I'll bow to the experience of others on this forum, though I have a few thoughts on the future of the TT. This year was the tenth anniversary of my first trip to the TT, and I have noticed dramatic changes since 2009. It is of course far busier than it was then, which for me, can be attributed to the way the event has been marketed/ broadcast in America and Australia. Add in the popularity of the feature films, 'Living on the edge', and 'Road', and I can see why plenty more punters are attracted to head over. However I think that the organisers and the Manx government need to be careful what they want the TT to become in the future. Although real bike fans will surely always be the core of travellers to the TT, some may be priced out. This year for example, I delayed booking the campsite we have stayed at for the past four years as I wanted to see if I could change our ferries as we couldn't stay for the Senior. Having failed to do so, I contacted the campsite early March to book, only to be told that they were fully booked. We have noticed year on year that this site has become busier with fans travelling from around the world, who require, or prefer prebuilt tents. Checking the prices for our stay, (7 nights for £1100 in prebuilt tent, £1800 for glamping was what I was quoted), I was convinced that the average punter is having their options more and more limited at the TT. Still, wasn't a bad year to try our first homestay!

I have no problem with fans from all over the world making the pilgrimage, and I am well aware that there's plenty other campsites had I booked earlier, but I feel that this is just one example of how the corporate aspect of the TT is pricing some fans out of it. In 10 years of attending, I have only managed to secure ferries suitable for the Senior twice. I find this quite frustrating, especially when watching practice at Bray hill on Thursday night, just before we went to pack our bags for the early Heysham ferry, an American guy who had just arrived asked me where Ballascarey was, and what number Guy Martin was! (I resisted telling him that Guy Martin was number 101 and that Ballascarey was in Castletown) I know that the corporate game is needed to make it work, but I think that there is enough of the Monster taxi rides, grandstands thrown up where there was once good free viewpoints, and that anymore could alienate fans who have been attending for a lot longer than I have.

Anyway, it hasn't lessened my love for the place, or the TT itself and like many, already booked for next year (ferry sorted for the Senior too!).

Haven't heard of the Lido before, though if anybody wants to start a campaign to reopen it, you have my unconditional support!