| Author | Message | ||
     Pwnzor |
To elaborate on what I said previously... specifically the part about riding motorbikes as a kid... I used to ride like a crazy person all over southern California. No helmet. Fingerless gloves, tennis shoes... and yes, even in shorts. I had long hair, smoked a lot of... well, lots of stuff. Drank, too. And then rode around. Like a crazy person. Those were some of the best times of my life. Time was, you could just hop on a bike and ride... no thought or consideration toward safety or even whether you would see the sun come up ever again. It was true freedom. I'll never have it quite like that again. Do I desire to have it exactly like that? No, but watching a motorcycle race in the streets is very alluring to me. I think about it quite a bit, but I don't actually go trying to find it on the TV. I catch the highlights on Youtube. That is all. | ||
| Davegess |
"ever avoid mentioning the ongoing tragedy" Thats why EVERY serious accident is posted immediately on the news stream from the TT office. Right on the front of their web page. I think the TT is going to fade away as the Isle of Man continues to be a high tech and banking haven. New people are moving there to partake in the growing on-gambling and security industry that has take root there and many, if not most do not care a fig about the TT. It is a major inconvenience to island residents. As these folks grow as a percentage of the population it will become harder to make the event happen. Blake argue that the Island makes a bunch of money off the event but this is simply not true. They have been trying to increase the income from the event partially as a way to keep the cries of protest over the danger and the disruption (this causes far more controversy in the IOM) down to a level that is manageable in a democracy. As the old timers die off, a big part of the attraction for residents is nostalgia for the old days when tourism was a big industry. The long time residents LOVE the event despite having known many who have died doing it. It is part of what defines the IOM for them and they want it to continue. If it needs to be a flashy big time event to survive than that will be what they will do. Despite what Blake has said in the past this is not a major source of revenue for the country. They have been talking about that a lot lately as well as how this high profile event benefits the image of the country but that is for the benefit of those well heeled newcomers in IT and banking. Tourism overall is less than 25 of the GDP. The TT MIGHT represent 25% of that but I doubt it. Sure tens of thousands come over but a lot of them camp and cook their own food. They are bikers after all. The vintage car guys who come for rallies drop many times more per person than the bikers. Same goes for the Steam railway folks and the gamblers and others. BTW the event if free, no tickets needed. I cannot emphasis enough, having attended twice and spending a lot of time talking with locals both while there and in the years since, the TT is not being run because it makes money for the locals. Certainly a few do want it to continue because t makes them money but for most they want it to continue because they LOVE it. The locals embrace this thing like nothing I have ever seen. Regular life on the island is impossible for two weeks. All the major roads are closed for hours and sometime most of a day. Getting around Douglas on a race day requires time and patience. A ten minute trip can take two hours. Thousands can't get a car in or out of their driveway for most of a day, can't even walk down the street in front of their house, they have to cut across the neighbors. Hundreds can't leave their house except by walking across a field. on a practice don't be late getting home, the road to your house will be closed and you will be hiking. Almost all of these people do not make any money form this even BUT they still support it. | ||
| Trojan |
If they were honest, I doubt they'd have the commercial support that is growing for the event. They are honest. Nobody tries to hide the unfortunate accidents and deaths at the IOM and as Dave said they even post notices of accidents and tragic deaths on their web page. The fact is that the TT is a unique sporting event and people will continue to want to race there for as long as the organisers want to continue running it. 3 killed this year, all of whom were regular TT racers and were certainly not blind to the risks or complete novices that didn't know what they were doing. They all know the dangers they face when they line up at the start and it is one of the reasons they continue to do it year after year. | ||
| Bambi |
They all know the dangers they face when they line up at the start and it is one of the reasons they continue to do it year after year. And if you don't believe it, go to Guy Martin's website. He states it right there that is EXACTLY why he does it. | ||
| Davegess |
Good piece in this months Cycle World on Guy Martin. Mentions a current racer who has in the past only purchased a one way ticket to the TT races! | ||
| Blake |
Dave, The majority of the IOM TT web site, especially the home page is dedicated to commercial promotion and advertisements. Page header is labeled: "IOM TT Presented by Monster Energy" Top of page links include:
Also prominently displayed on the page we find large graphics with advertising and hyperlinks such as:... ShoppingOfficial TT Clothing There is no mention whatsoever of any competitor casualties, let alone fatalities. They may flash such news items as they happen as you claim, but they obviously don't stay on the page for long. Try and find any significant mention on the site of the massive casualty rate of the event. I can't. Most outrageously, to top it off they are exploiting young children, IOM school children, to promote the race. The greed heads promoting the event have co-opted IOM school children to help promote the event. Out of sixteen video presentations by 5th and 6th graders of the island, only two touch lightly on the event's massive toll of human casualties, one from the 1927 event, and later a mention of a cemetery across from the grandstands. The more I see and learn about the current state of the event's commercialization, the more sickening it gets.
How cool is that! A competitor doesn't plan on living through the race. Hey! Let's make that into some kind of heroic behavior and get school children to talk about it to promote the event. Yeah, that's the kind of attitude we want to promote for our children! Really Dave?  Four dead per year, three dead in the TT already this year, only halfway through, so it's looking to be another really bad year. It just isn't the type of event that should be supported for profit, commercialized, or promoted by government. I've written all the sponsors to let them know that their sponsorship reflects very poorly upon them, and that from now on I'll be avoiding purchasing any of their products and urging others to do likewise as long as they remain a sponsor of the event. (Message edited by blake on June 08, 2011) | ||
| Blake |
In retrospect, the bloodsport characterization may be off base. "Daredevil death sport" is probably a better one. I don't car for bull riding much either, but in the entire pro-rodeo circuit, I don't think we see four dead per year on average. I liken that more to regular motorcycle racing on closed courses. It is a dangerous sport, but those running it work hard to minimize the risk of fatality. Some bull riders choose to not wear protective gear to protect their face and head. Dumb, really, really dumb. It should be mandatory. | ||
| Blake |
Brumbear, >>> What I like about the TT is it's a pure race... Huh? It's not even a heads-up race, please explain what constitutes a "pure race"?  >>> ...we all ride so I don't have to tell you the elation one feels racing I'm not following your point. Riding and racing can be two very different activities. Most don't ride with competition in mind. >>> ...and the streets to boot it's like a kid in the candy store to me and many others. By "it's" I assume you mean watching the IOM TT. If so, then I'd say that it's more like watching kids in a candy store where some of the candy is deadly poison. You wanna race, hey go race! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
 Yeah we get it, Blake. You don't approve of the IOM. WHoopity doo. Should we call you a troll because you simply won't leave the issue alone after stating your OPINION? Badweb protocol labels people trolls in similar circumstances--or at least when they are repeatedly critical of anything Buell. | ||
| Davegess |
Blake, the NEWS feed, the one that lists the results is where all racing fatalities are mentioned pretty much as they happen. Do you want a DEATH button on the page somewhere? Also your who greed thing is incredibly offensive and insulting to some very good people. I'm done arguing about it. I will continue to post about the TT, I think it is a cool event. | ||
| Reindog |
Fresno, Instead of popping a blood blister when posters add to the argument that IOMTT IS NOT a good idea, why don't you be productive and argue why IOMTT IS a good idea. A troll tries to shut an argument down. Blake's postings hardly qualify for trollhood. Your reactionary statements on the other hand..... Gess gave a pretty convincing argument for IOMTT. Be like Gess and add, not subtract. You are just plain silly, dude, and sit on the cusp of losing your audience. Be GessLike or at least GessLite. | ||
| Slaughter |
Obesity and laziness causes MILLIONS of lingering, debilitating illnesses and deaths. Purveyors of food, TVs with remote controls are only in it for the money. I will no longer support people who sell food when the FACT IS that of all the obese people on the planet, they ALL EAT FOOD! ... ...oh, wait a minute... | ||
| Danger_dave |
Yeah! The world needs more mandatory. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Don't you guys say "compulsory"? | ||
| Slaughter |
Depends on whether you are being MANDATED or COMPELLED | ||
| Reindog |
Slaughter likes to be MAN-DATED.  | ||
| Mtjm2 |
Just saw the TT for the first time . WOW !!! , dont understand the negative . Dont understand the nanny state either . Grown men doing what they love , in a place that allows it . Whats the problem ? Saw guys jump off a building in flying suits for a movie . Wish they could have a TT here , theres plenty of places to do it . Peace my Brothers | ||
| Pammy |
Blake, are you confusing IOM with "Running Man"? Now rodeo's, bull fight's and the like. Some participants in these sports are certainly not willing.... By the way...I tried out my new kayak last night in 2 to 3 foot seas with 15 knot winds...exhilarating. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Slaughter likes to be MAN-DATED. Blake, are you confusing IOM with "Running Man"? These two posts made me LOL. the running man movie is great. | ||
| Greg_e |
Could we compare with the annual "Running of the Bulls"? Another "sport" where people are guaranteed to be injured, and the animals can also be injured. | ||
| Slaughter |
One buddy of mine, when our respective wimmen-folk are out of town - we'll do a ManDate. Dirtbikes or watchin DVR of races. Mandate - yessiree | ||
| Blake |
Mtjm2, >>> Just saw the TT for the first time . WOW !!! , dont understand the negative . Dont understand the nanny state either . Grown men doing what they love , in a place that allows it . Whats the problem ? Mostly people who don't read the actual objections concerning the event. Dave, I don't intend to offend. Not "a death button", but a nice memorial page prominently linked on the home page would be nice. It should show the full listing of racing related fatalities and permanently paralyzed/crippled, the year, the class, how many prior races there, and where the accident occurred. I'm not opposed to others posting about the TT. I just don't care to support it in any way. Greg E, >>> Could we compare with the annual "Running of the Bulls"? Another "sport" where people are guaranteed to be injured, and the animals can also be injured. Good idea. Do they even have their own home page? How many corporate sponsors? Major television broadcasting contract? Is the Pamplona gov't aggressively trying to expand the event and make it a worldwide series? Do they license merchandise? Does a (human) participant die every year? I think the answers are no, none, no, no, no, and no. "Running Man"? Oh. Yeah; it was "Running Man". Never mind.  | ||
| Slaughter |
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| Fresnobuell |
Instead of popping a blood blister when posters add to the argument that IOMTT IS NOT a good idea, why don't you be productive and argue why IOMTT IS a good idea. A troll tries to shut an argument down. Blake's postings hardly qualify for trollhood. Your reactionary statements on the other hand..... Your definition of troll is way off base. I could reiterate my case for liking the IOM, but then again it's been posted over and over by others. You guys don't like the race. Great. Go start the anti-IOM thread and leave this one for the people who like the freedom of choice. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Davegess - you struck a nerve with your post of 6 June about the change in demographics potentially being the loss of the IOM - in that the 'newcomers' may not be willing to be inconvenienced. Case in Point: Park City, Utah - traditionally a wide-open mining town up until the late 70's. Like a lot of US mining towns turned ski destinations, the locals have slowly been pushed out by the riche - property values go up and the old-timers can no longer afford to live in their home town. In 1999 the City, after several years of trying to set it up, put on a Motorcycle Week which included closing off City streets for a series of races, mostly for vintage bikes. The old-time locals LOVED it - minimal prep, hay bales mostly. I still remember hearing the howl of Nortons, Triumphs and some crazy cat with a 1943 straight piped BMW, way before they came into view - an excellent way to spend the weekend. It lasted one year - too many complaints from the new money about being inconvenienced for a few hours each day. Bummer - I think it got moved to Telluride (?) | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>we'll do a ManDate.<< Ghey. | ||
| Gregtonn |
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."_Albert Einstein | ||
| Trojan |
Mostly people who don't read the actual objections concerning the event. Do you honestly think that competitors in the TT don't know what the objections are? They are the people who stand to suffer from a crash and know first hand what the circuit can do if you get it wrong! Some such as the Dunlop brothers have had family and friends killed there, while others have had huge accidents (Guy Martin, Conor Cummins) but still return year after year to try and win an elusive TT. The TT has been around since before we were born and it will be there long after we are gone I hope! Most of the objectors are people that do not undertsand the event and have never set foot in the isle of Man, so are just background noise to the competitors and organisers. if the general population of the Island didn't like the event it would have been stopped many many years ago. The TT used to be a world championship event for GP racing until the mid 1970's, but was withdrawn from theGP calendar because some riders didn't want to race there (which is fair enough). However since then it has flourished and is now a much larger event than it ever was, despite being a non championship event. Nicky Hayden was there yesterday doing a 'parade' lap with Mick Doohan, Cal Crutchlow, Ian Hutchinson (with leg in plaster!) and Josh Brookes. Ask Nicky what he thinks of the event | ||
| Pammy |
I want to make it clear that I was not bashing Blake for his opinion at all. He has his mindset and sticks to his beliefs. Something to be admired about that. On the other hand, if you have ever been to a flat track race....none of the old racers can walk without a limp at the very least. Boxing, Bad Man contests, Martial Arts events (kick boxing and the like)probably make me feel like Blake does about IOM. Pointless to me without money involved, but certainly means much more than that to the participants. Man I am getting my fat a$$ off my soap box this morning...I have work to do. | ||
| Moxnix |
Did they have the IOM Roller Derby girls this year? |
