Welcome to the Isle of Man TT, the greatest – and oldest – ‘real roads’ motorcycle race meeting in the world.
We have now entered the TT’s second century, but there is no sense of anti-climax after last year’s glorious centennial birthday party. The 2008 entry list is probably the strongest-ever, with more than a dozen top names capable of taking victory across the classes – ensuring that the racing will be a fiercely competitive spectacle. We also have a popular bonus with the reintroduction of Ultra-Lightweight and Lightweight events, along with a second Supersport Junior leg, taking the programme up to nine races. And there’s a star-studded Ducati parade lap to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that marque’s TT debut and the 30th anniversary of Mike Hailwood’s sensational Ducati-mounted TT comeback too.
But we have to ring the changes. This year sees a new professional organising body for the TT, in the shape of ACU Events Ltd. And we have a new clerk of the course, Eddie Nelson, with Phil Taubman from the Southern 100 Club and Peter Cain representing the Manx Motorcycle Club and Andreas Racing Association as his deputies. Don Ryder will act as chief steward with Martin Moore and Geoff Karran as deputies, and Colin Hurst is technical steward.
In addition, 2008 will see a much stronger accent on spectator safety following the tragic accident at the 26th Milestone during last year’s Senior in which two spectators were killed – the first such deaths in the TT’s entire history. Put bluntly, we now live in a very safety-conscious society and to ensure the future of the event we must all play a part. Please take careful notice and stay out of areas marked as prohibited to spectators. And obey marshals’ instructions at all times with good will. They are working on an entirely voluntary basis for your protection. We all want you to stay safe, enjoy yourselves and come back again and again.
Finally, I hope you’ll be happy with the job I’ve done as Island Racer’s new editor. My predecessor Mac McDiarmid – a competitor in the Manx Grand Prix and TT from 1983 to 1988 and one of my oldest friends – has sailed off (literally!) into retirement. Mac set a terrific standard for this publication, one of which I’ve striven to emulate, and turned it into a must-keep collectable. I’ll be well-chuffed if you want to keep this one.
