Capo at the 2016 Isle of Man TT

[Cormanus]

Go Capo!

http://www.motorcycle.com/features/featu...-html.html

[Capo]

Go Capo!

http://www.motorcycle.com/features/featu...-html.html

Yes, I lost a few brain cells standing there, but what a glorious sound and pungent odor!

[the Ferret]

Love the smell of Castrol in the morning

[Nemo_imp]

Music!

[Ulvetanna_imp]

OK, I'm on the way for the 9th trip to this magical place, now on stopover in London to visit a bud. I'll land tomorrow, pick up my rental motorcycle, and the adventure begins. Marshaling in Bray Hill come Wednesday, and my two mates from NJ join me over the weekend. Would love to hold a CB1100 rally at the TT one year, and I've got the drill down pat for anyone wishing to do this.

I'm also covering the TT for motorcycle.com again, and here's my first column. There are links, in blue, throughout the article to some of last year's columns as well. Stay tuned for much more over the next two weeks.

http://www.motorcycle.com/events/2016-is...tt-preview




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well-written, researched, and informed. The Isle of Man was one type of racing in which I never had any interest; extremely dangerous, and the rewards are social, psychological, and spiritual rather than remunerative, but I see how it combines the essence of a whacko Sunday street strafe with some blokes who are very, very serious about their business.

I watched the documentary on the electric bikes at Isle of Man and found it very interesting.

[the Ferret]

I am absolutely torn about the Isle of Man. Very rich history (since 1907), which I have witnessed since the late 60's, and by witnessing I mean in reports in motorcycle magazines, TV broadcasts etc. No one forces the riders to race, it's their free will. There is no question it's the most dangerous motorcycle racing on the planet with riders dying every year. (The Isle of Man TT event – which has been going around for the past 100 years – alone has caused over 220 deaths.) If it weren't for the money it brings in from tourists, I can't imagine it not being outlawed years ago like every form of motorcycle street racing has in every developed country.

I have zero interest in racing on a race track where there are runs off and crash barriers, where it's wide and open, where there are marshalls to worn of debris on track, and everyone is going in the same direction at close to the same speeds. I have even less interest in racing my buddies on the street, where traffic is going at least 4 directions at once, where there are driveways, and debris and dead animals and blind corners, and blind rises, and distracted drivers. I would have even less interest in racing at the Isle of Man where there are boulder walls, rock fences, trees, buildings, and spectators lining the road and the ability to legally ride as fast as your bike will go.

Can't imagine the joys and the utter despair that island has brought the women in the Dunlop family, and parents, wives and children around the world. Geuess it is no different than a zillion other super dangerous things we humans do in the name of adventure, but I guess it affects me more because I am a motorcyclist. I don't High-altitude climb mountains, or heli-ski down giant mountains by jumping out of a helicopter, or base jump off cliffs with a giant flying squirrel costume on, or cave dive, or run with bulls. I have no mental association with those sports. I do with motorcycles. I understand what drives some men, however those thoughts do not drive me. I am glad to have survived riding a street motorcycle as long as I have. There have been close calls over the years, some very close, some too close. I am not going to temp fate any more than I have to , to enjoy this sport. I wish nothing but the best to those that accept the challenge though.

[redbirds_imp]

Thoughtful and well said ferret.

[Capo]

Football causes brain damage and permanent physical disability, but is played by kids and adults, and watched by hundreds of millions. Nobody seems to be pushing to ban it. Over 5000 Americans died in motorcycle accidents in 2015. I don't get the hand wringing, and if you ever were present for the TT, you'd understand. It's most certainly not all about the tourist money. The Isle of Man is an incredibly proud and independent nation- state. It's like saying they'd cordon off the Grand Canyon if it wasn't for the tourists. Don't worry, lean in, as the TT riders do. Regret and fear are the two biggest thieves of happiness.

[the Ferret]

Well to be fair football is under attack due to the traumatic brain injuries. There are proposals that kids are not allowed to tackle up to a certain age. There are now concussion protocols that will keep even the most key professional players out of the game. There are special physicians at games to keep an eye out for hits that could cause such injuries. Head butting soccer balls is also under attack as well due to brain injuries. Little league pitchers are strictly limited in pitch counts to limit arm and shoulder injuries, and aluminum bats are under fire due to the rate balls come off of them back at the pitchers. The world is changing and sports that maime and kill are under attack on all sides. I have a feeling board track racing won't be making a comeback any time soon.

5000 U.S. motorcyclists dying every year are not part of a limited time sporting event. Just the carnage we see on America's highways where 30,000 people plus lose their lives in autos every year as well (don't expect them to ban autos anytime soon either). If 5,000 motorcyclists died in a 2 week sporting event on public roads, I guarantee they would ban that event, at least here in the U.S.

BTW .... 2 to 3 people fall to their deaths at the Grand Canyon every year out of 5 1/2 million visitors annually.

Im not saying I think the TT should be banned. I only said I was suprised that it hasn't been, given it's loss of life and inherant danger, and the attitudes of well meaning people. That it still exists is a testimony to the will of the people on the isle.

[Capo]

Those sports are hardly under attack, they are merely being sanitized a bit for the money to keep flowing and for people to rationalize sending their children out into harms way so they can get the bumper sticker, or for Joe six pack to buy the jersey.. There is no money in the TT to speak of. These riders all have jobs, mostly blue collar. It's pure passion, and something that MotoGP and other forms of Motorsport have lost. There will always be people who tsk-tsk competitions of any sort from the safety of their sagging arm chairs, high- viz pajamas, or congressional offices. Any TT rider, or family of said rider, would smirk.