Oggy the TT needs thousands more like you, nostalgia is created every year so you don't have to be old to appreciate it.

So what can be done to extend the visitor season? What can be done to capture lifelong TT enthusiasts for the future? Here are a few ideas of the top of my head.

1. How about a ‘Welcome to the TT” pack for all visitors to the Island? This could be a professionally produced portfolio containing a full program of events, map, history etc. It could be subsidized by those businesses which stand to make the most out of visitors. Perhaps some discount vouchers would draw people to these supporters businesses. You know sometimes you have to spend money to make money.
2. Put all visitors on a mailing or emailing list so they can be kept informed of coming events, new developments on the Island, new hotels / accommodations, press releases, etc. In short get the messages out to the people that matter. The paying customers.
3. Subsidise the Steam Packet fares. Again spend money to make money, don’t try to make every post a winner, invest in the future.
4. Make a big event of the Parade Lap, two minute intervals so the public can know, see and hear each rider and machine. Groups of bikes arriving all together out of order just seems rushed and to many fans disappointing. Nostalgia has to be enjoyed not rushed out of the way as quickly as possible.
5. No TT Course license for champions.
6. Guided bus tours leading up to and during the TT at low cost. The more people know about the Course the more they will become experts and fall in love with the place. There are plenty of enthusiasts who could conduct these tours. Perhaps a few guest riders would contribute some time to this promotion.
7. Film nights during the TT showing large screen old films of the TT. We never get sick of them.

Playing up the events outside of the TT fortnight has got to pay dividends for the inhabitants. The Manx is different; it is more quiet, more classic and more relaxed. The Billown races are on a shorter circuit, they include more classes and classic bikes, and they have massed starts with close and exciting racing. There are even other sports such as rallying or cycling, etc which should be mentioned because believe it or not some people like more than one sport.
I am sure there are some marketing people out there with much better ideas than me.

We only have to ask ourselves WHY did so many people visit the centenary TT. To me it is a no-brainer.