Isle of Man 2003

I heard about it last year in Emmen and I couldn't believe it was real. Could I miss it? Apart from a basic trial rally last year in September, it was almost 30 years they hadn't organized a rally on the Isle of Man. As most of you will know, in the Sixties the "Isle of Man Scooter Week" took part in the Isle. A whole week of sporting and social events and above all great fun. My interest in scooter racing is born owing to a video showing Isle of Man races; could I miss the event? Everything is ready for the trip, unluckily there's not enough time to do the trip by scooter, so on Monday 28th I'm leaving together with Dean (Rimini Lambretta Centre) and Vespa mate Top Thomas in Dean's van for the trip of a lifetime. We have a huge calendar of appointments in the UK, there are lots of mates and things to see, and I still can't wait to ride my scooter on the well known roads which were the scene for lots of sporting 'battles' and laughs, hoping there will be a lot to tell you about! I'm armed with a lot of film, so watch out this space for a huge report from over there. See you all there!

 

Here we are again, we really had a great time, I 've seen places I had only seen on old videos or pictures, but I recognized them all. Only shame about the weather, wet and windy, but in the end who could care about it? Our trip started from Manchester were we were hosted by arr kid Eddie Yates (you see his pride and joy grandson Connor in the pics) with the Lyons crew early in the morning on Friday 2 May; we had to reach Liverpool for the 10.30 am ferry. It was raining and Thomas on his highly tuned smallframe Vespa had some flooding troubles running in the wet at 35 mph/h, often stopping for the many stop lights. Anyway we get there and meet a lot of other scooterists waiting for the crossing. We cross the fortunately quiet North Sea and arrive in the Isle were we have booked for a B&B scared of the bad weather that reveals to be so for all the weekend. Lots of scooters in the Isle, they tell me 1,100 people are attending the rally.

   

We then reach the grandstand, were the TT course starts, the place that hosts the headquarter of the rally. Many people there, we get our souvenir pack and spend a few owrds about the trip with Moy of the L.C.G.B. committee, see you in Italy soon mate. I had some rendez-vous with people and this is were I know in person Graham Bird, whom 60s A.F. SX 200 mine is inspired and who has helped putting this site together with a lot of stuff. Some very nice scooters there as well, among these a genuine white and red Arthur Francis SX 200 S type, still belonging to its original owner who told me used to race the bike in the late 60s, then left it abandoned in the shed for at least 20 years and recently restored the bike to its former glory.

   

Saturday a ride around the TT course track were the Manx 400 took place in the 60s was scheduled. It was probably the most attended event, and the start of the ride was quite impressive all this people in front of the grandstand with this smell of two stroke smoke was really exciting. We rode at good speed till Peel for, where a stop for the ridden custom show was held. We went for a coffe and came back a little late, then casuality decided to give me a very big gift: we left when most of the queue had already left. We were 4 of us and we were leaded by a tuned Gilera 180cc auto, a Piaggio X9 500 and another Lambretta series II. There were some road works and a red stop light, then we stopped. I recognised under the helmets Norrie Kerr riding the Gilera, John Ronalds the Piaggio and Chuck Swonnell riding the Lambretta. I went to introduce myself to Norrie saying I had come from Italy for this special event. Shake of hand, the light turns green and after a few miles, Norrie in the lead turns right showing me to follow him. At a small road he stops and says "Now you're having something special", twist the grip and starts. I immediately follow him and John Ronalds behind me, then the others. I immediately suspected what was going on, after seing some old videos of the 60s IoM, but to stay with them I often had to ride my Lambretta flat out, jumping sometimes on the bubbled surface,though I couldn't care less of my Lambretta in that moment. After a bend I recognize no doubt the Druidale water splash, even if not much water was on the road, but passing through lots of old pictures I had only seen till that moment, came to my mind.At the end of the road us 3 stop and the others arrive 5 minutes later. John having a quick look at the clock on his bike says "It took us 10 mins to get there; we use to take 6 mins when racing"  then explains me tips and Norrie as well, John says he likes my Lambretta and notice the 63 IoM sticker on the front mudguard saying it was his first year on the Isle. And then we ride together through a part of where the night trial took part. They are amazed by my knowledge and enthusiasm for 60s racing. What can I say? It was such a feeling! I recon this was a very hard trial of the 60s race, and riding it in 6 minutes was absolutely unbelievable. Ann Weir, a female 60s racer also present for the event, told me her best time in the Druidale was 6'20" and she can well remember going through the water splash at 60 mph/h holding hard the steering, and coming out of it at 35 for the impact with the water! Absolutely amazing!

     

On the evening do at the 'Venue' some of the people who did the history of L.C.G.B. were introduced: Rex White, Bob Wilkinson, John Ronalds among the others. The evening saw Edwin Starr band playing for a enthusiast crowd and before the beginning of the concert a minute of silence was the tribute to one of the greatest Soul singers ever. While going to the 'Venue' I've even seen someone undoubtely arriving in that moment to attend the rally; reasons to attend the rally were even strongest than ferries and any other problem!

   

Sunday saw a sprint session in Jurby airfield, it was cloudy and really windy, not the best condition for sprinting, anyway I saw Norrie Kerr again and spent some good time chatting with him, I've to say he's really a top bloke.

   

A lot of people left the Isle with Monday morning ferry, while we came back with the evening one. It was really worth it, because we could finally see the Isle in the Sun, though the wind still was a pain, and had a look again around the TT track going to Jurby again to look at some track races. I'd never seen live races before and have to say I enjoyed it very much, expecially class four where some very good riders on full bodied Lambrettas let us see how to ride knee down. We also took some shots on the most important parts of the 60s scooter week, and spent our last day in the Isle enjoying it all. I left the Isle with a feeling I had had everything I was looking for, what ask for more, last I would like to thank everyone who's helped us during our trip in the UK, John Willis of Scooter in Style in Southend, Jim McCabe for his hospitality and the unforgettable night time ride around London at high speed, Ian of Taffspeed for allowing us in the back of the shop (lots of pictures soon), Eddie Yates and all the Manchester crew for the hospitality and support.