Even More Exciting Than the I Love Lucy

Robert Emslie

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While Formula One has Monaco, and NASCAR has Daytona, the Tourist Trophy has the Isle of Man. Possibly the most prestigious motorcycle races in the world, the Isle of Man TT takes place every Spring on the  British Crown Self Dependency that rests in the Irish Sea, and is in its 104th year. Each of those years the bikes get faster, while the riders never get any less crazy.
This promotional video compiles years of racing into one four and a half minute long orgy of 12,000 rpm redline insanity. It’s one thing to see  a four wheel missile at speed, even an open wheeler with only a thin layer of carbon fiber between driver and annihilation. It’s a totally different matter when that thin bodywork is replaced by leather johnnies and the grace of God.
Due to safety concerns, the race lost its championship status in 1977, but remains a venerated TT event every year. The 2011 Isle of Man TT is little more than a month away, and in case that realization alone isn’t exciting enough, check out the video, and get ready to fly. And remember, each and every one of those riders, is certifiably insane.

[youtube width=”640″ height=”385″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE7H6f9PVwk[/youtube]

Image source: [superstreetbike.com]

 

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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  1. IronBallsMcG Avatar
    IronBallsMcG

    This is one of those things that I must witness before the end of my days.
    I don't know how this is not the absolute most revered annual motorsports event.

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Also, there is no mass start, so you have to constantly compare times and do some comparative calculations to figure out whose ahead at any given point. So, unlike NASCAR, you have to think.

      Reply
    2. dmilligan Avatar
      dmilligan

      Not enough sidehacks.

      Reply
  2. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    …and then watch this video!
    [youtube QldZiR9eQ_0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QldZiR9eQ_0 youtube]

    Reply
  3. acarr260 Avatar
    acarr260

    What race is crazier than this? I'm stumped trying to think of anything that compares.
    On a side note, there is a new movie coming out about a rider/mechanic that races the Isle of Man TT and it looks really interesting: http://amadeusphotography.com/2011/03/isle-of-man…

    Reply
  4. Jennings R. Scroggs, Jr. Avatar
    Jennings R. Scroggs, Jr.

    I'm John Surtees, and I approve of this post.
    <img src="http://p1m.mbike.com/001/000/609/Isle_of_Man_TT_Retro_4_d.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  5. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    I've been a huge Manxophile ever since I first read "Mad Keen on Speed" in the December, 1981 issue of Cycle World. I've listened to Manx Radio on the web with varying regularity for the past 15 years or so. The Island (which gets to call itself that just like the Catholic Church gets to be "The Church") is really a very fascinating place even when the bikes aren't racing. They have awesome Victorian steam trains, the last operating vintage horse-drawn rail tram line in the world, the world's oldest Parliament, Laxey Wheel (aka "Lady Isabella"), one of the world's largest water wheels, plus some really cool castles, a very interesting Celtic-Norse-Scottish-English cultural mix, and some really pretty countryside. Oh, and one chain-smoking old codger in a lighthouse to the south, shouting at the rovers to get off his lawn.

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Found this on a TT fansite, thought it captured the beauty of the island…
      <img src="http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1917/dsc0274kopienearguthrie.jpg&quot; width="500">

      Reply
    2. Matt Avatar
      Matt

      …you forgot about the tailless cats, too.

      Reply
      1. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
        BlackIce_GTS

        And the goats:
        <img src="http://www.cookipedia.co.uk/wiki/images/f/f5/Isle_of_Man_Manx_Loaghtan_Lamb.jpg"&gt;

        Reply
        1. dmilligan Avatar
          dmilligan

          Satan!

          Reply
    3. CptSevere Avatar
      CptSevere

      Yeah, I've seen that water wheel on the interwebs, it runs a Cornish pump, which dewaters a mine. So, you have water running a pump which pumps water out of a mine. That's almost Zen. The whole mine is run on water power, from the hoist to the pumps. Very cool. I'd love to see all that for myself.

      Reply
  6. huesos350 Avatar
    huesos350

    better start planning my trip..

    Reply
  7. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    I love watching what bits and pieces I can from the Isle of Man TT, and it is even cooler with them 'lectric bikes in the mix. I am looking forward to see what kind of times and speeds they set this year.

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      I agree. The e-bikes are right back where internal combustion was around 1904.

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        Indeed. It is only going to get better with time. Also looking forward to Pikes Peak this year.

        Reply
  8. Smells_Homeless Avatar
    Smells_Homeless

    This is the only motorsports event that I get the urge to watch with my hand over my eyes, like a five-year-old watching Poltergeist.
    Oh, and the really certifiable nutjobs? The hack monkeys. So crazy I can't even conceive it.

    Reply
    1. dmilligan Avatar
      dmilligan

      Yeah, completely nutzo, but they're great. I love watching the sidehacks, but I do cover my eyes a lot.

      Reply
  9. Russ Avatar
    Russ

    Do TT bikes really redline at "only" 12,000 rpm? My only point of reference is a 17,500 rpm 600cc street bike.

    Reply
    1. dead_elvis Avatar
      dead_elvis

      You're fairly new to riding, aren't you? I'm just asking, not taking the piss. Most motorcycles don't rev anywhere near that high – only in recent years have some Japanese inline 4s (and the occasional, not-street-legal Italian machine) done so, and if you only ride on the street, its unlikely that you'd ever bump the rev limiter on one of those after 1st gear.
      Do a little reading up on the Isle of Man TT. It's fantastic.

      Reply