ISLE OF MAN TT FESTIVAL 1998

Saturday 30 May - Friday 5 June 1998

Once again the Isle of Man springs to life as visitors from all over the world arrive for the annual Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Motorcycle Races. Amongst the visitors this year are 2 German police officers brought in to assist the Manx motorbike patrol officers who are often at full stretch over the TT period.

As in previous years, Manx Radio's medium wave frequency becomes Bike Trader Radio TT providing music, chat and commentary in English, French and German. Geoff Cannell, for many years a roving reporter at the TT, celebrates having recently been elected as a Member of the House of Keys, the Manx Parliament, but is unfortunately sacked from his permanent job at Manx Radio. He continues to cover the TT however.

Last year's TT was the last of Bushy's Brew Pub, for many years the gathering place of TT fans. Bushy's, currently homeless, set up a marquee across the road from its former site so the fans don't have to move too far to experience the unique atmosphere. The fans provide the entertainment in the Bushy's area by pulling wheelies, riding naked, "burning out" their tyres and making "donuts" (black circles made on the road with the burning rubber of rear bike tyres).

Other attractions appear on Douglas promenade such as race simulators, bungee jumping and a Wall of Death (now re-named the Wall of Fear). Within this circular theatre motorbikes and go-carts thunder horizontally around the walls. On Tuesday a funfair is set up next to the TT Grandstand. An art exhibition depicting the Manx racing scene is opened at Tynwald Mills Craft Centre, St Johns.

Honda celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1998 and there are a number of events planned to celebrate the occasion. They charter the ferry vessel Claymore to bring up to 3000 Honda riders, VIPs and enthusiasts to the island. A History of Honda exhibition featuring motorcycles, road cars and racing cars appears in the Villa Marina Gardens on Douglas seafront, the base for the celebrations. As TT '98 gets under way, Honda already have 93 victories and aim to make it 100 this year.

Sandbags appears around the 37.73 mile road circuit on which the races will take place. These advertise Suzuki - much to Honda's disgust! Honda make amends, however, with advertising banners on every pub and placed in prominent positions around the course. "Prohibited Area" signs, limiting the vantage points for spectators for safety reasons, appear at the roadsides as do "Immer links fahren bitte" signs reminding German speaking visitors to ride on the left. Tannoys to relay race commentaries are also placed around the course.

Thorntons confectionery shop in Douglas produce chocolate motorbikes which can be iced with messages. Motorbikes appear in every shop window including a wicker motorbike in Esquires clothing shop.

Several TT web sites are provided which give practice and race details for enthusiasts around the world.

In January 1998 part of the course, the bridge at Union Mills, collapsed which put the TT in jeopardy. Fortunately the Department of Transport carried out repairs in order for the racing to go ahead.

Three English TT fans prepare to miss all the action as they are charged with possession of drugs on entry to the island and are jailed for 2 weeks. An Irish TT fan is killed when his motorcycle collides with a car at Brandish Corner, Onchan.

The pre-TT classic meeting takes place on the Billown circuit in the south of the island. Races take place on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

Phillip McCallen, 11 times TT winner, is declared unfit to ride this year following damage to his back sustained in an accident in early May. He comes to the island anyway to help Honda in an advisory capacity. Another star, Derek Young, is also declared unfit with a similar injury. TT favourite Joey Dunlop is passed fit to race, having also sustained injuries including losing his wedding ring finger several weeks previously. His brother Robert undergoes a late fitness test and is passed fit to ride, as is Jim Moodie.

Double sidecar TT winner Geoff Bell and his passenger Lee Farrington crash in Monday's practices. Both sustain fractures which spell the end of their TT for this year. In the Thursday afternoon practice session local competitor Mike Casey is killed at Ballagarey. During the same session top rider Iain Duffus breaks his leg just stepping out of his motorhome!

Mayor of Douglas Jim Mitchell welcomes 20 young riders to the council chambers. The riders, all members of the Honday UK supported John Shand Racing Team, come from a number of countries including New Zealand, Sweden, America, South Africa, Japan and Ireland. They also pay a visit to a local primary school.

Saturday 6 June 1998

The day's action on the course - the Formula 1 and Sidecar A races as well as the Honda Anniversary parade - is abandoned due to adverse weather conditions. The Formula 1 and the parade will be run tomorrow and the Sidecar A race is abandoned altogether.

A firework display takes place over Douglas to celebrate Honda's anniversary. A large function is also held at the Villa Marina for the occasion. Guests include local politicians and Honda representatives including company founder Soichiro Honda's widow.

Sunday 7 June 1998

The Sunday of TT week is known as "Mad Sunday". The fans get their chance to ride around the course with the mountain section of the course made one-way. However, their fun is curtailed slightly when the roads are closed for racing.

The day starts at 6am with Honda's Dawn Chorus at the Grandstand. A 5 cylinder 125cc plus other 50cc and 125cc machines and 4 cylinder machines are started and run for 30 minutes - a recording and photo-call opportunity.

Various religious services take place including a TT supporters special service and a memorial service commemorating the 20th anniversary of the late Mike Hailwood's last world championship win on the Isle of Man.

Mentally and physically handicapped children are taken out by volunteer bikers in their sidecars and three-wheelers in the 13th annual Jumbo Run. Their destination is the TT Smiles fair at Port St Mary and a tea party in Port Erin.

More than 500 TT enthusiasts and lots of locals invade Castletown Square for a Classic bike display. Six times TT winner Jim Redman drops in to meet fans and display his collection of medals, trophies and memorabilia.

Various other events take place all around the island such as the Streetfighter challenge time slips along the north promenade in Ramsey and owners' club meetings.

A local man is seriously injured after his motorbike is involved in an accident with a tractor and trailer. The accident occurs at Fisher's Hill, away from the TT course.

The first race of the festival, the Formula 1 TT, finally starts at 3.45pm on Mad Sunday. It is 26¾ hours late and is reduced from 6 to 4 laps. It is won by Scotsman Ian Simpson by just 2.2 seconds from his team-mate Michael Rutter. On the final lap Rutter loses one of his contact lenses, forcing him to slow down and costing him the victory. Ulsterman James Courtney comes third, completing a Honda top three.

The Honda parade follows the Formula 1 TT and features top riders of the past Freddie Spencer, Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, Tommy Robb, Ralph Bryans and Stuart Graham.

The Isle of Man Post Office issue some new stamps entitled "TT Dreams". Top riders of the past and present are featured including Joey Dunlop, Dave Molyneux, Mike Hailwood and Naomi Tanaguchi. The final stamp features the Purple Helmets display team, a familiar sight during the TT festival. The stamps are launched via a Honda parachute drop onto the Douglas beach in the evening.

The TT street party is revived having been abandoned in 1997. This year the party is held on the northern end of Douglas promenade, not the southern end as in previous years. Despite a dull and wet afternoon, many gather to enjoy live bands, fairground rides, burger vans, games, the Daily Star newspaper's road show and 3 performances by Manx trials rider Steve Colley. Crowds stretch right along the 2 mile promenade from the party at the northern end of the promenade to Bushy's at the southern end.

Monday 8 June 1998

The 250cc Lightweight TT goes ahead despite far from perfect weather conditions. The race is reduced from 4 to 3 laps. Joey Dunlop storms into the lead and is declared the winner after only 2 laps when the rain comes down. Bob Jackson is second and John McGuinness third. The victory is another for Honday and Joey Dunlop's 23rd in 23 years of competing at the TT. The 400cc class, run concurrently, is won by New Zealander Paul Williams. Nigel Piercy is second with Phil Nicholls third.

Stockcar racing takes place at Onchan Park Stadium including a celebrity Formula 2 race featuring bike stars Steve Hislop, Niall McKenzie, Jim Moodie and Mike Hepworth.

Tuesday 9 June 1998

On another dreary morning on the island, the Sidecar B race gets underway. The 3 lap race is won by local competitors Dave Molyneux and Doug Jewell. It is Molyneux's 6th TT win - only 3 other drivers have won more. Kenny Howles and Manxman Nick Crowe are second with Gary Horspole and Kevin Leigh third.

A TT lap of honour takes place after the race. The lap features classic bikes ridden by top riders from TTs past. Sadly one of the sidecar drivers, Jack Trustham, suffers a heart attack, crashes and dies at Kirk Michael. His passenger Graham Harris is taken to Noble's Hospital Intensive Therapy Unit.

A new book called "Honda - the TT winning years" is launched and top Honda riders past and present attend a book signing at the Island Photographics shop in Douglas.

The Red Arrows aerobatic display team perform over Ramsey in the afternoon and Douglas in the evening. The official TT firework display takes place over Douglas at 11pm.

Wednesday 10 June 1998

The weather, although not perfect, allows racing to go ahead. Robert Dunlop wins the Ultra Lightweight 125 TT despite having broken his leg just a month earlier. He leads throughout and wins by 20 seconds from last year's winner Ian Lougher. Irishman Owen McNally finishes third. The Singles TT is run concurrently and is won by Dave Morris on a BMW, spoiling the Honda party. Jim Moodie is second with Mick Jeffries third.

The afternoon's Junior TT starts 15 minutes early and is reduced from 4 to 3 laps in a bid to beat the forecast rain. The race is won by Michael Rutter with his Honda team-mate Ian Simpson second. Manx rider Paul Dedman is third, completing a good 24 hours for local competitors.

The day's racing is followed by a brief practice session for Friday's main event, the Senior TT.

Trials rider Steve Colley performs more death-defying stunts in a display at Onchan Stadium in the evening. He is joined by the Purple Helmets who promise a number of new tricks but the show is badly affected by the wintery weather.

Thursday 11 June 1998

Finally the weather appears to be improving although there is no racing on the TT course. Some fans have already made their way home because of the atrocious conditions. Local people open up their homes to give campers the chance to dry off, typical of the TT spirit.

A fans' party is held by Honda in the Stakis Hotel. Many of the Honda Britain team riders are present and Radio TT stage a chat show at the party.

The Red Arrows do their final display of the festival over Peel at mid-day.

Friday 12 June 1998

In glorious conditions the 3 lap Production TT gets underway as planned on Friday morning. The race is won by Scotland's Jim Moodie who captures Honda's 100th TT victory. Welshman Nigel "Cap" Davies is second. Davies is known as "Cap" because when he is not wearing a helmet he is always to be seen in a flat cap! Michael Rutter is third. Unfortunately the race sees the second death of a competitor during TT '98. Charles Hardisty, from Wales, is killed at Rhencullen.

On Friday afternoon the final race of the festival, the 6 lap Senior TT, takes place. Honda gain their 101st victory when the race is won by Scotsman Ian Simpson. Bob Jackson is a very close second, a bungled fuel stop costing him the race, with James Courtney third. Simpson, along with many other competitors, has ridden 9 arduous laps of the course on this final day of the festival.

The festival ends with another Honda firework display over Douglas. The Honda name and logo are lit in fireworks on a barge in the bay.

Many riders including Ian Lougher, Simon Beck, James Courtney and Bob Jackson stay on the island to compete in the Steam Packet Races on the Billown circuit. These races are also badly affected by the weather, the story of the 1998 TT Races. Despite this thousands of fans have already booked with the Steam Packet Company to return next year.

MANXMANIAC June 1998

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