The Classic TT: A Blast from the Past

By Corey Levenson
Published on February 13, 2018
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It’s a family affair: Chris Swallow (left) and his father, Bill, at the start of the Senior Classic TT.
It’s a family affair: Chris Swallow (left) and his father, Bill, at the start of the Senior Classic TT.
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Richard Johns parks his 1928 Norton Model 18 near the grandstand after riding over the mountain.
Richard Johns parks his 1928 Norton Model 18 near the grandstand after riding over the mountain.
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Eleanor McIntyre looks on as Michael Dunlop pushes off to start his lap on the 500cc 4-cylinder Gilera replica.
Eleanor McIntyre looks on as Michael Dunlop pushes off to start his lap on the 500cc 4-cylinder Gilera replica.
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Pudding basin helmets are a common sight during Classic TT week.
Pudding basin helmets are a common sight during Classic TT week.
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A young Italian and an old Brit.
A young Italian and an old Brit.
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Some of the motorcycles on display at the Isle of Man Motor Museum in Jurby.
Some of the motorcycles on display at the Isle of Man Motor Museum in Jurby.
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A sea of bikes, new and old, in the parking lot at the Festival of Jurby.
A sea of bikes, new and old, in the parking lot at the Festival of Jurby.
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A treasure trove at Murray’s Motorcycle Museum near Douglas.
A treasure trove at Murray’s Motorcycle Museum near Douglas.
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A white Comet and purple hair in the Jurby car park.
A white Comet and purple hair in the Jurby car park.
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Team Obsolete lead technician, Josh MacKenzie, with the Honda Six.
Team Obsolete lead technician, Josh MacKenzie, with the Honda Six.
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Josh Brookes, Senior Classic TT winner, is flanked in the Winner’s Circle on the left by William Dunlop (third) and Jamie Coward (second).
Josh Brookes, Senior Classic TT winner, is flanked in the Winner’s Circle on the left by William Dunlop (third) and Jamie Coward (second).
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A tidy Vincent Black Shadow parked in front of “Sarah’s Cottage” at Jurby.
A tidy Vincent Black Shadow parked in front of “Sarah’s Cottage” at Jurby.

It’s about 4,800 miles from my home in Texas to the Isle of Man. Yes, it takes planning and finances to get there, but once you step ashore, smell the sea air and take a look around, you’ll realize you’ve entered moto heaven. When it’s race week on the island, you’ll see classic motorcycles and those who love them in all directions.

Birth of the Classic TT

Organized motorcycle racing on the Isle of Man started in 1907. The Tourist Trophy (TT) races are traditionally held in June and feature the world’s best professional road racers on top-dollar factory-sponsored machines. Since 1923, there has also been a somewhat lower profile event known as the Manx Grand Prix (MGP). It takes place in late August and features up-and-coming amateur riders hoping to graduate to the professional ranks.

In 2013, the race organizers sought to boost attendance at the MGP by creating a new event called the “Classic TT,” wherein the big-name TT riders would ride older classic and vintage machines on the Mountain Course. They also arranged for a few special events to add extra incentive for fans to come back to the island for the late August event.

The plan worked — the Classic TT has become a huge success, providing an opportunity for fans to see current top-tier TT racers like John McGuinness, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison and others riding classic race machines from Norton, MV Agusta, Paton, Velocette, Vincent and more on the famous Mountain Course. The old machines sound and look great, and the racers aren’t just playing — they flog the old bikes around at average lap speeds of almost 125mph, with some bikes going through the speed traps in excess of 170mph. For comparison, the top-level bikes at TT week in June are doing laps averaging over 132mph with speeds at times over 200mph.

Ponder those numbers for a moment. The TT course looks nothing like a proper race circuit; it’s a series of country lanes on a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea. The roads are narrow, with speed limits (on any normal non-race day) between 30 and 50mph. There are no run-off areas or gravel traps. Any excursion off-course will put the rider into a hedge, a phone pole, a wall, a stone house or over a cliff. The penalty for failure is extreme. Sadly, more than 200 racers have died on the course over the years, including three riders this year (during TT week, not at the Classic TT).

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