| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
Dave, you mean since he's not on a snowmobile? LOL Anyone flying in from the States wanting to do the TT on a shoestring, my guess would be £2000 if you're hiring something like the SV650 and bringing a tent and sleeping bag and that 2 grand should include your spending money providing you're a moderate boozer! Rocket | ||
| Davegess |
Rocket, thanks for the links. HGB is a first class operation. I rented an ST100(Pan-European) from them in 1995 and they treated us very well. They are pretty far out in the London suburbs which has it good and bad points. I ended up taking the train out to to Ruislip from Hyde Park and than riding back. Not too tough but any farther into London would have been a challange. My first trip we got off the plane, headed to Victoria Station to pick up the rental bikes and than rode to West Ealing. By the time we arrived at the B&B we were quite throughly fired. Getting picked up at the airport would be sweet but expensive. If you want to see all the races you need to take a Friday ferry from Liverpool or a very early Saturday. Liverpool is a pretty good hike form London so we spent one night in london, 1 night outside of liverpool, can't remeber the name but a very neat town and caught a very early ferry. Got a late ferry back on Friday and spent the night in the same place, that a pound back to London to spend the night and a sunday return to the states. | ||
| Paulinoz |
So far we have positive responses from Steve P Peter M Grizzly Court Vickie and me Possible, maybe, thinking about it or dreaming we have FMJ (possible 2) RT Rex Dave G Snail Rocket Bomber Total 14 If every body listed above says yes today and will antee up $250 US in the next 4 weeks we still dont have enough people to do it through the tour company. The timing is the problem if we want to travel and all be together we HAVE to book and pay 12 months out for the ferry tickets and Island Acomadation upfront. Thats approx $270 for each Bike / Rider plus Accomadation deposit. The tour operator only wants $250.00 US up front because he can book the Accom and Ferry tickets on a deposit where as we as individuals have to pay full price up front to book. Which would come to much more than $250 in May / June I can appreciate that the timing and money are issues that each one has to work out individualy, maybe instead of trying to travel and book as a group we just leave it as Team Elves will meet up at the Isle of Mann TT on June 4th 2005 through to June 11th 2005. That way individuals can book and get them selves there how and when they want and stay in Accomadation that suits there needs. EG: Taj Mahal for Court and small damp cave for Grizzly. At the end of the day we are talking about an Island that is 11 miles wide by 30 miles long it aint going to be that hard to meet up. This is just another suggestion lets here your ideas as people book or commit to going this page can be used to keep oters informed and used to pass on info on Accom, ferry, and bike hire.etc Paul edited by PaulinOz on April 05, 2004 | ||
| Rocketman |
Paul, this might sound silly but why not get the maybe's to stump up the cash anyway? Anyone thinking of going to the TT in 2005 should consider for the sake of $250 they might not be able to get there when the time is right for them to decide if they want to go. All I'm saying is it may be worth risking the $250 because you won't get another window of opportunity. Paul, not wishing to confuse the issue but those traveling with bike, or considering hiring bikes on the UK mainland, will those reservations you mention above accommodate motorcycle on the ferry? Rocket | ||
| Captpete |
Holy shit; I just found this thread. This could be the big motivator I need. Let’s see… five months to do the refit, ten months to fish my way out of debt, two more months to fish up the trip money… 17 months. No good. Four months for the refit, subtract one month’s living expenses, three months to get through the learning curve, six months to fish my way out of debt, two more months… 15 months. No good. How about this way: Will I have any credit cards with $250 left on ‘em by next month? Hell yeah! Paul, I’m in. You pick the category. | ||
| Captpete |
There was a damp cave catagory, right? | ||
| Davegess |
Maybe the best way to do this woudl be to avoid the tour guy altogether. The toughest part is booking ferry tickets for bikes, especially for a large block. Individual walk on passengers I think are easy, I could be wrong. How bout this plan, we recruit an agent who is "in country" as the CIA like to say, to reserve a block of ferry tickets. To do this they will need a bunch of deposit money. You will lose this money if you don't pay up for the full fair by the time the full fair is due. Rocket would know the details but as I remember we had to ante up about 50 bucks a year in advance and than in January we had to pay the balance. We would also need to ante up deposits for bike rentals. I suspect that a place like HGB would be willing to rent 10 or 12 bikes and might even give us a group discount. At some point we may need to guarantee these rentals with credit cards. If our "man on the ground" could arrange a group rate we could all than contact these folks independantly and plunk down the deposoit and appropiate credit card info. I don't think finding a bike to rent woudl be a real big issue. The second toughest thing is rooms. It is pretty easy to arrange these long distance and we could each take car of our own. Those traveling singly would need to team up with a partner to get the double room rate if they wanted to save money, and you would save a fair bit. Douglas is pretty small and if you stay on the Prom than meeting up would be very easy. I don't know how well US cell phones work, Rocket do you know anything about this? They would be very useful. I also know nothing about 2 way raido regulation either. Dave | ||
| Paulinoz |
"I don't know how well US cell phones work" From my experience not very well.The US use a different system to most of the rest of the world. My mobile works in Asia,Europe, Australia and Africa but wont work in the good old US. I have emailed the Island Packet steam company Re: when we can book next year, how much we have to pay at booking eg: fullfare or deposit etc will advise when I get a response. Dave I think you are on the right track, it seems to me that it will be a lot easier to book as small groups or individuals. If you only want 1 or 2 walk on tickets they are available even now for this years event, its when you want to put a larger group on the same ferry at the same time you need to book way ahead of time. Same with accomadation. This will make it easier for people to join us as money and holiday time become available (read the wife finaly says you can go). I have spent the last week and half riding over here with a guy on holiday from Douglas on the Isle of Man, I am pumping him for all the info I can get. | ||
| Rocketman |
If you're not interested in hiring a bike the easiest route would be to fly into Manchester. Manchester to Liverpool is about 35 miles. Take a train those 35 miles. It is possible to fly into London Heathrow or Gatwick and take an internal flight to Liverpool. If you are wanting to hire bikes, and I'm guessing, I suspect you will be hiring from the London area so no point in flying to Manchester. If a group is interested in traveling at very close together \ similar times and bike hire isn't a priority, you can hire a 15 seat minibus but they cost £100 a day. That's a lot of money but split 15 ways it isn't that bad. The other consideration would be if it got used everyday or so whilst in the IoM. That could mean most people if not all going the same way at the same time everyday and that in itself would be a bit of a task to keep everyone happy at the same time. I could probably buy a cheap minibus and sell it after it's TT use.  Over here we have 'pay as you go' phones. I could possibly muster up a few phones but each phone would need a 'pay as you go' package to get it working. That's not a problem. They're sold everywhere in all sorts of shops. Typically about £25 which includes the first £10 of call time. With phone and package you're ready to go in minutes. If you need my help with ANYTHING you need to instruct me. I have a busy life  Rocket | ||
| Paulinoz |
Thanks for the info Rocket , the group needs to decide which way to go and then plans can be made. | ||
| Court |
We could do "shared hire" on the bikes and have some of our Euro pals bring them. This way Dave Gess could cruise the IOM in the morning, and Court and Vickie use the bike in the afternoon. Some of us could rent a mini-van in London and make the drive. Can the bus go on the ferry? Paul, pump this guy for all the info you can. Paul, let me know if you need the deposit money now to start locking anything. Rocket, check and see if we can bring two way radios into the UK. They are 4 Watt UHF (450mHz) Dave Gess: HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Court | ||
| Davegess |
Thank you Court. In London the only way to get around is the underground. Traffic in New York or Boston is a beginnner lesson for London traffic. The only good thing about it is that people are polite and yeild to bike. Sharing bikes could be hard. The weather is so changable is hard to predict what the afternoon might bring. Could be many unhappy people. | ||
| Peter |
Dave, Happy Birthday! Riding in London is great. Find a motorcycle courier and try to stay with him. Great fun. However, if you think London is bad, try Athens.......... | ||
| Davegess |
Peter, thanks. Riding in London is cool but driving a car is not. You can walk a mile faster than the cars can move. Things may be better since they have gone to the the city car tax but I rather doubt it. If you want to see a real traffic jam try Ennis Ireland on market day. The barely two lane wide main street will have illegally parked cars and trucks reducing it to one lane, you will have lorries trying to go in each direction, and someone will march a herd of sheep right through the middle. One has trouble walking down the street. Great fun. | ||
| Bomber |
Seoul South Korea nuthin light of a deuece and a half for this boy there | ||
| Road_thing |
Think you've got bad traffic? I've got one word for ya-- BANGKOK r-t | ||
| Rocketman |
15 seat minibus will go on ferry. I'll look into the radio thing. I'm thinking you might want to inform customs first though unless you use your diplomatic immunity Court! We live in strange times. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Hey Dave, you got a bus pass yet? Happy Birthday mate  Rocket | ||
| Paulinoz |
I had enough trouble riding at the 2000 homecoming although it did improve once I switched to the right side of the road. Happy Birthday Dave. "Can the bus go on the ferry?" of course as long as you have the money and the booking. There are multiple ferrys per day and they run every day but the Thursday and Friday befor Race Saturday book out a year ahead acording to the tour operator. That is why if we go as a group it needs to be booked early. To book with the tour operator we need 15 x $250 total $3750.00 US to him in 5 weeks, maybe I am reading the thread and peoples intentions wrong but I dont see that sort of interest / commitment yet. If this is correct then plan B may well be the way to go. The tour operator prefers to camp because of the cost and campground antics but admits you are then away from the Action in Douglas after hours. As far as info on the Island and event if you follow the previously posted links that should answer most of the questions. | ||
| Rocketman |
The Isle of Man The Road Racing Capital of the World Motor racing first came to the Isle of Man in 1904 when the Gordon Bennett car trials were held. In England it was impossible to close the public roads for racing, so a proposal was put to the Isle of Man government. The government brought in new legislation to enable the closing of public roads for racing, and the Isle of Man was ready to take up the mantle of The Road Racing Capital of the World. Motorcycle road racing first came to the Isle of Man in 1907 when the first TT races where held on the Short Course. This was a triangular course with the start at St John's. The riders proceeded along the course to Ballacraine before turning left and following the current TT course through to Kirk Michael. At Douglas Road Corner in Kirk Michael, the Short Course left the current TT course and followed the coast road to Peel, before turning left again and heading back to St John's. In 1911 the racing moved to the Mountain Circuit. The Mountain Circuit is some 37.73 miles long and runs from the start in Douglas on Glencrutchery Road in a westerly direction through Braddan, Union Mills, Glen Vine and Crosby until it reaches Ballacraine. At Ballacraine the riders turn right and head north through Glen Helen, Kirk Michael, Ballaugh and Sulby to Ramsey, some 23.5 miles from the start. The riders swing south and head up the daunting Mountain climb rising from Sea level in Ramsey to some 1400ft at the highest point at Brandywell, before descending the mountain and heading back to Douglas. In 1911 the first TT's on the Mountain Circuit were held with P J Evans on a Humber winning the Junior 350cc TT at 41.45mph and O C Godfrey on an Indian the Senior 500cc TT at 47.63mph. But for breaks between 1914 and 1920 and again from 1939 to 1946 for the two wars, the TT and Manx Grand Prix races, which started in 1923, have been held each year in June and September on the Mountain Circuit. In 1949 the Motorcycle World Championships started, and the TT was one of the Grand Prix events that year, indeed the Mountain Circuit hosted the British Grand Prix until 1976. In 1977, the British Grand Prix moved to Silverstone. Another circuit was used for TT races in the 1950's. This was known as the Clypse Course and was 10.75 miles long. In 1954 it was used for the 125cc race, and the reintroduced Sidecar TT which had not been held since 1925. The Lightweight 250cc race also moved to the Clypse Course in 1955, and the course was used for these races until 1959. During this period the rest of the TT program remained on the Mountain Circuit. In 1960 all the races races moved back to the Mountain Circuit where they have remained ever since. 1957 saw the first ever 100mph lap recorded around the TT circuit by Bob McIntyre in the Silver Jubilee Senior on a 500cc Gilera. The first sub 20 minute lap was recorded by American Pat Hennen in the 1978 Senior TT on a 500cc Suzuki. In 1992 the lap record was raised to 123.61mph - 18 minutes 18.8 seconds, by World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty on a 750cc Yamaha during his epic battle with the Rotary Norton of Steve Hislop. The record stood until 1999 when Jim Moodie on an RC45 Honda lapped in 18 minutes 11.4 seconds, 124.45mph from a standing start. During the 2000 TT meeting, David Jefferies became the first rider to lap at over 125mph when on the final lap of the Senior TT he lapped in 18 minutes 0.6 seconds, 125.69mph. In 2002, David Jefferies became the first rider to lap the TT Circuit in under 18 minutes and established a new outright lap record of 17 minutes 47 seconds, 127.29mph. Joey Dunlop is the most successfull rider ever in the history of the TT races with 26 wins between 1977 and 2000. | ||
| Blake |
Is there an Isle of Woman? | ||
| Rex |
are we going to have a team elves photo in front of the ace cafe? REX | ||
| Paulinoz |
From one of the larger London rental outfits Bike Weekly Rate Weekend Rate Daily Rate Minimum age in Pounds Sterling Honda Blackbird 345 245 80 25* Yamaha YZF R1 395 295 90 25* Kawasaki ZX10R 395 295 90 25* Honda SP1 395 295 90 25* Suzuki GSXR 1000 395 295 90 25* Suzuki SV 1000S 345 245 80 25* Yamaha Fazer 1000 345 245 80 25* Yamaha Diversion 900 295 195 60 25 Honda CBR 900 345 245 80 25* Honda VFR 800S 345 245 80 25 Suzuki SV 650S 245 175 50 21 Suzuki SV 650 245 175 50 21 Suzuki GSF600S Bandit 245 175 50 21 Kawasaki ZX6R 295 195 60 25 Honda CBR 600 295 195 60 25 Yamaha YZF R6 295 196 60 25* Yamaha Fazer 600 245 175 50 21 Suzuki GSXR600 295 195 60 25 Yamaha XV535 Virago 245 175 50 21 Honda Deauville 245 175 50 21 Honda CB500 195 145 45 21 Kawasaki ER500 195 145 45 21 Honda XR125L 125 69 35 18 Suzuki GN125 125 69 35 18 Peugeot Vivacity 99 59 29 18 Peugeot Speedfight 99 59 29 18 * For these bikes, ages 25-30 are subject to £50 supplemental charge per hire. Daily rate is from mid week only or add on to weekly hire. Weekly rate is seven days over one weekend. Weekend rate runs from 10am Friday till 4pm Monday. European Riding is permitted with additional AA Five Star Cover, and Green Card Insurance, both available through us on Diversion 900 and Deauville 650. We do not allow chain drive models abroad. Clothing Rental: Gloves, helmets, oversuits, throwover panniers, tank bags, rucksacks, leather jackets and jeans, including Kevlar clothing, boots – at £2 per day per item. Don’t forget we are authorised stockists of Shoei, Roof, and Bieffe helmets! To make a booking call us with your credit card details and the bike you wish to hire. We will reserve the bike and you will be charged when you collect the bike. A deposit is not required when using your own credit card. Cash Transactions require a deposit from £450. When collecting your bike we need to see your driving license and two proofs of ID. E.g. council tax form, bank statement etc. Any driving convictions must be acceptable to our insurers, so please tell us of any convictions before reservation. Our experienced motorcycle riding staff will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. East Central Branch Tel/Fax: 020 7237 6494 Email: info@raceways.net 201/201 Lower Road Rotherhithe. SE16 2LW Nearest Underground: Surrey Quays (East London Line) or Canada Water (Jubilee Line) West Central Branch Tel/Fax: 020 8749 8181 17 The Vale, Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, W3 7SH Nearest Underground: Shepherds Bush (Central or Hammersmith & City Line) All prices inc VAT, insurance, AA Roadside Assistance/Relay and unlimited mileage. All bikes come with substantial locks. Many are fitted with anti-theft alarms and data tags. | ||
| Davegess |
To book with the tour operator we need 15 x $250 total $3750.00 US to him in 5 weeks, maybe I am reading the thread and peoples intentions wrong but I dont see that sort of interest / commitment yet. If this is correct then plan B may well be the way to go. Paul, my beleif is we could self book the ferry with a smaller deposit. If the group wants to self book the whole trip perhaps this is the way to go. Less money out of pocket now MIGHT encourage more folks to reserve. We still need to book very soon. The ferry sells out fast. Many people get off the boat and book next years trip before heading off the dock. Rockey do you know what the deposit is to reserve next years ferry? Do you know when the reservations open up? I will put together a possible trip plan (I can't spell that itin.. owrd) with some cost and we will see what people think. Dave | ||
| Davegess |
Here is a rough idea of a very doable schedule. it gets you there for all the races but it does hold you up at the end becaseu bike reutrns won't happen on a sunday. When I did it we skipped the last race, the Senior which is pretty much a repeat of the first race, and had seen so much racing at that point we were not too disappointed. I will out line this option at the end. Leave US or wherever Wednesday June 2 to arrive in London June 3. Train to your overnight destination (if only 6-8 people are going this won't be too bad. There are not too expensive hotels that would work.) and than off to the bike rental spot. Fun part is next, riding back to hotel jet lagged. Up early the next morning and of to Liverpool for a late afternoon boat. Arrive late Friday IOM. Saturday go racing. If we can get a decent ferry booking on the last friday we could see the race and take a late boat to liverpool, staying somewhere not too far from liverpool and than get up very very early to arrive before the rental joints close at noon on Saturday, many of them do. Than it is Sunday back on the plane. Two options, book an early boat on Friday so the trip back to london is not a mad dash. We did this and since it was 50 and raining the whole way I am glad we could stop for coffee several times. Or return bikes Monday and try to get a flight late monday, which I think is tough to the states, or fly tuesday. | ||
| Paulinoz |
http://www.steam-packet.com/SeaCat/BookOnline/default.aspx The above link is booking for I of Man Ferry I f I read it correct you can book on line and only pay 10% deposit with the rest due 6 weeks befor sailing. Deposits are non refundable. So if you book yourself a ferry ticket and then cant go you would only lose the deposit. I went through booking a Bike and pasenger for Dec 2004 currently can not book in 2005 and it came to 285.00 Pounds sterling so = $524.00 US dollars hence a deposit for ferry of $52.40 US required at booking time 4. Reservations Tickets can only be issued against payment in full. Telephone bookings for standard fare bookings (excluding special offers) are held on seven-day option and all bookings can only be confirmed by remittance of full fare or a 10% deposit of full fare for each vehicle and passenger(s). Deposits are non refundable. Balance of fare is payable at least 6 weeks before departure. Where the total value of a booking is less than £25 / Euro 40, the full fare is payable immediately and deposits cannot be accepted. Tickets include all port charges. Whilst reservations may be made for specific crossings, the Operating Company does not necessarily undertake to carry passengers on the crossings for which the reservation was made. Passengers are advised that, once issued, the tickets are not interchangeable with services provided by another Carrier. Tickets will be accepted for the date and service for which reservations have been made. When tickets are issued on an 'open' basis, reservations, will be made on application subject to availability of space. | ||
| Rocketman |
Rockey do you know what the deposit is to reserve next years ferry? Do you know when the reservations open up? I'll call Steam Packet tomoz, find out. Incidentally, I could possibly haul a few bikes to and from anywhere in the UK. If anyone hiring bikes would be better off returning them on a Sunday, I could take care of that providing the paperwork etc was sorted up front. If anyone would prefer the use of a nice Saab, I'm sure I could come up with several. Rocket | ||
| Paulinoz |
Message board for TT Acomodation worth a look at to what is still available for this year and people already asking for rental in 2005 http://www.iomtt.com/idealbb/forum.asp?CatID=2&forumID=2 | ||
| Davegess |
Those of you thinking about doing this trip listen up. Changes are afoot at the TT. DJ tragic death last year has caused a major change to the TT this year. The two feature events have been shortened to 4 laps for 6 and early morning practices have ended. What does this mean? In my not so humble and rather uninformed opinion it is another step toward emasculating the TT. Sooner or later these will result in the race fading away. I strongly recommend you do not put off a trip thinking you will do it someday. Someday there will be no TT. | ||
| Rocketman |
Dave I should have posted that info myself sometime ago. That though is not the real bearing on the 2005 TT as there may well be more change by then. This will not be a bad thing nor will it summon the beginning of the end of the TT, more it will make it good. I don't have the details to hand. There was some stuff in MCN weeks ago (I'll dig it out) wrt most manufacturers putting pressure on the IoM Tourist Board to change the racing to represent the more popular bikes sold. For example, the 400cc racing doesn't really represent any class of bike sold today but it did so when two stroke 350's and 400's were all the rage. The Japanese manufacturers want this to change. I'll keep you posted if I learn more. Rocket |
