Pete Morris (building "Son of CoROLLa"). I consider myself extremely fortunate that I live in this era. I watched the programme on Speed channel on Sat when they showed a rider, I missed the first 10 minutes or so, taking us on a tour of the island. AWESOME! Tom Bier and Ole will understand. I was stationed in N. Ireland and had the opportunity to watch Joey Dunlop race literally under my nose on those country roads. However, it was a sad day when we heard that he had been killed during the race. He was fast and smooth! I also had the opportunity to converse with Henri Toivonen for about an hour,when he drove the Total Escort, again in N. Ireland, after he crashed with no brakes. Talked to Jimmy, father of Colin, during the Hunsruck Rally in Germany, during service, after I'd crashed! Met Walter Rorhl at the same rally. Memories get more precious as you age.
Isle of Man TT races. This is SCARY!!!!!!
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While I was at STPR and couldn't watch this thing......Dennis sat home and watched it but he didn't realize that Joey Dunlop died at that race. Please tell us more Pete.
Ole, you know we will go with you. Organize this trip and we will come along.
Missing my bike..........remembering the good times with rally/bike friends.
Claire
Ole, you know we will go with you. Organize this trip and we will come along.
Missing my bike..........remembering the good times with rally/bike friends.
Claire
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641 Posts
Joey Dunlop
Been watching some of the TT stuff tonight - and yes, Pete, it's too damn scary.
Joey Dunlop was actually killed on July 2nd 2000. He was involved in a racing accident in Estonia where he was coming into a corner near the start/finish line where the road surface was rippled. Apparently it had rained briefly during the race and there was a little water lying in the ripples. Joey's back tire lost grip and the bike was flung into the trees, as was Joey. He hit a tree and was killed instantly.
I'm sure that was the way he would have wanted it. Quick, painless and on a bike!!
He was one of the greatest riders ever - and had the most incredible history at the TT.
Stay safe on those bikes folks.
Nick Taylor.
Been watching some of the TT stuff tonight - and yes, Pete, it's too damn scary.
Joey Dunlop was actually killed on July 2nd 2000. He was involved in a racing accident in Estonia where he was coming into a corner near the start/finish line where the road surface was rippled. Apparently it had rained briefly during the race and there was a little water lying in the ripples. Joey's back tire lost grip and the bike was flung into the trees, as was Joey. He hit a tree and was killed instantly.
I'm sure that was the way he would have wanted it. Quick, painless and on a bike!!
He was one of the greatest riders ever - and had the most incredible history at the TT.
Stay safe on those bikes folks.
Nick Taylor.
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2,491 Posts
Pete:
In 1983, I attended the Manx Rally. In addition to checking out all of the rally stages in my rental Mini, I drove around the 37 miles of the TT course trying to imagine what it would be like on a bike.
I do not think that I could have managed to average 60 mph in the Mini. Tony Pond did just over 100 mph in a Rover V8 as a publicity stunt for Leyland. Last night on television, the winner averaged almost 127 mph for a lap. This is truly amazing.
Even more amazing (or insane) are the sidecar drivers. What would possess anyone to do this? A good training ground for co-drivers?
Doug Woods
In 1983, I attended the Manx Rally. In addition to checking out all of the rally stages in my rental Mini, I drove around the 37 miles of the TT course trying to imagine what it would be like on a bike.
I do not think that I could have managed to average 60 mph in the Mini. Tony Pond did just over 100 mph in a Rover V8 as a publicity stunt for Leyland. Last night on television, the winner averaged almost 127 mph for a lap. This is truly amazing.
Even more amazing (or insane) are the sidecar drivers. What would possess anyone to do this? A good training ground for co-drivers?
Doug Woods
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459 Posts
those guys are total nut cases!
looks crazy insane fast n scary!
(translation: really f-ing nuts!)
cheers
Jamie
www.subiegalracing.com
www.subiegal.com
looks crazy insane fast n scary!
(translation: really f-ing nuts!)
cheers
Jamie
www.subiegalracing.com
www.subiegal.com
Not that I am downplaying the danger of car racing at all, but a motorcycle TT, any of them really but Isle of Mann is the most famous, bring danger in motorsport to an entirely different level than just about anything else. These riders have virtually nothing in the way of saftey on the course itself save for a few hay bales.
Pretty much, if you fall it is more likely than not you will die. Something like 180+ riders have died during the history of the Isle of Mann, which averages to nearly 3 deaths over each years week of events. Brave folks indeed.
Pretty much, if you fall it is more likely than not you will die. Something like 180+ riders have died during the history of the Isle of Mann, which averages to nearly 3 deaths over each years week of events. Brave folks indeed.
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2,491 Posts
>Pretty much, if you fall it is more likely than not you will
>die. Something like 180+ riders have died during the history
>of the Isle of Mann, which averages to nearly 3 deaths over
>each years week of events. Brave folks indeed.
Brian:
When I was at the Manx Rally, I stayed in a guest house run by a motorcycle enthusiast who was an entrant of many riders on the TT. In his bar, he had a lot of TT memorabilia, the most impressive of which were photos of all of the drivers who had ridden for him. As he went through the photos with me, almost every driver was either a paraplegic, a quadraplegic, or dead.
Doug Woods
>die. Something like 180+ riders have died during the history
>of the Isle of Mann, which averages to nearly 3 deaths over
>each years week of events. Brave folks indeed.
Brian:
When I was at the Manx Rally, I stayed in a guest house run by a motorcycle enthusiast who was an entrant of many riders on the TT. In his bar, he had a lot of TT memorabilia, the most impressive of which were photos of all of the drivers who had ridden for him. As he went through the photos with me, almost every driver was either a paraplegic, a quadraplegic, or dead.
Doug Woods
Yup, I raced motorcycles since age 4 (34 now) and I literally have a hard time watching Isle of Mann. I honestly get qweezy watching it because all I see is the cobblestone walls, telegraph poles, curbs, barb wire fences flying by at 170+ mph.
I see lots of things in motorsport on TV that I say to myself "I could to that, not at world-class level, but I could do that" Isle of Mann is not one of them. I cant even begin to express the respect I have for those guys bravery. A friend of mine went over there a few years ago ('97 I think) to ride the 125 TT and clipped an ivy covered stone wall at 100+ mph in practice and quit right there. He did not crash, but was so shaken up that he packed up and came home before even starting the race.
I see lots of things in motorsport on TV that I say to myself "I could to that, not at world-class level, but I could do that" Isle of Mann is not one of them. I cant even begin to express the respect I have for those guys bravery. A friend of mine went over there a few years ago ('97 I think) to ride the 125 TT and clipped an ivy covered stone wall at 100+ mph in practice and quit right there. He did not crash, but was so shaken up that he packed up and came home before even starting the race.
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2,917 Posts
Now that spring has actually arrived in Puget Sound, I have been riding my sport bike (FZR400) at every opportunity. My 10-year-old daughter and I were watching Isle of Man earlier this week and she looked over at me and said "you are NOT going to do that!".
alan
alan
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670 Posts
Oh man, Roger That! As much as I respect the driving skills of the WRC guys, the crazies at the top of motorcycle road racing are the most skilled in all of motorsport. There is zero room for error. I did a little bike racing earlier, and used to ride a Katana 600 on the street. Sold the bike and bought a rallycar, ever so much safer that way...-Jay W.
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367 Posts
I don't know what the connection is between rallyists and the TT, but I can relate to it as a sport-biker. The TT is alot like a rally I suppose, as far as unpredictablility and hazards on course...
When I heard about Joey Dunlop, I was devastated. A true hero, nice guy, it was an undeserved end to the fantastic life of a beautiful gentleman, who happened to be able to whip some ass on a bike on the TT. Possibly more tragic than the death of Mike Hailwood.
Ironic that neither lost their lives on the Isle of Mann 'stages'
Andrew Havas
http://www.andrewhavas.com
When I heard about Joey Dunlop, I was devastated. A true hero, nice guy, it was an undeserved end to the fantastic life of a beautiful gentleman, who happened to be able to whip some ass on a bike on the TT. Possibly more tragic than the death of Mike Hailwood.
Ironic that neither lost their lives on the Isle of Mann 'stages'
Andrew Havas
http://www.andrewhavas.com
I used to race bikes a while back, pretty successfully. I was considering a trip to the IOM TT at one point since it was on my list of stuff to do before they put me in a box.
However, once I saw a video of a complete lap and how close the leaders were to solid objects, I decided to pass.
I had a national #1 plate at one point, but lacked the cookies to try that one.
My hat is off to those who do it and go really fast.
Joey Dunlop RIP
Matt
However, once I saw a video of a complete lap and how close the leaders were to solid objects, I decided to pass.
I had a national #1 plate at one point, but lacked the cookies to try that one.
My hat is off to those who do it and go really fast.
Joey Dunlop RIP
Matt
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