Taffies on tour2002 TT
I didn’t make any definite plans to go to the TT this year. Although
Julian Bull had asked if I would pit for him on Friday.
It rained all practice week so I stayed at home, I got a few jobs
done on my own bikes
I phoned up Friday on the off chance of getting a ticket by Tuesday
maybe.
I was quite surprised when the woman said I could go Friday and come
back on Saturday after the racing.
I just packed my bag got the bike out of the shed and headed to
Liverpool by 23:00.
The boat was a bit late going out, there were a lot of bikes to
load "it the TT you see " most of the people on the ferry had booked
months before and were amazed that I got the sailing's.
We got in to Douglas about 2 am so I headed off down the prom looking
for a place to get my head down. Bumped straight in to Phil Archer
who was celebrating the end of practice who said I could kip in his
van.
Later that day I went looking for the lads. Found Tony Moss looking
for pit crew so I ended up putting the petrol in for Tony for the
formula 1 race.
Ian smith and Julian Bull had been going real well in practice,
Julian was doing the production race to get some practice in for the
Manx and Ian had a garage full of bikes. Ian had topped the leader
board in the wet practice and was looking forward to more rain in the
race!
The formula 1 race.
The pit stops went without a hitch and TONY MOSS finished 38TH on his
R1 at 107.61 m.p.h.
IAN SMITH went round at 111.06 m.p.h. even though he was stuck in 5
for the last 2 laps because he had ground the brake lever off
somewhere! With our riders safe back we all retired to the beer tent.
Mad Sunday came and went. I spent the afternoon playing with Ian's
996 Ducati and 400 Honda helping big John and Rick getting things
ready for Monday's race
Monday is the 125 and 400 race Ian Smith had a good run and was
awarded a bronze replica for finishing in 15TH on his 400 RJ HONDA at
101.44 m.p.h.
Next up was the 1000/750 production Ian had a Ducati 996 from Woods
of Abergeli "a lovely machine." Things were going great until we
heard that Ian was off at Alpine "taken by helicopter to hospital." I
still had to stay in the pit to put fuel in for Julian so Alice and
Big John went to see how he was.
Julian finished 50TH overall and 4 TH 750 with a race average of
105.85 mph.
After the race we were very relived to hear that Ian was relatively
ok having broken his left knee and suffered lots of bruising. The
Ducati was in a very poor condition, but fair play to woody he was
more worried about Ian than the bike.
There were 2 ex factory rotary Norton's running in the parade that I
had to get a good look at so once I was sure Ian was ok off I went
for a nosy.
Alice (Ian's girlfriend) was very brave going to the presentation
that night to pick up Ian's replica for the 400 ride.
Tuesday is for the Ramsey sprint or for sleeping depending on how
much drinking you does on Tuesday night!
As Ian was in hospital and Julian wasn’t doing the junior race we
went to Hillbury to watch Wednesdays racing. Tony Moss went well
finishing 27TH with a 105.64 M.P.H. race average.
The sidecar race was ace as usual, this is the best class as far as
I'm concerned and it is what makes the TT very special as it is not
production bike based.
Friday came round so fast I cant remember what we did on Thursday,
sleep and prepare the bike for Friday's race probably.
Julian finished 38TH in the 600 production with a race average of
106.77 M.P.H. we were very pleased with him because that bike was a
French import r6 that was kindly provided by Neil Pearson
unfortunately measured a measly 97 h.p. On the dyno "That's the
slowest thing we have had through " is what Micron said! But a big
thanks to Neli anyway.
As we were walking back up the pit lane Julian's sponsor spots
Agostini about to get on the 3 cylinder MV and gets his autograph on
Tony's overalls. Oh what a lovely noise it made all the down bray
hill.
Next up was the final race of the week the Senior TT.
Tony finished a brilliant 24TH with a race average of 108.78.
Then you guessed it; we went to the beer tent, where we got the
biggest shock of the week,
Phil Archer refused a drink!?
Apart from the usual wait before the steam packet can get me home
that was my TT 2002.




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