How a Road Test Idea Became the DEADLIEST Race on Earth
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- Опубликовано: 14 июн 2024
- Think of the Isle of Man TT and I have no doubt your mind will conjure the image of road-riding warriors, racing at unbelievable speeds in the most dangerous of environments, riding at over 200mph inches away from stone walls, hedges and spectators.
Even after many years of watching myself, to this day I still cannot get my head around what these modern-day gladiators are able to do on a motorcycle in this most dangerous race on earth.
But did you know that what you see today wasn’t exactly what the founders of this historic event set out to create?
In this video we’re going to look at the history of speed at the Isle of Man TT, and how a simple idea shared by a magazine editor around a dinner table went on to become the most dangerous motor race on the planet.
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We attended this year traveled from the States to London rented a Ducati and Triumph travelled 3 days through Cotswolds and up through Wales, to the Heysham Ferry hoped on the ferry. Spent 7 days on Isle of Man. Got to witness her first TT experience at the Bottom of Barregarrow (her brain exploded) and we saw Micheal Dunlop’s visor disaster first hand at Brayhill. I got my first ride over the unrestricted mountain screaming in my helmet the entire time. Stop and have a pint in Peel, Douglas, Port Erin and met some awesome locals. They love the TT and they love respectful Tourists who love their country. If you have a chance to go.. go. Don’t think about it. Just do it. It was a year of pre-planning, deposits on motorcycles and homestay were put down 1 year ahead and it was worth it.
Bringing my daughter in August in van to the Manx for a few days of the qualifying. Will leave van in Heysham terminal hopefully If it's safe. Depending how it goes, the dream will be next year to have my SR 500 in back of van and bring it to the island for a lap
Great to hear this... sadly, I live in London and have never been so, must be one for my 'bucket list!' Hope you had a safe journey, home!
Lovely story. I might go to IOM , love to actual see the TT first hand but this year we going Egypt. If i had a choice IOM but my wifes orders Egypt it is.
Great to hear you enjoyed your trip. Sometimes one just has to book to make one make memories! If you have someone to share those memories with do it. Love today, love each other, look after tomorrow.🇬🇧
My dream :)
Riders such as John McGuiness and Guy Martin are revered for their skill and riding ability ,taking their machines to 200 mph,but that 1957 rider who averaged over 100 mph must have needed his own sidecar to fit his balls into
Heh, I always thought the Isle of Man TT racers were fools for risking their lives like that. Still, I was always somewhat intrigued by it all. What makes a person take part in such an event? What's the point of wasting your life like that? There are dozens of race circuits in the UK and Europe. Why would you choose to race on the most dangerous one from a safety perspective? I'm an adrenaline junkie and have always liked extreme activities, but it always seemed to me that they indeed took things "too far" with that race.
One day, I bit the bullet and went to see it in person. It was horrifying. I went first to the bottom of Bray Hill, and I was almost sick with nervousness. My gut feeling was that at any moment, one of those riders would lose control and die right in front of my eyes. It is mind-boggling how fast they take that turn-over 180 mph (290+ kph).
But then, I walked around the paddock, saw some of the racers with their families, and went to a few different places to watch. Slowly, I realized how much control they have. The fear and nervousness subsided, and I started to enjoy the races. That first horrible day gave rise to a joy of seeing those crazy mfkers fly by and even jump at Ballacrye.
In the final days, I started to realize more and more that I was the fool, not them. I was the one wasting my life by not doing something so incredible-not them. They live like modern day gladiators, doing the most incredible "legal" thing on earth. By the end of it all, I was envious of what they achieved on that course and how much fun and adrenaline they must experience on that piece of tarmac. It became clear to me why they do it. They are not idiots-idiots would not survive even a kilometer of that. They are at the top of their game, and I'm sure the risk is worth it.
I had never ridden a motorcycle before going there to watch in 2022, but I was so inspired by it all that after I came back to Belgium, I got a motorcycle driver's license at 33 years old. Just a few days ago, I had my first track day on a motorbike. Let me say that a trackday in a car is amazing, but a trackday on a motorbike was 100 times better, surreal-probably the best experience of my life that didn't involve woman. I cannot imagine what it feels like to ride the TT at full throttle.
It would never be possible to create it if you wanted to start doing it todays, so I'm glad that in today's woossy world this still exists.
We'll said
Highly accurate. They are literally living more than most people on earth.
Bang on.
Welcome to the other side.
We all die anyway, better on the track than wasting away in an old folks home.
Great video. This year nobody died at the TT despite adverse conditions. But there will always be people who push the boundaries. In my 20s I did that but no one took it further. I broke the 100mph world record on barefoot water skiing and in 2007 at the age of 57, I broke the 145mph record over 50kms on river waterski racing. Since then both events have been scrapped as insurance in Australia for the events evaporated. But when we raced, there was no insurance. You took your risk to compete, spectators took the risk of watching and the organisers took the risk of hosting. No one thought about suing anybody. You did it solely for the glory.
Congrats on your records - with those numbers you have certainly earned them.
Before soft cocks ruined everything.. 😂😂 everything fun is now deemed dangerous or banned Oh how far backwards we have slipped its a crying shame the real men have all dissapeard.. the quest for an adrenaline rush is almost non existent these days.. your not alive unless you see your whole life flash before yur eyes as things go badly pear shaped many times during ones life.. 😂😂
Hold on, a side car team lost their lives this year. So yea, 2 people passed-on.
@@JAAB9296 the joys of racing.. nobody said life was going to be long and painfull..
@@rebekahfrench5747 WHAT? Your comment has absolutely nothing to do with what I wrote.
In case you don't get it, I simply pointed out that 2 died "because" in the original comment the guy claimed nobody passed on.
Do you understand now?
I went in 1952 on my Model 18 500 Norton, a friend on his Model 7, we were astonished by the sight of Les Graham on the 500 MV, all silver and red, the sound which you could hear seemingly miles away was such a contrast to the Nortons and AJS. Wonderful experience, such a pity that Graham died the next year.
I know his record is now surpassed, but to me Joey IS the TT. However, I feel Mike the Bike's 14 wins is the gold standard considering it was part of the world championship back then.
Excellent presentation. So much information in such short video, and very enjoyable!
As an admitted supporter and ex-participant at the IOM, not as a rider but as a spanner-man, I’d just like to add that the accident / track mile covered during the two weeks of the TT and the Manx GP is usually lower than or comparable to the rate for short circuit racing.
The difference tends to be in the severity of the accidents that do occur, the outcome of which is often dictated by the time that it takes for an injured rider to receive intensive medical intervention.
That is largely thanks to the geography of the place, it is a vast circuit and, as well illustrated in this presentation, the average speeds at which accidents do occur are high, often leading to more severe injury than is the case on short circuits.
All that being said, this was an excellent piece which provides a good insight into the development and history of the most challenging road race in the world.
You know me bro. I'm not even a motorbike enthusiast but that was a very well made mini documentary. Very much enjoyed. Keep up the great work 😊
Man 1: Hey a circular road.
Man 2: I'll race you around it.
Excellent video, well presented, great clips and info. Just had the pleasure of attending the 2024 races. Although it's unbelievable that the race is still allowed, the experience was unbeatable.
That was a good documentation of the event man. Winning!!!
In a 118 years that 269 deaths are far less than car racing. Isle of Man needs to continue. 🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍
More than that have died in a single plane crash but no mention of banning planes
More have died from peanuts as well.
I would imagine it's quite low down the list.... If people want to race it.. let them...I bet It'll be those that have never ridden a bike that want it stopped.
Try comparing something that makes sense. Try comparing how many riders competed, compared to how many have died, and how many were seriously injured. Then you have something that makes sense. Tragic but fun.....😱
@@loonaticsrunningtheassylum isnt it always ,but they dont mind people being slaughtered in wars
Very nicely made! 👌🏼
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this one! 👍🏼
Also a nice way to remember those who have gone before to pave the way to where we are today.
Excellent vid! Well done.
Thank you
Brilliant, solid documentary. 3rd generation TT fan and these stories never age. Personal favourites Phil Reed, Hislop v Fogarty, and D Jeffries vs J Dunlop, and the modern golden era❤
Nice to see a human narrator!
Excellent coverage!! New sub... Can't believe I am just now finding this channel. I have a Godson who is extremely talented on motorcycles.. I think he is committing to next years TT... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about it, but coming from a group of hard core racers and riders, with a few championships behind our backs (nothing superbike related), I'm gonna like go along and pit beotch if / when needed... This truly is the most extreme race in the world! Of ANY sport, even beyond all motorsports... IF you cant stay far ahead of your bike.. It wont just be a metal / title you will lose.. Absolute respect for all those who race here..
Thank you from Canada for your time and effort to give us history of this great race/place
Excellent video ! Thank you ! No AI voice, good pertinent facts, good video excerpts, thoroughly informative and enjoyable 👍
Excellent commentary, I'm glad to have found your channel.
Those guys are beyond belief!!
Fantastic video. I watched the TT for the first time this year despite being a racing fan most of my life and it was awesome. Hope to one day be there in person to see the spectacle.
That was great. Good work, I really enjoyed watching that.
My Dad now deceased was stationed on the Isle of Mann when in the RAF (early 1950's) and one of his friends had a road bike that Dad was often a pillion passenger on. His friend was killed on the bike and the damaged bike was sold by the dead guy's mother to another friend of Dad's. He fixed the bike up and rode it for some time until he was also killed on it.Dad was anti bikes from that time on and would call motorcyclist's "temporary New Zealanders" He was Scots but lived in New Zealand for many years. Funny thing is he always had a reverence for the TT despite everything. Probably because he had first hand experience I guess.
Nice up load thankyou !!
Really excellent video! I also hope they continue it, I'm sure they will.
Nice summary, thanks for making
The danger of the TT is what makes it so special. I hate the idea of a rider being killed or injured. The fact that there were no deaths in 2024 is amazing. Here's wishing a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
I love riding a motorcycle, my brain can't even comprehend the speeds these riders are going.
Is it too dangerous? For someone like me, absolutely. Should it be stopped? No way. The riders know the risks and would likely find something else equally as dangerous if they were forced to stop.
May the race go on .
Me I would love to cruise the circuit on my old BSA GoldStar , just to putt around the course . Old man , old bike works for me .
An excellent history.
In the 1950s my father was a racing cyclist in Derbyshire and won the hill climbs many times. I think it was 1956 he competed in the IOM Cycle race and came third.
While that is an achievement he had to first ride from Nottingham to Liverpool to get the ferry across. After a few dats of racing, he cycled back home.
Brilliant video, well done
Thank you for posting this exceptional history of the Isle of Man TT. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏍️
Very, very well done.
Great video very informative
Another magnificent piece of British history given to the world, you're welcome
'Road Racers', different breed.
Met Joey in a Douglas cafe in the 90s the year after his worst crash. He struggled up the steps on crutches, his right fore arm supported by an extension on the crutch. He said he'd brought his bikes over on the usual fishing boat but was furious they wouldnt let him race even though he had a letter from his doctor declaring him fit. The man was mad.
Excellent work. Great presentation.
Great vid!
Not widely known is that the Isle of Mann has a sister Island in the South Pacific; Waiheke Island NZ - in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland - which also had motorcycle racing at about the same time in the early 1900's on similar roads - which I drove all the time when I lived there for 30 years and had the islands MC workshop. Now full of tourists and wineries and beautiful beaches and views but no bike racing for a long time but Horse racing on the Onetangi Beach was popular for ages. I'm sure the story can be found for those interested - it was featured in the local paper; The Gulf News 20 odd years ago.
You will notice that the top MotoGP riders do not usually race there. I am 82, and would race again tomorrow, but I would never race on the IOM. On the IOM it is easy to lose track of where you are on the circuit. When you go down a long road, you need to be on the correct side of the road for the next corner. A crash at 30 MPH can kill.
Their sponsors won't allow them to race the TT.
I loved Joey but the greatest of all time post WWII was Mike Hailwood, he won on so many different machines and against top class opponents, when the TT was a world title event.
Awesome! Thank you!!
My great aunt's fiancé rode in the TT races in the 1920s, including Nortons that were tested at Brooklands. I have an archive of photographs dating from that time.
Really excellent documentary of the event and the competitors.
I've attended a few times, and while the racing is obviously the focus, the many other two wheeled sports represented and the competition events taking place over two weeks, make it simply the greatest motorcycling festival in the world.
I just have one dream; That one day, before I kick the bucket, I'll get to see a video or film or read an article that doesn't focus quite so much on the fatalities. At this point, if you're unaware of how dangerous the event is, you have absolutely no interest in motorcycle sport or motorcycling in general.
great video appreciate that
The dude who said “it’s too dangerous to be forcing guys out there” whilst he LEAVES… where tf is this force
I guess losing world championship points every year is what he means
A contender for the world championship HAD to compete in the TT.
The ultimate test of man and machine in the real world. The Pike's Peak hillclimb in the US had a similar flavor of deadly but they no longer race bikes there so the TT now stands alone. May it continue forever!
Excelente reportagem.
Obrigado.
Continue.
Parabéns.
Gràcies per el vídeo!!!
Salutacions des de Mallorca Bros!!!
Alobiuu Willy Boom!!!
Scary fast! Insane!
As a kid i remember reading about IOMTT in the 80's, ("Popular Mechanics", I guess) Stating that it was the oldest current motorsport event in history. we are in 2024 and still is the oldest, and purest motorsport event in history. hopefully it will remain that way... Long live IOMTT
These races along with F1 have actually SAVED more lives than they have taken. Much of the safety features on bikes and cars today were a direct result of these racing machines.
Great 👍. Video,, Keep racing
Much like a cowboy has his rodeo...
We have TT.
Great show, thanks bro
I have to go and experience that before I die. Wow
Excellent.
My hero on the island was Joe Dunphy, who rode a Manx Norton into second place in the 1965 senior TT behind Mike Hailwood on a much more powerful MV Agusta.
Of all the deaths you mentioned, did that include spectators?
...i won the MANX-TT SUPERBIKE video game at the local arcade back in the 90's
Great video.
The Isle of Man is with no doubt the "greatest" motorsport in the world. NOTHING comes close. Period.
Well put together, extremely well narrated, and informative.
Good production. Not a criticism but if you can maintain the sound quality, a more bike oriented location for your to camera part would improve the overall effect. A battered armchair in a garage as a suggestion.
It's awesome that Isle of man never yielded to the pressure from grand prix. There needs to be a place to showcase the real men.
We ride, we die while riding, we will keep riding.
May it last forever.
Joy Dunlop live❤️ rip Hero. And Giacomo Agostini.great italian champ. Very thanks like e subs from Italy i love roads race, mutch love the GREAT TT IOM best race at the world 👍
Isle of man TT. Is and always will be one the greatest Rach of all time.
Top end mate... ;)
@17:10 " . .if the island and it's authorities are happy to host it, the riders are willing to compete, and the officials and volunteers are willing to help . . "
. . . and the sponsors, manufacturers, promoters, event organisers, media groups, hospitality firms and funeral directors are all willing to continue to make millions from it every year . . .
Beautiful....
Let is more..
Less is more...
Helmets became mandatory... Only a gladiator needs that to be pointed out
Greatest Motorsports event on Earth.
Mike Hailwood is the Isle of Man TT. My hero when I was riding and still regarded as the best raw talent - I wonder what Mike could have done with the modern bikes??
Not into bikes but a great video
I keep hearing Mike Howard ? 😂 Is it just me ?
Be careful on that motorcycle , son.'
'Sure Pop , I'm too scared to go fast anyway'.
Instead of banning the race , these concerned citizens should build a monument to the riders who cashed out racing there. A really impressive wedding cake of a monument to exuberantly express Island support for the brave lads who dare to play in this game. Celebrate their young lives as if you cared for them and let that river of cash that the race brings keep on flowing. On an island where scratching your butt is the biggest industry , that money matters. Building a big monument on a windblown promontory would be prideful work and the concerned citizens could feel like they were deliberately taking care of the memories of those poor smashed up young men. They should be celebrated as gladiators in this modern iteration of no BS competition for all the marbles. Said concerned locals seem to see these racers as victims but that is exactly what they are not. It takes sand to sit on one of those rolling rockets and hip-shift it through those turns with a pair of hungry bears right on your ass. That's the very definition of heroism ; to dare to commit to win at the price of your life. Only the bravest of us would even dare...
To me, it is the Mount Everest of racing. As long as people are free to do it, then it should keep going. I’ve been there 10 times since 1990 and I will keep going there. There’s one thing said about the pro’s getting killed, well, no pros got killed this year in 2024, last year was one person and in 2022 5 people died. There are what’s called Spectator crashes and they are pretty deadly too, the authorities there are very tough on speeders.
You mention TT stands for TOURIST TROPHY, maybe they should have a touring bike race next year something akin to the Harley racing going on in USA ?
Fuel limits would make it 'interesting' Seeing a Gold Wing or BMW grinding expensive bits off on corners could be quite a spectacle.
Personally though, I stopped 'following' IOM TT when speeds and bikes got away from what 'ordinary' road riders could get in 90's (as tech and 'workshop manager' I got to ride a lot of 'fast' bikes back then, 165~70mph being around max speed available)
Please, no!
Joey will always be the man.
There's something about islands not too many people know is that on phillip Island in Australia was where a hand full of motoring enthusiasts from Britain started the very first car races at high speeds and no speed limits long before the official recorded date of 1928 pre 1900 and so was the birth of car racing.!!! Also the very first motorcycle speedway race was also in Australia at Maitland showground.!!! Go figure and Australia is the world's biggest island.!!!
Health warnings on these bikes?
UA is losing more troops in a month than the total in almost 100 years of racing. I think that puts it into perspective.
its still a road test, for the riders and the machines
I believe it should be the riders and families that decide whether to race or not.
Obviously it's a very dangerous race but many more compete successfully than succumb to accidents.
I cannot watch a bike or rider mounted camara real time. Can't do it. Looks to me they are surpassing their reaction time but they are world class riders. It's their decision.
Nothing makes you feel more alive than dicing with the Lord of Death.
70 and 90 mpg, 😂 not today matey.
Tis is a computer game, not the real deal. Many din't realize that...🤣
😰THEIR ALL Freaking NUTS !!!
I agree... Isle of man TT displays gladiators ... gladiators who kno there is risk for achieving top results while documenting scientific logs . Fear bravery balls money bragging rights are the cocktailed pre requisites of building a world TT champion n that distinguishes a boxer from a TT champion. As a rider I'd love to visit the event to give support and take in history n culture but would I attempt to take on the track for a race to break records and achieve that unmistakable TT trophy coupled with monetary rewards? Id chose to race at Silverstone or at Downington park or even the Assen Dutch TT race track in motogp. But the isle of man TT is a different breed of riders riding there n this is why the support the medical staff the sponsors and all parties involved get on with it cuz it's a culture a lifestyle a community a communion ... the baddest n bravest racers race there the influx of ppl who travel there to spend to get that experience... it's amazing... yes there are deaths but I think this is what makes this event an unbelievable sport that should continue for years to come... Long live the TT ...
As long as riders want to race the TT, then they should be allowed to do so without the interference from the namby pamby brigade
Men having fun doing what they love...
The IOM TT is the best and the competitors enjoy it so much, I always hate those people who harp on about how it's too dangerous and should be banned, but unfortunately one rider died in the 2024 TT, but five climbers have died climbing Everest so I say ban people from mountain climbing....
I hawe 3 bikes witsh been runned on IOM 1948 to 1955. One Norton
One AJS
One Triumph.
All in After race condition.
Newer been renovated.
100% original.
Why did i hear skyrim music? 🤔
Well, it's just a shame, when the bikes get destroyed....
Who would put their hand up for this ?
Looking at TV kill more.
gud video
⭐⭐⭐⭐
nice report/video but as a rider i think this is nuts for people with a death wish...not good in my opinion...