Some important info for newcomers... and others...

[Helen Gibson]

Remember the entries close for the 2013 TT at the end of this month. If you are having trouble with the forms, let me know and I will refer you to someone who will help. It would be great if all newcomers have their entry in, or at least partly done, by the 23/24th and then we can make sure you are sorted.

Paul Phillips will be attending the saturday lunch and will be telling us any news, giving advice, and pointing you in the direction of others who can help.

Now some nitty gritty:

NO-ONE will be allowed to use (or have) welding gear of any kind, in the TT Paddock. This is not negotiable... it is the Fire Department's call and they will confiscate any equipment found in the area. Anyone kicking up a shindy as a result would find themselves excluded from the TT... whether it is the rider/passenger, or some member of their team who offends. A list of recommended welding companies will be available to all teams. Some of you already use some of them, so you can vouch for them.

No cars will be allowed in and out of the paddock. There is simply not enough room for this and when weather is bad, it makes life miserable as the whole place gets torn up. Parking areas are provided nearby, and where someone has a disability, provision will be made on a case by case basis.

There were a number of incidents last year (and years previously) where staff trying to sort out parking / camping etc in the paddock, were abused verbally by riders or by team members. This will get you banned, so make sure your team are all respectful of everyone. Shouldn't need to say that, should I?

There will be a sidecar-only parade lap (hey... a parade lap I like?!) on Senior Day, between the races. If you think you would like to take part (there is a fee) I can pass on your contact to the organisers.

There will be 3 opportunities for newcomers to go out in a car with top riders during practice week, and I would urge you all to take advantage of this. There will also be a daytime get together... like the evening one we had last year, which didn't work very well because it was after practice and some people were stuck out on the course. I will give you more info on this later.

If you are a newcomer, driver or passenger, and you have never been to the Isle of Man, or have never had any guidance or learning laps...PLEASE GET IN TOUCH... entries will not be accepted from newcomers who simply haven't taken a serious look at the Mountain Course. If you simply cannot get here for the 23/24th, arrange to come some other time and I will sort out travel, mentors etc... if all else is impossible, arrange to come a few days early (as the Australians did last year) and I will make the arrangements for you..BUT... you MUST negotiate that or your entry may not be accepted. As far as I know at the moment there only appears to be one person in that position, and I am contacting them directly, but there may be others out there that I do not even know about. If you know of anyone... tell them, and tell me.

Hope all this is clear... if you need to know more about anything email me helenbmerry@manx.net

Not long now.....

[Simon Smith]

Hi Helen,

We are being encouraged to get the ferry home on Thursday so will not be there on Senior day.

Shame.

[gatekeeper]

although i do understand the need for fire precautions how many riders would be happy for some one else to do their welding if they dont know them i for one wouldnt want that unless i know them and their work was up to scratch---a lot of welds can look good but are rubbish when you do a cross section of them i have seen this a lot on the other hand ive seen welds that are much stronger but sniggered at because they dont look pretty---this is just my observation but most people take their own stuff to try to keep costs down if repairs are needed so what you are effectively saying is all competitors have to pay someone else to do it ---why not have a small area away from the paddock where competitors can do this themselves if this is what they want to do some where like the fire station should be ok but im sure the pencil pushers will start crying again over insurance this may only seem a small thing to those people but to me its just another reason not to come over to the tt to compete ---------only one person on the island comes to mind for welding but he'll be too busy sorting his own stuff out
---and on the note of confiscating equipment i for one would be excluded because i wouldnt let them take it if its not being used it is not going to cause a fire

[kface]

Wonder what Mike Richards and Tony Bakers opinions are on this.What do they say sorry can't do it here but there's a guy in Douglas who is more than welcome to weld your bike.Also it will be quicker to load up and take it down town than do it in the paddock. Oh I forgot you will have to push the bike because you can't have your van out. Now that makes sense doesn't it.

[gatekeeper]

and more importantly what if you have to make an emergency beer dash to the shops will we have to hire a taxi or carry it---oh wait a mo you cant carry it because of health and safety
so you will have to take another vehicle across and park it near the golf course the steam racket will love that
oh how im looking forward to sending my entry in next year or the year after or the way things are going never

[Helen Gibson]

Calm down! Tony has been consulted and fully understands the situation. You are not being directed to unknown welders. Some of these guys built outfits...

As far as the cars in paddock is concerned... your car is only a few yards away..

Good grief...

[kface]

It's not a matter of calming down, it's the fact that outfits can't be welded in the paddock. How long is it going to take to load an outfit up and for example take it down to the Steam Racket workshops and unload,wait while they've had their tea break or dinner do the welding, maybe weld a small crack (10 mins), load up and go back to the paddock and unload.This may only take 2-3 hours, definately no need to panic when you've got all day to check your bike! Who are the outfit builders who are going to do the welding?
Surely an area could be set , maybe have to do away with a corporate shite tent or similair,to put a portable container with gas bottles etc. in for people to use. Even if it was supervised and a small charge was made.Didn't Ken Sprayson work out of one the last few years.
Next thing you will all have to go to the Point of Ayre to use your barbi's,Then there's gas cookers. toasters, heaters mmmm!

[powerhouse]

Am I missing something here? Has an incident happened regarding welding in paddocks.
I can see why you would ban oxy/acetylene as its a dangerous gas but tig and mig have innert gasses.as long as fuel tanks are taken off where's the danger?
I am all for a closed section for welding only as most tracks would have space. Cannot comment on tt though but surely there's somewhere close. How about the local fire station car park.

[little pierre]

Powerhouse, you thicko, yerv'e still got to load the ruddy thing up ,get out the paddock thro the traffic down to the fire station unload sort everything out get the job done load up get back to the paddock fight yer way in then find yerv'e left summat behind etc, what would have been a quick repair turns into a nightmare, like what was said before,what is wrong with a set up which ken sprayson had before,and being properly policed etc, adjacent to the paddock, it's just elf and safety gone bonkers, b****y organisation?.

[kface]

Just thought of something else which may make things run smoother.
As Helen said it has been sorted for places to get the welding done.Excellent, but what happens if you have problems on the Saturday of practice week or the first race, will these people be about on the Sunday? Also on the Island the Monday of practice week is a Bank holiday, so does that mean having to sit and wait till Tuesday to get it done mmmmmmmm!.Mind you it may take while Tuesday to get out the paddock

[kface]

Also has anyone asked what Honda and Hector O'Neil think about getting someone else to weld their bikes?

[little pierre]

Also has anyone asked what Honda and Hector O'Neil think about getting someone else to weld their bikes?

Don't be silly, Honda and Mr o'niel will have their own specialist welders and personell in attendance (works supported and certified) and be in the best part of the paddock with posh awnings, tarmac and roadways etc, where as the proper racing freternity will be in that other paddock called bogside where you will need the lifeboat on standby when it rains, and tractors, to get yer out then a jet wash to clean the outfit and yerself down from all the mud etc before you can go out and set a lap record!

[gatekeeper]

erm i dont think the welding thing is going down too well------just a quick note---none of my comments are meant to cause any upset to anyone or poke fun at fire regs as we know that the last thing we would all want is to see our pride and joy be lost to the flames but dont knock a drawing pin in with a sledge hammer give the riders somewhere they can do the welding themselves with plenty of fire extinguishers at hand of at least 5 kilo capacity and plenty of area around it

[Helen Gibson]

Don't think any or your arguments will cut any ice with our local fire officers who have spent 8 hours dealing with a fire caused by.......... welding...... imagine if this happened in the paddock where awnings and tents are cheek by jowl with trucks, bikes, cans of fuel and sleeping people...


"Roads in Ballasalla have now re-opened following a fire at a garage in the area last night.

Police and the fire service were called to the blaze on the Balthane Industrial Estate just after 5pm.

They spent three hours tackling the blaze which involved monitoring cylinders that were on the premises.

Members of the public were asked to avoid the area while the fire was brought under control.

The fire service has thanked people for their patience and co-operation."


In case you're interested, it was an old Ford Fiesta!

[gatekeeper]

an old ford festa there is a god