Manx GP South Coast

Hi. Thought the South Coast Area would tell you a little about our visit to the MGP 2005.

Stuart and wife Nicky arrived on the first Saturday of practice week, staying in Sulby near Ginger Hall. Wendy and I arrived Monday evening, in time for practice. We watched at Governors Dip, as we haven't seen it from there, before. Then we headed up to Ramsey - the weather's always better up the north.

Practice was cancelled Tuesday night. Wednesday we watched at Sulby Bridge, Thursday at Glen Helen and Friday at the Hairpin. This was better than I expected - some of them were taking it like speedway riders! Stuart and Nicky watched from their garden, Sulby Bridge and Parliament Square.

Wednesday was a lovely day so Stu and I took the girls and the Goldies on a lap of the course, stopping at the Museum for a cup of tea. We then went down to the grandstand and met 'Gold'en girl Kay Streets and her dad in the scrutineering bay. (Kay was racing a 350cc in the junior classic.)

We met up with Ron Halem, from the USA, at the Castletown gathering on Sunday. Also there from our area was Keith Taylor, with his newly restored RGS. In the evening Stu, Wendy and I rode over the mountain to the Creg to meet up with Keith and his family, the Manchester crowd and others. What a pea-souper! It was a good evening, very crowded and lively, with everyone in good spirits. We decided to take the road down to Laxey and get on the coast road home. I don't know if it was less, or more, stressful!!

Stu, US Ron and I ride in the closed road parade after the races. So Monday morning we had to get down to Quarterbridge, for our own signing on and scrutineering. Then we and the girls walked round to Bradden Bridge to watch the racing there. There was some confusion when it was time for our parade and I ended up being waved onto the course by a TT riding marshal. I looked behind me and there was no-one following, so I stopped with the awful vision of being up in court with a hefty fine, for being on the course. The next minute Rob flew past on his Trident, waving at me to follow. Ballacraine crossroads arrived too soon and then we were in Peel having tea and cake. My favourite section was to come on Wednesday - Ballacraine to Parliament Square.

Tuesday afternoon, was one of the highlights of the week. All that beautiful machinery on Laxey seafront! Me and Wendy arrived early, but Ron was already there and Stuart came about an hour later. We met Bill Hunter, who wants to come over to our area meetings, and Keith was there for a while. It's hard to say how many Goldies were there at any one time, but it was very busy, with the same crowd from Sunday and more. Tuesday evening Wendy and I saw US Ron receive an award for the farthest travelled, from the BSAOC, at the Crosby. At about this time the rest of the motley crew were arriving in Douglas. Ron, Gary and Phil came over in a van, with 2 Goldies, an RGS and an extra bike - Ron's Manx Norton.

On Wednesday US Ron, Stu and I were joined by the others and we all watched from Ballacraine. Big disappointment - the second race was cancelled (due to the weather) and so was our parade. As we dispersed, I saw Phil stopped at the crossroads. He'd been having trouble with his bike and it looked like it was playing up again. That evening the six of us, and the girls, met at the Creg for the Classic Bike night. Ron won a ladies leather jacket in the raffle and US Ron had his eye on a t-shirt. It was being worn by an attractive French-Canadian barmaid, at the time! When he said he was going to ask her to take it off so he could have it, it was pointed out, 'over here' that would probably get him a slap! He seemed to think it would be worth it, but when we left she still had it on and Ron didn't have a black eye, so he must have thought better of it!!

On Thursday the motley crew met up for a lap of the course. US Ron had offered to look at Phil's bike, so Phil was on Ron's RGS and Ron was on the MN. We stopped at the museum for a photo and look round, but Stu had to leave, so the four of us watched the postponed race at Rhencullen. Then we went around the back lanes to the Ramsey sprint, where we had a cup of tea and a bun. In the evening Wendy and I met Phil and Gary for the best Fish and Chips on the Island, at Peel Harbour, after the sand racing. Keith's family were there, but it was so busy, we didn't see them. Phil was still on Ron's bike and Ron arrived later, in the van! - something not quite right there!! We said our goodbyes as they were going back Friday and our parade started at Ramsey.

Friday's parade went ahead - this is usually the one that's cancelled. Great fun, except the TT marshals were not riding quick enough! Goodbyes were said at the Grandstand with arrangements for meeting up next year (the year after, in US Ron's case), or for some of us, at the Cadwell Bike Burn-Up.

A postscript - Wendy and I travelled straight down from Liverpool to Somerset, for the Frome Classic Mendip Hills run and stayed in a travelodge overnight. The only room they had was a disabled one; no problem with that - until the morning! Half-dressed, (and half-asleep) I went into the bathroom, for a wash. The taps had levers and I managed to turn them full on, instead of off. I came into the bedroom with the crotch and front legs, of my trousers, soaking wet. Wendy thought it very funny - she had guessed what happened when she heard 'oh s**t, OH S**T!' I went back in the bathroom and thought I had found the light switch. Wendy's shout of 'DON'T PULL...' was too late. I had set off the sos alarm in the bedroom, and the corridor as well. After what seemed like an eternity, the receptionist came and turned it off after glancing at my trousers and quickly raising her eyes again. So, after waking the whole travelodge at 7.30am, we crept out. If, by unfortunate chance, you were there....SORRY!