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Tomorrow... I'm too blooming tired after trying to keep up with them... 2 late nights... I'm off to bed!

It was... a huge success...

Well done Helen!!!! Not many people that attended will realise how much effort, blood, sweat and tears goes into your events, and actually how much time it takes to prepare and recover! All done because you think they are worth it!

The 2nd newcomers weekend for TT2012 was a great success. Lap after lap was completed, in the minibuses and Tim's car, with 14 times TT winner, Dave Molyneux, 3 times World Champion Tim Reeves, multiple rep winners Stu Castles and Dips Chauhan, accompanying 14 potential 2012 or 2013 newcomers.
Some of the group had attended the Hogg Rescue Auction on the Friday night, purchasing pictures and raffle tickets and contributing to a final total of over £5000 ... what a good do... and I won a box of 100 chocolates... hmmm fatty.com soon...
They had short talks on machine preparation and scrutineering issues (ok,ok... they're technical officials these days), from John Ridout. This was followed by Keith Mackay (ace marshal, MGP rider and occasional sidecar passenger) advising on how to deal with some of the situations which arise in a race, where marshals are involved, or you may have broken down. Lunch, by Niarbyl Catering, was as delicious as usual and then it was back out for more laps.
The minibuses were driven by Pud Garrett and Dave Clucas, (who managed to make Tim sweat)...
Many thanks are due to Paul Phillips, Bruce Baker and particularly to Sophie Lowney... the TT team, who do so much behind the scenes and are unaware that weekends are supposed to be time off. Particular thanks to Sophie, who rescued me when I locked myself out of the Press Centre...lol.. and calmed me down in the run-up to the weekend.
It was heartening to hear some of the very insightful questions asked, and hear the feedback from the mentors who were uniformly impressed by their "pupils".
No thanks to the one person who failed to turn up and chose a weekend on the lash instead. There isn't always one, but there was this time.
Many of the participants have been more than once, some have done one or two TTs but still feel they can learn at these weekends, and I know they are all going to be awesome in TT2012 (or later in some cases).
If anyone wants to have some laps around, or get some input from experienced competitors, there's still time... I know some couldn't manage and are coming later. You can never have enough laps or discussions, so email me for accommodation, mentors, a driver to take you round while you talk to someone else about lines etc...
helenbmerry@manx.net

Oh... we also had visits from some thirsty MGP people on their newcomers weekend, and from young Graham English, and from Nuno Caetano.. some solo riders are ok, ain't they?

Oh yes, some solo riders are, and his mum is proud of him, and his three wheeled brothers.!

Mustn't,t forget the pink one, but she knows,!

A big thanks should go out to Helen who puts in so much of her time to organize all of this.

Next bit not for Helen so please look away thank you

On the laps the van definitely performed better when Dips decided to put the traction control off.

You can read again Hx

Both him (Dips) and Stu Castles tireless bombarded the newcomers with questions and advice on what to look out for, where you should be and also gave the greatest advice ever. Don't do exactly what I do, make sure you are comfortable with what you do and feel safe. By all means try the things out we are telling you but TALK TO EACH OTHER. The guys were great.

What is all missing is the fact that these guys had put time in learning before they arrived, they had obviously done their homework and were willing to learn more from the people there. These guys should be congratulated on this and I am sure they will all be better equiped when it comes to sitting there on the start line. I am also sure that they will be more comfortable, calm and probably most important feel more confident having had the time with such a great resource as the many many years of experiance that these top sidecar crews have.

Congratulations guys and kept it going, you were a credit to your sport.

big thanks to Helen you are a star

Just want to say a big thanks to everyone for the help and advice over the weekend, you all know who you are, and to the other newcomers for making it such a fantastic weekend, and a big thanks to Dave Clucas and his family. Thank you all for 3 days I will never forget and for all the new friendships

Was a great weekend! I had some interesting chats about regulations on Saturday, a great night out Saturday night at the Manor with our team coming 3rdin the quiz (or 2nd loser, whichever you prefer) and enjoyed the company around the house too!

Dave's right about the homework, the guys staying with me had done two laps before even calling in for a cuppa and a door key!

Just heard the interview with Dean and Leon, which was this morning's sports spot on Manx radio. They repeated a bit of Leon's, but said it was Dean... easy mistake...lol!