Manx GP 2023

[royhall]

Steam Packet is now owned by the Manx government.

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[Laverda Dave]

I understand the ferry terminal is also owned by the steam packet/Manx government therefore killing off any competition for alternative ferry companies to run additional (cheaper) ferry services.

[royhall]

They always had tight control over that as they own Douglas ferry port and have done for many years. To be fair to them it is of vital importance to the island that's why they nationalised it.

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[Trigger]

It is like anything historic these days, just one big rip off. 

[Arch stanton]

I still think the TT & Mgp are better value than british moto GP.
Thought I never thought I would say it. I do find the TT a bit of a bore
In recent years. Too corporate and lacking character,s

[royhall]

Well the Manx GP is off to a shitty start. Our sailing tomorrow is cancelled due to bad weather. They cant give us an actual re-booking until next Thursday nearly a week later. They advised us to go on stand by and turn up at Heysham or Liverpool early for the next sailing. If there's room they will take standbys on a first come first serve basis. So tomorrow afternoon it's a 150 mile round trip to Liverpool, if we don't get on then we can try again on Sunday from Heysham. And I suppose we keep trying until we either get on or the world runs out of petrol. What a terrible way to treat your customers, no apologies or compensation, just indifference. I was already considering making this my last time and this has not helped.

[Spitfire]

I used to go to the TT and Manx every year from 1970 to 1978, and it was pretty simple and cheap, in the early years it was just throw the tent and sleeping bag on the back of the bike and off we went, usually camping at Bray Hill.
If the weather was iffy or we got fed up it was easy to swap to a B&B in Douglas, then later the camping was given up and it was B&B's all the way, none of it was too expensive or hard to organise.
The last time we went was 1978, our honeymoon and we were on the 750F1, it was changing then, starting to get very commercialisedwith lots of "biker" entertainment, instead of making our own fun.
When I read about it now I am horrified at the expense and need to book so early.

Cheers

Dennis

[royhall]

There's pretty much no B&Bs in Douglas now. We moved to Peel about 10 years ago.

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[philward]

I done the TT early 70's to early 80's - great times but I was more tolerant of weather and accomadation back then. If you could guarantee the weather, I'd be there but otherwise it would just encourage my grumpyness!

[royhall]

It's turned into an utter fiasco now, they have also cancelled this mornings boat from Liverpool. First opportunity is now tomorrow morning from Heysham. It is impossible to get information out of Steam Packet it's all a big secret. I have been told by a group of VMCC guys that they are now at Liverpool docks (Saturday morning) because they were on their way before the sailing was cancelled. They say about half the people due to sail have turned up (no choice if your travelling a distance) and there are at least 70 to 90 people in the standby line already, with more expected from the Heysham boat. They too have had nothing but indifference from the company. Steam Packet are a shower of shit, this is defo the last time.

[Matt_Harrington]

Last time I went to the TT was in 2012 - the first time the Senior race was cancelled in 105 years! We flew in for a long weekend and never got to see one bike race - not doing that ever again!

[Laverda Dave]

The IOM government are killing the TT and the GP by stealth, it's the new way of controlling the population, make travelling anywhere so bad you won't want to do it, numbers decline and eventually they can say people are no longer interested in it so it's cancelled.
This is how the government are killing off the NHS, all by stealth, make it more attractive to go with a private (American) health provider.
Same applies to all forms of motoring, just keep charging to use a bike or car and eventually we'll give up driving.
This country is the worst in Europe, rant over!

[royhall]

Well we went to Heysham early this morning to get to the the front of the standby line, which we achieved. There was maybe 8 or 10 in front of us. They say that it is on a first come first serve basis with everyone given a number (that only they know).

We sat there all day from 8.45 until 15.20 before being told they were taking no standby motorcycles. They let on from standby large vans with trailers, camper vans galore (some huge), all the cars, even a car with a caravan. All these people checked in behind us, so much for first come first served, that is actually just a plain simple lie. They left 10 people with bikes, could they really not fit them on. They would rather load freight than the people they have let down.

We were treated by the staff like naughty school children, no information, no help, just arrogant bad mannered attitude. They even pulled the shutters down on us for trying to get information. I have never ever encountered such an awful company in my entire life. We will go once more tomorrow then they can stick the Isle of Man up there collective ar***s. All for £328 return (how bleedin much??). Frankly I hope their new 78 million pound ship hits a Walney Island windfarm windmill and sinks.

Let this be a heads up for anyone foolish enough to try to go to the Isle of Man in this day and age of piss poor service.

[Nurse Julie]

That sounds a total pain in the arse Roy. We're going to BSB at Cadwell on bank holiday Monday, 10 mins ride from us and no ferries involved 😁😁😁

[royhall]

That sounds a total pain in the arse Roy. We're going to BSB at Cadwell on bank holiday Monday, 10 mins ride from us and no ferries involved 😁😁😁

The way things are going Julie we may be coming with you.