TTFAN2010

TT 2010 - Wednesday 9th June- Day 12 - RACE WEEK

LOOKING A BIT THICK UP ON THE MOUNTAIN TODAY

RAIN AT THE CROSBY HOTEL

RAIN IN THE PADDOCK AND START AREA

RAIN FROM LAXEY TO RAMSEY

Well, a day to forget. I've been over here a number of times when rain has stopped play and in fact there was one year when the race started and the original No.13 Chris Guy was leading when the race was stopped and re-run the next day. Chris is consigned to mental history but does not feature in any results guides.

I set out to watch from the Crosby Hotel which has been very useful to a doddery old man like me. I could park the car, have food and drink and watch the bikes and sidecars flash by..I was there for while and had a good parking spot next to the hotel entrance..Then came the announcement that the roads would be closed until 9PM. No No No !!The electric bikes would be last away after races for 600cc solos, part two sidecar race, a break for people to cross the course legally then a Senior practice. Poor marshals, all that time on course.

I returned to the paddock area but by then the heavens had opened and I couldn't see through the front windscreen. The rain abated and it was hoped that the first race would start eventually at 2pm. I made a quick decision to go to Ramsey where it was reported that it was clearing. I like Ramsey for the many different spots even a man with bad legs can access.

At Laxey the rain came down in buckets and just as I drove into the little dockside square in Ramsey near to the Ellan Vannin pub it was announced that racing was off. I think it was due to the fact that quite a few of the top riders (Keith Amor, John McGuiness etc) felt it was total madness even contemplating racing.

On the other hand, some of the entries especially the sidecars are booked to leave the Island tonight and tomorrow so the entry lists could be greatly depleted.

I got back to Douglas and popped into my favourite hotel for a late lunch of a large olive forcaccio bun of cheese and tomato and a latte.

Who sat next to me ? None other than three-times TT winner (up to that day) in 2010, Ian Hutchinson resplendant in his Padgetts Jacket. I would like to have had a photo taken with him to prove it but he was off duty and I didn't want to invade his privacy as it were. He was reading the Motor Cycle News and the articles about himself. I now wish I had spoken to him, I have sat next to him in the Paragon at the Hilton on other occasions.

TIME FOR ANOTHER COFFEE AT THE HILTON