots. My wife told me that she'd divorce me if I ever planned on doing that race. Be real careful. This course does not forgive mental lapses...
What a great event to participate in, do well, have fun and return safely.
http://www.mgpfestival.com/News/2011/08/20/Bad-weather-leads-to-first-MGP-practice-of-2011-being-cancelled.aspx
Chris' bike
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2F0330.JPG&hash=8bbac6acb95ade7cae3ace3ae6d00a76e6537910)
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(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2F0339.JPG&hash=3058732a05858ef5966cc895eb3fe625963b6bb0)
The setup
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2F0326.JPG&hash=dd742fd62d471d4ebffbc570f7f77bb85214b79c)
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My bike
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2F0334.JPG&hash=82163772e5a67ddb26d7f82adb224bb66bcae3aa)
looks good hope you do well.
Go Travis! :cheers:
Kick ass and BE SAFE! Chris's bike looks awesome!
Title was supposed to be "So I'm on the Isle of Man.." in case you haven't figured that out. That was a long day and I was worn out from getting everything sorted.
As far as today, things didn't go so perfectly. Second-hand info from Chris is that Tony Baker got dazzled by the sun at Ballacraine during the controlled lap. He went straight and got yank off the bike by a rope used to block off the road. Caught him by the neck so he had to go the hospital to get stitched up. Apparently he's now hesitant about continuing.
Between Brandish and Hillberry on my controlled lap a rock holed my radiator. At first I thought it may have overheated and spewed over since I got splashed with water, but it wouldn't happen like that since it's a 2nd gen. With the help of mechanic Tony Mcphillips, Ben Wylie and some steel putty stuff we got it fixed and it held for the timed practice lap I got in. I wasn't so sure I wanted to do another, it was getting dark and it was cold on the mountain and my hands were cold. But the checkered flag was out when I reached the grandstands. I lapped in 24:55.35, averaging 90.834mph. I had a pretty good idea I was averaging around 90mph. I'm pleased with that, before ever riding the course I was figuring I would be pretty comfortable at that speed.
5th fastest Newcomer B.
awesome! my hat is off to anyone that competes in the TT. Love the HDTV coverage every year.
Monday August 23
My practice session was the first group today. Only made it to Kirk Michael when I came across some waving yellows and then reds. Had to stop on the side of the road for awhile, then a 'slow' ride to Sulby bridge were we waited even more. A bike had crashed and burned at the Schoolhouse Corner on the way into Ramsey. I saw it when I went by, it was burned up real good.
We 'slowly' made our way around the rest of the course under yellow and that was it for all practice. The second group never even got started. I was having a really good lap until it got stopped.
Before practice Chris and I were interviewed by Charlie who does the Manx Radio broadcasts for the TT and MGP.
Blog of Manx Radio's Charlie Lambert
http://charlielambert.wordpress.com/
One picture here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northline/6072523478/in/set-72157627498597324
More
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-22nd-August-2011/slides/220811-065.html
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-22nd-August-2011/slides/220811-253.html
Chris
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-22nd-August-2011/slides/220811-077.html
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2FMGP-1.JPG&hash=0d226075d09098931525f60754d25453997df19e)
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2FMGP-2.JPG&hash=09813c5a7f5d32aff48d262c96260ca23934ab72)
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2FMGP-3.JPG&hash=9427c7794b62990d0348c588c82665ad04a2a5f7)
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2FMGP-4.JPG&hash=396342ad4937b237699b61d481be840de223375a)
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Tuesday August 24
The day started out with John McBride, a TT and MGP traveling marshall, who drove me around for a lap with advice.
After doing ~90mph during the first practice, my goal was to drop about a minute for a 95mph average with a subsequent goal of dropping another minute and change to break 100mph average.
Thanks to good weather and starting on time I was able to get in a full three laps for practice (race distance for the newcomers race). For the first lap some clouds were in the right place to prevent being blinded by the sun in the usual spots, but I had to deal with it a little on the mountain. On the second lap the sun was blinding me in the area from Greeba to Ballacraine. Third lap I don't remember it being an issue and it was getting dark on the second half of the mountain because the sun was behind it and some clouds.
It wasn't nearly as cold on the mountain today, but early in the first lap I had a runny nose for a bit. Once I got warmed up it wasn't a problem.
I managed an average speed of 96.48mph with a 23:27.83 time. Mission accomplished! I had some pretty good jumps at Ballaugh Bridge, so hopefully I can find some pics online somewhere.
My upper body is already feeling sore so I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. I don't think there is a total body workout that is more fun than this.
Wednesday August 25
I wasn't real keen on going out on a wet course since I've got the laps I need. So I kept the bike in the paddock with warmers on until everyone in group 2 had rolled out. Then I went straight to tech and out for a single lap just to keep the course fresh in my mind. It was damp everywhere except for about Sara's Cottage to a few turns past the Gooseneck. Still managed an 84.6 mph average and a good speed at the Grandstand speedtrap indicating a really good drive out of Governor's. I only saw one other bike the entire lap, a lightweight 400 of some sort passed me at Cronk-y-Vody.
Finally someone got me launching at Ballaugh Bridge.
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-25th-August-2011/slides/250811-207.html (http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-25th-August-2011/slides/250811-207.html)
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-25th-August-2011/slides/250811-208.html (http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Practice-25th-August-2011/slides/250811-208.html)
I met Graeme Crosby earlier in the day too when he was strolling through the paddock.
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Thursday August 26
Today was really fun. I was one of the last out in my group and it was like a closed circuit race compared to my other practice laps. I was constantly passing bikes on the first lap. A pack of about 5 bikes was getting in the way after Doran's, but I manage to work through all of them by the time I got to Sara's Cottage.
Then at Cronk Urleigh there were waving yellows for what looked to be a wreck that was getting cleaned up. Didn't notice a bike but a foam block was getting moved around. I had new tires on for this practice so I was taking it easy in the first few turns. So adding up all the lost time probably amounts to at least 15 seconds.
I'm feeling really comfortable on most of the course. Up on the mountain is where I'm really giving up time.
We were interviewed and photographed again today. I don't know who it was though.
Saturday August 27 Race day
Official press release
http://www.mgpfestival.com/News/2011/08/27/Wayne-Hamilton-takes-victory-in-Isle-of-Man-Steam-Packet-Newcomers-A-race.aspx
Bikes set off one at a time at 10-second intervals. It didn't take too long before I had passed a bike or two. A 400 of some kind passed me heading into Greeba. I caught up at Ballacraine and I think passed him right after Ballaspur. Heading into Doran's Bend there were two bikes close together. I passed the first up the inside and was close to passing the other but I had to stab the brakes because it was going to be close and I didn't know how tight to the bank he would get. I got past him before the next turns.
Heading into Ramsey a bike passed me. He was slow through Parliament Square and I motored past him on the straight to May Hill. It's really bumpy slowing for May Hill and up through the turn. As I'm at about my full lean for the turn I got hit from behind but kept it up. I heard a bike hit the ground and slide. The next lap I was able to see the scrape marks it left behind.
Just seconds before it happened.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northline/6087152460/in/set-72157627532933224
What I found at the end of the race.
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2F0365a.JPG&hash=9ad656374b0f401c0684c456bd48dc7fe35f3987)
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This was on my mind through the mountain section and it was throwing off my concentration some. Just past the Bungalow was Kevin "IrishAgo" Murphy, an experienced MGP and TT racer, doing a signal board for me and the Finnish guy Tuukka Korhonen that he was helping. Tuukka showed up here solo like I did. The signal board showed me in 2nd at that point. That really suprised me. Coming through Governor's there were waving yellows for a crash. At the corner of Glencrutchery Rd they were putting a guy on a backboard. Here a waving yellow means slowing down to 30mph and no passing. That probably cost me about 10 seconds.
I pitted at the end of that lap and took on about 4 liters of fuel. It was a really quick stop and the radio commentators made note of that. There was a possibility that I could've done the race without stopping for fuel but it was really risky. In practice on Friday I used 5.75L per lap. I was able to squeeze in a little over 18L (Suzuki claims 17L capacity). From the next two laps it was pretty much clear road ahead. I got passed by a few bikes. The sign board showed P3 on lap 2 and P5 or P6 on the final lap. At the end of the final lap I was gaining on two bikes, at least one was one of the 'A' class bikes. For the last few miles I could see spectators cheering us on knowing we were about to complete our first race on the famed Mountain Course.
Coming up the return road to the paddock all the officials and spectators were clapping for us.
My best lap was 22:50.48 (99.11mph average)
Lap times for all here
http://www.manxgrandprix.org/Races%202011/Newcomers/Lap%20by%20Lap%20Newcomers%20B.pdf
Photos
http://www.manxphotosonline.com/2011-MGP-Photographs-Newcomers-Race-27th-August-2011/slides/270811-037.html
Another at Parliament Square
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northline/6087165910/in/set-72157627532933224
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmgreed/6091604258/
Sunday August 28
Today Martyn and I went to the bike festival at Jurby airfield. It was better than the Barber museum! Most of the bikes were ridden there too. Bikes from the early 1900s to present. One of the only bikes I didn't see was an RSV4, then again I wasn't there all day. Every type of VFR was there including all the 400 versions, RC30 and RC45. VFRs are extremely popular with those that show up to the Isle of Man. The MGP is a real enthusiasts' event. Lots of bikes and some Morgan three-wheelers were doing parade laps around the airfield track. The 6-cyl Honda two-stroke and MV Agusta racebikes were awesome sounding as always. I got loads of photos and some video. Name a make of bike and I can probably post a picture of one.
After that Martyn drove me all around the island to check out the sights like Peel and the castle (saw a basking shark in the sea below), the Calf of Man, Castletown and the roads that form the Southern 100 course.
Taking the bike through tech. Got to wear leathers or overalls in parc ferme and the pits, so I brought along a flight suit.
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2Fmedium%2FMGPtech.JPG&hash=b972b79fb764b54d7cdc58d6d0126d5ca978d29f)
A photo similar to this will probably be in some race publication.
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsportbikes.net%2Fgallery%2Fdata%2F503%2F3Americans.JPG&hash=39ef3ba5372655a6e1c28cb3d4492e74d1a23b31)
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Monday August 29
Rain showers made for a damp course for the races and it was still damp in spots for my practice session. I did a single lap taking it pretty easy just to keep the course fresh in my mind. I still averaged over 93mph. I actually took some turns faster than I had previously because I had someone to follow. That will definitely help for the my final race on Wednesday.
Monday night me, Chris and our new Finnish friend Tuukka were invited to the corner marshalls' dinner at the Villa Marina. We were the only racer guests and they had us up on stage answering questions. They're making celebrities out of us. It was a really cool experience.
Love the reports and photos stay safe Travis
So jealous, sounds like you are having fun on and off the track!
Very cool