John McGuiness and Guy Martin

     Sometimes you just get lucky.....


......and the race is flagged, which is not so lucky for the riders, but great for spectators and photographers. Normal raing service resumed after Guy had his cuppa tea.

The Central

                     Beer and Bikes


If you find yourself in Ramsey for the races, try The Central pub, Parliament Square. Get in early though as this place gets packed out. Small, but a perfect vantage point. If you like karaoke then you're in the right place. If not, then take earplugs, or try sitting out the back with a beer and just enjoy the racing view. 

And so it begins

                     Refuelling 


The sun is out, the blue skies are back, the tourists have arrived. The Isle of Man TT Grandstand  ready for action. Pit stop for the tourists to grab a beer and a bite to eat. Let's hope the good weather lasts until the races begin. Probably not, but so if you are going pack an umbrella and sun cream. You'll need both.

John McGuinness and his happiest fan

                        This guy


Photo shoot at the TT Grandstand, John McGuinness book signing. This guy, first in the queue. Possibly the happiest fan of any rider I've ever seen and photographed. John McGuinness, one the all  nicest riders, celebrities, people all round nice guy you will ever meet. The super fan, one of many waiting patiently for a snap with the motorbike race legend, and purchase his hand signed book. It's all part of the Isle of Man TT Races. As I left, I could still hear the guy laughing. Whatever part of the world he'd traveled from, he'll always be remembered as the happiest fan to me. If anyone knows who he is, pass on this post. I'd love him to have the original large file of the image.  2014 Isle of Man TT Races, TT Grandstand

Hotheads

                     It's a TT thing


I started this blog with the intention of uploading years of road race images. So far, the posts have veered towards the spectators. Well, they do have some great riding gear. Taken after a meet and greet with riders at the TT Grandstand, these bikers doing a few laps of the course. Unusual helmets, not obligatory, helmet hair unavoidable. Image 2013.

Wilma

                      Hello Duckie
 

A short introduction to Wilma the duck. She accompanies her human owner on all her biking adventures, not just TT races. Tis is one well travelled bike race duck. Expect more photos to follow of Wilma with TT riders, Policemen, spectators, her infamous owners. If you want a photo with a TT rider, take a backpack duck. No rider refuses to be seen with Wilma. She's also the ice breaker conversation starter between fans, of which the ducks owner is one of the biggest, with over 25 years continued visits.  Image 2009, Ramsey, Isle of Man.

One for Mrs N.

A nun, Superman, and Jack Sparrow walk into a pub......

             ......is either the best joke ever...........


.....Or just your average day at the TT races in Ramsey. It's Mad Sunday again. Another group dressed as an assortment of characters, having a pint  (or several), watching the tourists and locals ride a the TT course route. I'm not sure if this was the year Batman rode a motorbike closely followed by Spiderman or was it Banaman,  I but I know it's not the year of the Pink Panther riding a moped. Photo of this motley crew taken just outside the Swan Pub, Parliament Square 2011.