fitzjnr Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Guys here's the secret the government don't tell you. They don't put guns to people's heads and make them compete. The riders know the risks and know the possibility they could die. As long as people still want to compete there will be a TT and rightly so. It is a great event and brings the Island to life for a couple of weeks. Quite true that. I was a passenger for number of years and did the TT several times and loved every minute of it. Each to their own. Bill and Kev were vastly experienced guys on immaculately turned out machinary who left nothing to chance. Despite the fact that he may (I did not know this) only have vision in one eye, this clearly did not hamper his ability as a driver. You don't lap the TT course at anything over 100mph average by accident. We all have to go through a medical to obtaine a licence and yes they do fail you too, I was failed for medical reasons in 1997 but was back in 1999 fully fit. There could be a number of reasons for the accident, oil (other bikes went through the same spot though although not many before it was flagged off), mechanical failure, driver error or my old drivers fave 'passenger error' but all of these are pure speculation and should be left to the authorities to investigate. One thing that is for sure is that the sidecar paddock will be a sadder place without Bill and Kevin make no mistake about it. Sidecars have lost a family member and I would ask people that want to make un-necessary comments to think about the family and friends of Bill and Kevin who may read these forums just like I have. To put this into perspective, I am currently watching a good friend of mine die of cancer and he is in pain a lot of the time and it looks like little can be done for him other than trying to manage his pain. Give me the choice of that or the risks involved with the TT, I know which I would be picking. One thing I hope that given time, Bill and Kevins family will take great comfort from is the amount of time they raced, the successes they achieved and the countless smiles I know it gave them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManxTaxPayer Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 I don't buy it as an argument myself. The Manx government are not big on allowing people to do what they like. Look at their stance on recreational drug use, or drink driving. It's a very weak argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thommo2010 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 (edited) I don't buy it as an argument myself. The Manx government are not big on allowing people to do what they like. Look at their stance on recreational drug use, or drink driving. It's a very weak argument. Dealing or being in possession of drugs and drink driving is illegal. Racing a motorbike on a closed road of your own free will is not. That's the difference Edited June 1, 2011 by thommo2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 (edited) How many more lives must be destroyed before this lunatic carnage is banned? There are times when people must be protected from themselves, and their families protected from them. Individuals are NOT solely responsible for themselves alone. Society has to pick up the pieces when their stupidity results in tragedy let alone pick up the costs. All things come to an end. Once duelling was legal, once bare knuckle boxing was legal, once taking cocaine or opium was legal but in each case society moved on and banned such things. We should put an end to facilitating the carnage that takes place on our roads as a result of these silly outdated motorcycle races on public roads, events that are much more about making money and pandering to the idiot fringe than behaving as a responsible society. It's long past time this stupidity was ended. Interesting, spook. Especially when just a few months ago you were all in favour of the island cashing in on road racing, deaths 'n' all. So why not make use of what we have in the other 48 weeks and get more revenue from a much underused resource? If people get killed and injured its not as if its going to be something they don’t know is a thing that could happen, if we don’t make a similar facility available someone else will somewhere else so better us than them. If theres a few quid to be had lets have it after all its not as if anyones making the riders ride. Weekend Track days, leasing out the course, additional racing, maybe even something radical like bad weather racing in Januray or Februery Why not? We need the cash and no ones making anybody do what they don’t want to. Cash injection for our economy, work for people on the Island, business oppertunities, good all round. So the cost of supporting someone badly hurt would be high but lets face it, itll more than likely be someone from off the Island so its not a cost we would have to pay. Life isnt and cant be perfect. We cant make it perfect, if people want to do a thing that doesnt hurt us then why should we try to stop them specially when we can make a bit of cash in to the bargain? I bet you don't really believe in God. But fair play, you're a very good troll. Edited June 1, 2011 by Mr. Sausages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManxTaxPayer Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Dealing or being in possession of drugs and drink driving is illegal. Racing a motorbike on a closed road of your own free will is not. That's the difference When did the two things mentioned become offences then? I would hazard a guess it was well within the lifetime of Manx road racing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManxTaxPayer Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 But fair play, you're a very good troll. Not that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Login Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 But for me their deaths say something about the organization of the TT which needs to be raised. These men were racing publically, they knew what they were doing, their family knew what they are doing, and so I do not think it is wrong of me to talk about the organization which allowed them to race. No doubt the heart was totally there for these two old men to race, but how could the body have been able? Is the TT a professional event with rigourous standards who only allows the most talented individuals to place themselves in deadly risk on the world's most dangerous racing track? Or does it basically run an amateur all-comers-welcome, the-more-the-merrier event where it has no responsibility to allowing people well beyond the age where reactions and strength have declined to race? If the entry requirements are such that a 67 year old and a 59 year old can pass them to race then that for me says they are not sufficiently rigourous to ensure only the most able are able to take on the most challenging. I thought I posted something similar tis mornig but cannot find. In the mind of the general public I would expect that they view motor sport as being a young persons game where you need fast reactions and to be physically fit. Especially for an event that sees itelf as being at the pinacle of motor bike racing. OK age may not be a barrier to that but we are all aware the TT has critics, I am one. Also there are plenty who are indifferent. If the TT is to survive it needs to present a certain image to the general public. I am not sure that having pensioners participate, especially if partially sighted as suggested, does much to convey that the TT is an elite sport only for the very best rather that just a an event where the criteria to partake is being "mad" enough not good enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I bet you don't really believe in God. But fair play, you're a very good troll. he might be making a modest proposal aka irish baby farming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManxTaxPayer Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 If the TT is to survive it needs to present a certain image to the general public. I am not sure that having pensioners participate, especially if partially sighted as suggested, does much to convey that the TT is an elite sport only for the very best rather that just a an event where the criteria to partake is being "mad" enough not good enough That's a bit unfair I think, this driver and passenger were clearly up to the job and could fairly be described as among the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 But fair play, you're a very good troll. Not that good. Perhaps dedicated is a better adjective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTF Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 i haven't read the previous pages, but just how old are you allowed to be and still be allowed to race?? an 83 year old winner down south on monday ( good for him ), and the tragic event of this thread title. i seem to recall years ago people were being a bit shy with their ages because it would affect their racing! was this to protect racing elsewhere, or for the TT?? has the age limit ( assuming there was one ) been done away with? i'm not saying age had anything to do with the incident, but it raises the question how old is too old?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 (edited) From what i've read both the competitors had more years on the TT circuit than anyone else, They were/among the best and it is a tragic accident. How can you question a rider(s) ability after they've died, very shallow isn't it?, You have to pass medicals and compete among all the other racers, If anyone had any concerns about a riders ability surely it'd be the people riding with them? Edited June 1, 2011 by Nitro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 How can you question a rider(s) ability after they've died When you put it like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebees Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Perhaps we should let the elderly have dignity and not put them out to grass as soon as they 'cannot work the fax machine'. Thommo, you are such a policeman "but It's against the law, mew mew mew mew mew" so are many other things, when are you lot going to catch some of these assholes driving & talking on their phones? I hear Jurby only has 3 spaces left...if people didn't want drugs, people wouldn't bring them here now, would they? You wouldn't have the kids playing russian roulette with 'legal high' junk but, hating on drugs wins the popular vote.....One day something will get sorted out but I doubt I will be alive (hahahaha probably died in a lane with a needle in me arm.....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 How can you question a rider(s) ability after they've died When you put it like that... Ah come on!, These guys were racing among the best, I can't see how anyone on here can possibly judge a racer(s) ability merely on age, If they weren't capable they would never have been allowed to race!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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