Start of Race Week

Race week started on Saturday with the running of the Superbike Race (1,000cc race bikes)  over 6 laps followed by the first of 2 sidecar races (600cc) over 3 laps. We had chosen to go to the 'Bungalow' up on Mt Snaefell where the electric train crosses the road on its ascent to the mountain peak. The day was fine but up on the mountain it was generally misty and cold. The racing got underway after a slight delay and the King of the TT Englishman John McGuiness strode to his 18th TT victory followed by Australia's Cameron Donald and Kiwi Bruce Anstey to complete a very Commonwealth rostrum.

The sidecar race was won by crowd favorite and local Manxman David Molyneaux who moved to 15 TT victories surpassing the legendary Mike Hailwood who has 14. We moved down to Sulby Glen and some warmth to watch some practice sessions before the roads were reopened and we headed home after an excellent days racing.

Rest day Sunday was Peel day where the village plays host to all sorts of good old fashioned fun fair activities as well as a bike & car concourse and stunt bike shows. This is also "Mad Sunday" where traditionally bikers dress in fancy costumes and outfits for a lap of the Mountain Course. In more recent years it has also become the day where riders try for  their own fast lap of the course sometimes with tragic results. The weather was patchy at best this year so that curtailed the fast blasts and no fatalities were recorded.

Monday the fine weather returned and we went to Ramsey Village to view. Unfortunately a road fatality on the course just before the road was due to be closed delayed the start of racing for 2 hours. Racing  got underway with the Supersport Race (600 cc race bikes) over 4 laps and we witnessed one of the best races ever staged on the mountain. When the dust had settled Kiwi Bruce Anstey had victory by 0.7 seconds over Australia's Cameron Donald with Northern Ireland's William Dunlop third. This was the second closest winning margin in the 105 year history of the TT.

The second race was for Superstock (1,000 cc road bikes) also over 4 laps. This race saw John McGuiness return to the top of the winners rostrum for his 19th TT victory followed by Northern Ireland's Michael Dunlop (William's younger brother) and fellow Northern Irishman Ryan Farquhar third. An oil spill on the last lap of the race caused a major delay to reopening our section of the road while cleanup was undertaken. We got home about 9.15p after a very long day.

Rest day Tuesday saw the return of the wet weather. We ventured out exploring the northern tip of the Island and had morning tea at the Church Hall at Bride. This is another of the quirky good old fashioned traditions of the TT. The volunteer congregation put on morning tea/lunch with home made scones, pike-lets, cakes and sandwiches with all materials donated and monies going to maintenance of their historic church. They were doing a bumper trade on this wet Tuesday.

We returned home and took a bus into Douglas to meet friends for dinner and drinks  and to take in the planned entertainment along the promenade. Unfortunately the wet weather had well and truly set in washing out a lot of the entertainment but we still enjoyed a good night.