T
T
2
0
0
7
MAY 26th
TO
JUNE 8th

From 'Motor Cycle'
June 5th 1907



I want a motor cycle
but cannot quite decide
between the rival merits of
the Fairy and the Clyde
the Singer and The Bradbury
the Matchless and F.N.
the Norton, Kerry, Rip and Rex
the BAT and Phanomen

I sometimes think an N.S.U.
would suit me to a T
but later on I feel inclined
to purchase a G.B.
Again my fancy hesitates
and covets very much
a Quadrant or a Clarendon
or a REX with metal clutch

At other times, to my idea
by far a better way
would be to get an L and C
or say, an L and K
but these selections are in turn
before the day is over
relinquished, and their places filled
by a two-speed Phelon-Moore

I wobble thus and hesitate
but can't make up my mind
I read the 'Motor Cycle' and
much good advice I find
But it doesn't seem to help me
for really - to be frank
I'VE NOT A BLESSED COPPER IN
MY POCKET OR THE BANK



So what's changed in 100 years ???


Reproduced from Nick Harriss
superb book "Motocourse History
of the TT Races"

HOTELS AND HOMESTAYS

We stayed at Kennishs Regal Hotel from 1947 to 1959.

After 1959 we began staying in a variety of sea-front hotels including the Marlborough and the Imperial until Mum and Dad were forced to give up their TT visit due to Dads job.

I began to stay at the Fairhaven in Empire Terrace, the very hotel at which my parents had stayed pre-war. I took many groups of friends there for a series of years then I met a girl back home and when we came over in 1966 we stayed at the Fairhaven. The Fairhaven changed ownership so we moved to Tom and Almas Min-y-Don. When my parents decided to return for a short run we all stayed at the Min-y-Don...

Then Mum and Dad gave up going for a second time and my wife gave me a free hand to visit the TT on my own "as long as we had a family holiday later in the year".

So I stayed at the Douglas Bay Hotel for a couple of years, then a hotel behind Hillberry. I organised another large group of friends and tried a hotel in town. Our group then began my homestay period which started with a big farm just before Ballaugh, a house in Onchan, then a big house in central Douglas, another house on Cronk-y-Voddee and now just behind Braddan.

I am still homestaying and I am forever grateful for being able to stay with a lovely family whos children I have watched growing up...

Many hotels have closed down for a variety of reasons and each year the people who stay in the remaining hotels return each year so there are few openings and vacancies. There are numerous camping sites which a re full and the homestay is growing annually...

THE BUS TOUR



Before the days when the Island was flooded with vans, cars and motorcycles there was big business involving charabancs and tour buses. These took the fans to a variety of beauty spots and each trip was a full day filled with a community spirit led by drivers who gave a very comprehensive commentary as they drove along the Manx roads with very little traffic which which to contend.

There was the Mystery Tour which preceeded the Beatles by many years and was far more magical than theirs.
With the increase of brung-over vehicles the Island can be explored without sitting in a bus all day..

Each race day we set out early with our packed lunches, the bus having picked us up at the hotel. We filled the bus which took us all to a specific chosen vantage spot and although we were stuck there all day we enjoyed the party spirit...
Our hotel (The Regal) often went to Creg-ny-Baa and Brandish and the buses filled the parking area now filled with cars and bikes.


1937

1947

1937

1947

1947
*
SITE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY BBHMG2007