Isle of Man TT Race Meeting
One of the most famous events in the world of motorbikes is the annual TT races held on the Isle of Man. The races take place over a 10 day period at the end of May and the beginning of June each year. The TT races started in the early 20th century as a relatively small scale event but have grown into a major event not only in the sporting calendar but also in the island’s tourist calendar. The event is so popular and unusual because it takes place on public roads following a circuit around the island. Spectators are free to watch at any point along the course and road sides get packed with people watching the exciting spectacle of bikes hurtling past at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Grandstand or VIP tickets are also sold for the start and finish points and some of the most popular areas along the length of the course.
Visiting the TT races is an annual pilgrimage for many devoted bikers and also attracts tourists who are only mildly interested in motorbikes. As the Isle of Man is a relatively small place, accommodation gets booked up many months or even years in advance so forward planning is essential if you want to visit the island during the events. Regular ferries run from the UK mainland and this is the easiest way of getting over to the Isle of Man, especially if you are taking a bike with you.
One of the main reasons many riders arrive on the Isle of Man for the TT races complete with their motorbike is the Mad Sunday part of the festival where members of the public are let loose on the course. There are no speed limits and no other rules. All sorts of bikes are welcome to give the course a go. If you are planning on taking part in Mad Sunday, check with your insurer to see whether or not you will be covered. Many classic bike insurance policies will not cover you for racing and given that there are many casualties every year, it is worth considering whether or not you really wish to take part. If you would prefer to spectate on Mad Sunday, the whole island takes on a party atmosphere and there are numerous special promotions for the weekend at pubs and restaurants. So if you bike is just too precious or too elderly to risk on the roads, or if your classic bike insurance will not cover your losses in the event of an accident, you can always watch the fun from the roadside with some good local food and a cold drink.