MIKE HAMMONDS TT BLOG PAGES

 More Postponements, More Mist and Rain


The weather again put paid to the rescheduled race / qualifying programme, Gary Thompson (Clerk of the Course) announcing just before 10:00 am that there would be no racing today. The forecast for Wednesday is much better and a full programme was announced for Wednesday and Thursday.

The Isle of Man Examiner headlined with 'HOW COULD ANYBODY MISS THIS?' next to a photograph of the the no entry signs and the one way system at Creg-ny-Baa. Within minutes of implementing the system on Friday 24th May a car driver from Laxey was stopped attempting to go the wrong way over the Mountain Road. This person was arrested and fined £1,500 last Wednesday. On Monday two Austrian bikers aged 54 and 56 were fined a total of £650 after being court going against the flow of traffic on Sunday. They left the island almost immediately after appearing in court. The police are still looking for a biker, dressed in black, who travelled from Kates Cottage to Windy Corner and nearly causing a head on collision. Are these breaches, which are highly dangerous, due arrogance, ignorance or just plain stupidity? Hopefully the draconian fines will deter future issues and stop a serious collision where someone is killed.

There was still plenty of activity going on in the paddock and in Ramsey the Sprint took place. Notable riders chatting with the fans were Peter Hickman and James Hillier, never tiring of signing an autograph or having a selfie with a fan or posing for a picture. I wonder what it must be like when they leave the island and not have all this adulation, is it a relief or do they miss it?

Graham Bean and I bump into ex sidecar racer Dan Clark. Dan, as ever is on good form, it is amazing to think that it is twelve years since his accident that ended his racing career. He had been dogged with chassis problems all practice and had not completed a lap. The organisers allowed him to go out in the first phase of riders on the final Friday evening practice, he was having his fastest and furthest venture around the course when the sidecar ran wide onto the pavement and into the hedge at Bedsteads. To this day he doesn't know why it ran wide although there is a possibility it was due losing pressure in his front wheel. The unknown is whether the damaged to the tyre was caused before or after the accident? Luckily he and passenger Nigel Mayers lived to tell the tale. Although no longer able to race he is always readily available to assist and support, this year he is aiding the Ramsdens andin the past he helped the White Rose Racing Team and Team Past It. Dan is, without doubt, one of the most likeable characters in the paddock

With the inclement weather the Hailwood Centre cafe was doing a roaring trade, the coffee isn't bad at all!! Adrian Earnshaw is selling old magazines, TT & MGP programmes and other bits of memorabilia from the shop within the cafe. He is also selling Mike Hailwood Foundation T-Shirts (£15.00) and Polo Shirts (£17.50) which are very competitively priced, black with the traditional Mike Hailwood gold trimmings.

Mike Hailwood poster from the Hailwood Centre


Peter Hickman sharing a joke with Tim Glover


 

James Hillier behind the Grandstand after coming runner up in Monday's Supersport Race




 

The Marshal's teepee was busy with new marshals signing on and being shown the training video. It has been a tough time for all the marshals over the last 12 days, Monday being a particularly long day. With nothing happening on Tuesday, Wednesday is looking at being as an equally long day as Monday was. I would rather this than a curtailed race programme.
 

Photographs by Mike Hammonds:
Mike Hammonds
 

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