Paul just a thought, with practice at the TT now being limited would it not be a good idea at looking to move the traditional dates for the TT. By moving the event by two weeks daylight hours would give an extra 30 minutes practice. During the last two weeks in June it does not get dark until after 10pm some 30 minutes later than in the beginning of June, an extra bit of practice would go a long way in the issue of safety.
The Island does not have to worry about the traditional tourist dates now as we only get the tourist during the racing so it should be easy to move the event. Not only that, June is not a traditional Holiday period in any other country, most places have set holiday weeks, ie factory shutdowns.

As I said only a thought of mine.

Admin, maybe we could have a poll on the dates issue to get some feed back

Good logical suggestion Colin.

Lets have a poll on it

You know it makes sense Rodney, dont be a plonker

As you can now see a poll has now been added..............

I've have set it to run for 10 days that covers two weekends and gives plenty of time for considering the idea.

I'm sure we'll all be interested to read /see the result

I think that they should be left where they are. There are two reasons for this:-

1) We are having enough trouble with the small minority on the Island trying to get rid of the TT without giving them another bullet to add to their gun. Leaving it so late would only go to serve more frustration to those who are having their late night (late to them) cup of coco. Yes I know its only another 1/2 hour, but to them it might just go to being the final straw.
2) Just have a thought for the poor Marshalls out there who are already getting it in the ear from their wives for not being at home much during the fortnight. Also just managing to get home befor 10 or 11 at night anyway even before the extra 1/2 hour is put on.

I think its better to keep it the way it is or risk loosing it totally all together.

Clucky, Someone has to come up with an idea to get the extra practice, we have to have the extra practice if not it could be a problem. Maybe another idea would be for Government to get in consultation with employers on the Island and see if they would consider employees going on flexi time during the TT period, this could allow for practice starting an hour earlier.
Many a time I'm accused of posting negatives over the races but when posting positives brings out the negatives from others. We have to move on, that's why we have a new young team at the helm of the TT (pity they cant put the same effort into the MGP) and it seems that they are making the right decisions, which some may not like but just the same they have got the test tickles to follow them through.
A positive alternative plan has to be prepared just in case of bad weather or any other problems that may occur and those that run the event now can not find all the answers, they need ideas from others.
Some may say the TT could end just by one mistake being made but if provisions are in place to eradicate mistakes then the TT has a bright future.

I like the idea, but think if it were changed now, it might create problems for next year, with many people already booked on ferries etc. Perhaps for the next year. Good thinking, though, Colin.
As a marshal, I wouldn't mind that extra time, as it's for the purpose, unlike parades etc.

I agree Colin we need to find ways to increase practice times, especially now they have had the brain wave of bringing in another class. Maybe instead of a Saturday night practice have an afternoon but this would clash with Pre TT Classic. How about this for a real change in dates. There are currently 4 classes really, Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Sidecar. How about running two practice nights to include two of the Races, then run the race. Then run two sessions for the next two races and so on. Have the sidecars ran alongside the two big bike races. One Supersport with the new green race. Then the second supersport alongside the Superstock race. Thats four race days with preceding practices for two nights. So thats tweleve days in total. It would easily fit in with the two week therory, and also it would solve the problem of having to have extra practice sessions during race week.

I know its radical but I am just throwing it, as they say 'out there' ........

Its a very good suggestion Colin, well done!! I see the point about the marshals being later home though, but even if this idea could not give extra practice but purely enable the practice to start 30 minutes later as well, therefore giving the 'public' more time to get home and maybe the local marshals more time to go home for Tea before going out marshaling. Again just another idea.
Russ

If the dates were moved later in June this will then have a knock on for the S100. At the minute there is about a month between the 2 meetings, people probably wouldn't have the funds to attend the 2 meetings so close together. If the S100 moved later, this too will probably have a knock on for the MGP.
Ali

Moving dates is always a much bigger problem than you originally think. It has a big knock on effect.

Early morning practice could work again. It really adds to the atmosphere of the TT and could give another 5-6 hours a week practice, plenty of time for the 2 strokes. Minimum marshal manning levels could also be reviewed. I counted 13 marshals at Hillberry this year, 16 at Ballacraine last year and lots of similar scenarios around the course. And with all the headlines promoting just how many signed on this year, would it really be a problem?

DCLUCIE Wrote:I agree Colin we need to find ways to increase practice times, especially now they have had the brain wave of bringing in another class. Maybe instead of a Saturday night practice have an afternoon but this would clash with Pre TT Classic. How about this for a real change in dates. There are currently 4 classes really, Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Sidecar. How about running two practice nights to include two of the Races, then run the race. Then run two sessions for the next two races and so on. Have the sidecars ran alongside the two big bike races. One Supersport with the new green race. Then the second supersport alongside the Superstock race. Thats four race days with preceding practices for two nights. So thats tweleve days in total. It would easily fit in with the two week therory, and also it would solve the problem of having to have extra practice sessions during race week.

I know its radical but I am just throwing it, as they say 'out there' ........

I don't think the riders would be happy with having a practice and then be expected to race. If a rider broke down on a practice lap prior to a race he would have the problem of getting back to the pits plus it may also distract him .
I personally think this is one of the most important issues to be brought to the forums and I'm sure any suggestions posted would be investigated by Paul and his team. Whatever happens you will always get a few that will disagree but compromises have to be made for the survival of the races. Even if they introduced at least one session during practice week that started 1 hour earlier would be a great help.

Clucky I may be wrong but I think they may have introduce a rule of a rider only being allowed to do 7or 8 laps in one day also you cant practice and race on the same bike on the same day

Ben Oates Wrote:Moving dates is always a much bigger problem than you originally think. It has a big knock on effect.

Early morning practice could work again. It really adds to the atmosphere of the TT and could give another 5-6 hours a week practice, plenty of time for the 2 strokes. Minimum marshal manning levels could also be reviewed. I counted 13 marshals at Hillberry this year, 16 at Ballacraine last year and lots of similar scenarios around the course. And with all the headlines promoting just how many signed on this year, would it really be a problem?

Early morning practice has finished and will not return, logistics firms have their depots in a few of the places that are not accessible during the roads closed and these firms now take deliveries from the boats from 5am to 8am. We would not get enough marshalls for the mornings, most of the old boys that loved the mornings are no longer with us, times change so we must move forward and as for practice for the two strokes you will have to accept they are finished on the mountain, the experiment at Billown this year proved that they cant get enough entries, sorry but that's the way it is.

Another idea that might work is shut the mountain for a couple of afternoons, riders like to have roads to set bikes up, run engines in etc. It would not take many marshals to run the mountain area and it could be policed quite easily, after all riders that wished to use the facility had completed their run over the mountain they could be escorted back over to a starting point by the TMs.

FC Wrote:Early morning practice has finished and will not return, logistics firms have their depots in a few of the places that are not accessible during the roads closed and these firms now take deliveries from the boats from 5am to 8am. We would not get enough marshalls for the mornings, most of the old boys that loved the mornings are no longer with us, times change so we must move forward and as for practice for the two strokes you will have to accept they are finished on the mountain, the experiment at Billown this year proved that they cant get enough entries, sorry but that's the way it is.

Another idea that might work is shut the mountain for a couple of afternoons, riders like to have roads to set bikes up, run engines in etc. It would not take many marshals to run the mountain area and it could be policed quite easily, after all riders that wished to use the facility had completed their run over the mountain they could be escorted back over to a starting point by the TMs.

FC,

I have not heard that one about the depots before. You may have a point but I wouldn’t mind knowing which parties would be affected? My point still stands on the marshalling issues. This year’s feedback would indicate the there would be adequate marshal coverage. I too think morning practice will never be reinstated but I think it is far more realistic than a date change.

I think there is plenty of scope for at least 60 bikes on the grid for a 2 stroke race. In fact, I’ll post 60 names this weekend on this thread. The 2 strokes at Billown were not a real test at all and a ‘Green TT’ is not a real substitution.

Shutting the Mountain section only for the afternoon sounds like complete and utter chaos. What will competitors do when they get back to the grandstand? How are they going to get the transporters in and out of the paddock? How are they going to get back to Ramsay - think about the legality? The rest of the circuit would be bedlam. Reinstatement of Thursday afternoon practice would be a better solution. The removal of this session is yet again another good example of TT organisers shooting themselves in the foot.

Shutting the mountain was not for practices but for testing, at present Jurby airfield is used but the airfield does not give any feedback to the rider.

Would be fantastic to have more daylight, big issue would be the schools cant see them changing their holidays,

I've had a look....great idea, the ferries are cheaper and plenty of accommodation free

Heehee...lets do it and not tell the packet co.

Ben Oates Wrote:I think there is plenty of scope for at least 60 bikes on the grid for a 2 stroke race. In fact, I’ll post 60 names this weekend on this thread. The 2 strokes at Billown were not a real test at all and a ‘Green TT’ is not a real substitution.

Ben, I'll look forward to seeing this list and maybe I can add a few more! This is a 'pet' subject of mine I can almost hear Mr Philips groaning

FC Wrote:

DCLUCIE Wrote:I agree Colin we need to find ways to increase practice times, especially now they have had the brain wave of bringing in another class. Maybe instead of a Saturday night practice have an afternoon but this would clash with Pre TT Classic. How about this for a real change in dates. There are currently 4 classes really, Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Sidecar. How about running two practice nights to include two of the Races, then run the race. Then run two sessions for the next two races and so on. Have the sidecars ran alongside the two big bike races. One Supersport with the new green race. Then the second supersport alongside the Superstock race. Thats four race days with preceding practices for two nights. So thats tweleve days in total. It would easily fit in with the two week therory, and also it would solve the problem of having to have extra practice sessions during race week.

I know its radical but I am just throwing it, as they say 'out there' ........

I don't think the riders would be happy with having a practice and then be expected to race. If a rider broke down on a practice lap prior to a race he would have the problem of getting back to the pits plus it may also distract him .
I personally think this is one of the most important issues to be brought to the forums and I'm sure any suggestions posted would be investigated by Paul and his team. Whatever happens you will always get a few that will disagree but compromises have to be made for the survival of the races. Even if they introduced at least one session during practice week that started 1 hour earlier would be a great help.

Clucky I may be wrong but I think they may have introduce a rule of a rider only being allowed to do 7or 8 laps in one day also you cant practice and race on the same bike on the same day

Colin, What I ment was this Two nights of practice then one day racing. The following two evenings you practice for the next two races which take place on the third day, and so on. This then gives the riders two things. One they practice on machines that matter and not on machines that they are only going to race a week later and need a refresher practices during race week. The second is that they are not wasting practice and every practice counts.

On your point of the number of laps this will not be affected. As for it being an important issue ..... whats wrong with the way it is now? 73% of people currently believe it isn't an issue ...... but if it ever is going to be a problem then I am sure moving the dates might be considered but the knock on affects as mentioned in previous posts would have a major baring on that descision. Plus you can never guarantee the weather so moving might just be a step too far. I know this years weather was a heck of alot better than the dates you suggested.

thewitch Wrote:Heehee...lets do it and not tell the packet co.

hehe.........naughty, but I love the idea