My friend, I Vas Dere, Charlie!


Went to the '60 TT - spent the eve just out of Douglas, at the colorful "Howstrake Holiday Camp" with a few thou others. John Surtees in full chat on his MV-4 (previously: Gilera) down Bray Hill to the 90\ufffd turn at Kate's Cottage: I chose that area to 'watch' from, after..

Previous day, when the roads are open to wannabes and all. I had a chat with a guy with a Norton Dominator 500 (essentially same as my 600 Dominator du jour) - all kitted-out with magnesium front-brake plate; all the right stuff for road racing. I was awed - when that word wasn't terminally overused - when he asked, "Like to take a turn?". This guy, who had all his worldly goods invested in this machine - just offered to let an unknown Yank 'take a turn'! Yes, I felt the Responsibility .. to Do No Harm (or die). And to remember: Ride on the LEFT!

We were at Ramsey Hairpin, and I took it out slowly and turned around: got to experience at modest speeds what That tricky little patch might really be like, at the Ton. Returned Norton unscathed and made clear my appreciation for this priceless unschedulable Event. Hey, my headgear was a red beret and I have a pic he snapped of me, heading for the hairpin. {sigh} Nirvana.

I had the experience of regular participation in the (now er in?famous) Sunday Morning Ride, which goes on today still, in Marin county, alongside the Ocean.. Two Brits and I started it: its length is within yards of one lap of the IOM! 28.3 miles. Or was that 28.6..

So yes: I know the IOM and it IS [was?] all it's reputed to be. Dunno about rocket-propelled infernal machines now so obv TFFO [Britspeak for, Too Fast for Owner]. I think of things like the Kawa KZ-13? whatever, with now ~ 140 HP? which you can buy off the floor, as:

Just like using a Beowulf cluster tailored for Chess: against a mere Human. No longer a game, but an example of techno excess misappled once again - in the manic quest for More.. More.. == finally, long past, simply Too Much. You obv are smart enough not to mix ego with the new capabilities and thus commit Seppuku. Many young riders: are not. And will never grow up to Be. :(

Cycles forever! nothing like that freedom to do the physics of centrip- centrifugal force - even better than mere 3-D flying, where you have all that free air to recover in.. Read some years ago a book by a woman re her experiences learning to ride - best account I've read yet. More females are riding solo than ever before.

But in '03? Simply Not "for everyone"; only for the truly alert. Alas.


Ashton