Manx GP 2023

[royhall]

Anyone going to the Manx GP this year, or is it only me stupid enough. They have changed the format again this year to feature a mere 5 races all week. It's expensive to get and stay there, works out at about £200 a race. There is practice and qually as well so at least something to watch. Weather looks a bit shit as well.

[Matt_Harrington]

After my fiasco last year, I won't be going this year.  It's a great atmosphere but as you say, blinking expensive!

[royhall]

After my fiasco last year, I won't be going this year.  It's a great atmosphere but as you say, blinking expensive!

What happened last year Matt. I didn't make it in 2022 (first time in over 20 years) as the guy I go with had cancer so we had to cancel at the last minute.

[Matt_Harrington]

Roy, I went on my Guzzi T4 and that broke down only to be usurped by my mates R100RT that was terminal. Mine was a fuelling issue that was eventually sorted in time for the return journey! (We pushed the RT to the ferry terminal....)

PS Used to live in Cleveleys many moons ago!

[royhall]

Now that sounds like a proper disaster. So far I haven't had to push onto the ship but last time we hit a freak wave and about 20 bikes went over, mine of course was one of them. New tank on a CB1300 at £1148. Steam Packet paid up for that one.

[Matt_Harrington]

We still enjoyed ourselves but it wasn't quite the same experience !!
Are they sailing the new boat now?

[royhall]

Yes, Manxman starts sailing on the 17th and we go on the 19th the day before the event starts. For some reason Ben My Chree is still doing the night crossing.

[Arch stanton]

I will also be going over.
I see they are begging for Marshalls already. I think there will be
a marked reduction in numbers after the IoM gov made such a mess of the event as of last year. 5 races likely yo be shortened or cancelled due to weather. With no time to reschedule..

[royhall]

I think there's moves afoot to end the Manx GP by making it so unpopular that they can say as nobody is coming anymore why carry on. The rich people that have moved to IOM have been trying for years to get rid of the bikes, it's like moving to a rural village then complaining about the church bells on a Sunday morning. Bunch of selfish pillock's.

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[Johnny4428]

Similar things happen up here on the outer islands. People moving up here then complaining about travel disruptions in the winter time. HELLO!!! 😡

[Matt_Harrington]

I sincerely hope the Manx doesn't finish. With the amount the hotels charge and the increase in the cost of a ferry crossomg, I can't see businesses being all too happy with that sort of decision!!

[MCTID]

Same with Railway Stations (in every part of London - and every big City/ Town). Years ago NOBODY wanted to live next to a Railway Station, Sidings or Depot.........for the simple reason of the frequent noise of Maintenance works taking place at night.

Over the years things changed as many Sidings & Depots became superfluous as the big Depots became the hub of Train Maintenance and the 'local' facilities were sold off (I also found the same when I worked for Railtrack Major Stations in the 90's).

Once the new Apartments/ Flats/ Houses were occupied, we received a string of daft complaints about our noise levels ! Although our responses were polite, they usually centred on the fact that the Railway had been there for 150 years and there wasn't much point in expecting us to move them now.

My Daughter lives around the corner from the Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Club........which is going to host the British Womens Open in 2026.....I'll suggest that she rents out her house for that fortnight to the Golf Pro's and stay with us.....she can buy the beer during her stay......a win win if ever I saw one !

[Laverda Dave]

Jeremy Vine had a couple of locals from the IOM on his show about a year ago following the reintroduction of the TT after Covid. One of these people was a guy who owned a pub in Douglas, the other was a female Banker/Investment type person. The guy couldn't wait for the TT to take place because his trade shot up during late May and June and again during the GP. Without the TT/GP he said he would go bust as people don't drink anymore and as a result of the number of homes in IOM that are holiday lets/second homes etc. The Banker on the other hand said the TT/GP was not wanted by the majority as banking/investment funds/holiday lets/second homes etc are now the prime income of the IOM. She said the locals no longer want noisy racers and the 'type of people' the event attracts.
I have been to the TT three times, the last time I went it rained every single day with the races being cut short, starting two or three hours late (when we were already in our viewing place getting even wetter and colder) or being cancelled. The then wife said never, ever again and that was that, we went abroad to the sun from then on.
The IOM has always been a really expensive holiday. It is really difficult to book a boat that is nothing more than a very second hand rough old tug of a ferry and when you do find one (normally the 2am sailing from Heysham!) there is no accommodation to be had or vice versa. Unless you re-book a hotel for the next year whilst you are there it is nearly impossible to find anywhere to stay unless you camp. The Steam (Costa) Packet know the punters have no other option to get there with their bikes and so charge what they like, very similar to the Whitelink ferry to the IOW which is now the most expensive ferry crossing in the world per mile!
I think the days of the TT are numbered if the situation does not drastically improve. I know people have been saying the TT is finished for years but with the advent of the green, woke, h&S, nimby, second home, banking and attracting the rich agenda by the IOM goverment I think this really could be the TT's last hurrah. Get there while you can .

[royhall]

Couldn't agree more with the above except for one point. A brand new ferry (newly built not just acquired) sails from the 17th. 57 million quid I do believe, so they are going to wanting that investment back quickly.

[Laverda Dave]

That's good news Roy. To get that kind of investment back they will either have to increase the cost of a crossing or drop the price to attract more people to use it. I hope its the latter and they work with the goverment to invest in hotels etc.