The need for speed

"The reason I do it is because if you do it wrong, it will kill you.

If you think it's too dangerous then go home and cut your lawn and leave us to it."

Guy Martin.

Guy Martin fireball 2010

The Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) practice week has started, with the first race being held on Saturday 2nd June.

It is a race like no other, run on closed public roads and first held in 1907 at a time when road racing was banned on the mainland and the speed limit was 20 mph.  Average speeds are now over 130 mph, with some riders topping 200 mph. Members of the public can ride the mountain section of the course on 'Mad Sunday'.

My 1977 copy of The Oxford Companion to Sports and Games reveals that:

'The Snaefell Mountain Course over which the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races are run starts at the town of Douglas on the south-east coast, taking on a wide sweep to the west and north to enter the town of  Ramsey on the north-east coast and thence return to the starting point, each lap measuring 37 3/4 miles (60.6 km) and taking in over 200 bends while climbing from sea level to an altitude of over 1,300 ft (396 m). This circuit is the epitome of the natural road course, all the roads used being ordinary public highways closed for the racing and practice sessions. It is generally accepted as the most arduous and demanding (of motor-racing circuits).'

John McGuiness holds the lap record of 17 minutes, 12.30 seconds and also the race record (6 laps) in 1 hours 46 minutes and 7.16 seconds. His average speeds for these records are 131 and 127 mph.

 

From Monday 28th May you can watch the action from the comfort, and safety of your sofa, on ITV4.