That was our saying when I first raced at the Isle of Man TT. I could not believe that I was actually going to take part in the famous TT Races - that might sound silly, but I had been going to the TT since the age of six so it had been part of my life for a long time ….. so the TT is not just another race for me. My father was a TT fanatic and had dragged my mother and I to see the Isle of Man races every year; his idols were people like Geoff Duke, but for me it was names like Agostini and Hailwood. I was not really interested in sidecars then.

1988 was my first taste of racing in the TT, on a 350 Yamaha sidecar. I can remember setting off for first practice and right behind me was Roy Hanks - wow! We had a good TT and finished 4th in the F2; that wasn't bad with a start number of 99, but I had done my homework and all those visits to the Island had paid off.

My next time at the TT was 1989, again on a 350 Yamaha with start no 47; things did not go as well, as we crashed at Brandywell in Race A. Both passenger, Dave Burgess, and I were bashed about a bit, but we decided we should try and repair the damage and get prepared for Race B. We eventually got the bike ready with lots of help from various people - thank you. Before the race we had to be checked by the doctor at the top of the race tower - that was really hard. Thankfully, we line up on Glencrutchery Road ready for the start on Monday. Dave said to me just before the off "if we didn't catch the outfit in front by Braddan - as we had done in Race A - I'd lost my bottle; well, that did the trick and as soon as we set off the crash was out of my head and I was focused. We had a good race and finished 4th, just missing the rostrum - again.

For the 1991 TT I took a 600 Kawasaki and set off at no 5 we were accompanied by a television crew who were filming a programme called "It Ain't Cricket". This was a great experience for everyone involved, we finished 8th and 5th that year. Then, due to financial and family reasons, I did not race again until 1996, this time on a 600 Yamaha. This was the same year that Dave Molyneux achieved his 110mph lap on a machine I fell in love with. 

In 1997 we went back with the same bike, this time with plate no 14; this was the year Roy Hanks won - I was so pleased for him. Oh, and as for us, well, we followed a fire engine from Quarter Bridge to Union Mills and lost loads of time, but again we finished 4th - just can't seem to find the steps to the rostrum.

1998 - I was so proud, yes, I'd managed to buy the bike I'd fallen in love with, all I had to do was go "Yee hah!" and the bike did the rest, Dave had trained it so well. This was the year we only had one race due to the weather. We got off to a flying start and by the end of lap one we were in the lead by 14 seconds from Dave - I said he'd trained the bike well. Then, on lap two, my usual TT luck struck - the gearbox broke and I was stuck in fifth gear - all I could think about was the gearbox jamming up. We slipped down from first to fifth, still not a bad result - a change from 4th anyway.

I went back to the TT again on the same bike in 1999, this time starting at no 8 with Bruce Moore in the chair. Our luck was not any better in Race A as the ignition switch failed when we were in 3rd position; we ended up finishing 23rd after stopping to repair the bike several times. In Race B we developed an oil leak and had to stop at Glentramman; that ended 1999 - so disappointing.

Year 2000, new millennium, new hope and another number - 7. I was joined by Rod Pearce - after Bruce decided he would like to try his luck behind the bars of his own bike …. Practice week was a dream as we lapped at 109.57mph, the second quickest, just two seconds behind Rob Fisher. We had the job sorted; then, in the race, the unthinkable happened - I caught Rod's side on a wall. Rod tried to carry on as long as he could, but until he tapped me I was totally unaware what had happened, as the bike hadn't touched the wall at all. We pulled in and I saw Rod had a big gash in his side; there was no way we could carry on. Rod was in a bad way and had to be air lifted to Nobles Hospital, where he spent many weeks recovering.

After that year it made me wonder if it was all worth it ….. but the TT is something special to me; I love the place. So, I will be back in 2002, after missing 2001 due to the Foot and Mouth problem; I feel very excited about returning to the Island, this time with Ivan Murray in the chair, on a Windle 600 Yamaha and with a great start number - 3. Another year, another chance to lay the ghosts of the past to rest and make history - I hope …. by the way, I've visited the fairies and it has made no difference; might risk another visit, though.

I believe you just have to keep trying and, hopefully, things will come good just as they did for Roy. There is no greater thrill than racing in the TT.

Good luck to all 2002 competitors.

John Holden