Non-Believer Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 12 minutes ago, the stinking enigma said: It's a different crowd for the fom. The one way system in tt is basically a free track day for wannabe racers. +1. The "old" MGP and its Classic classes always attracted a more "mature" (read old ) fan base. Though that may now be changing with the pushing of the FOM as a "second TT". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gettafa Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 I think the MGP always was intended to be a 'second TT', hence holding it at end of August to eek out what used to be called the summer season. I'm not sure the change of name will help, but I suppose it will. I refuse to change from calling it 'the Manx', but I suppose that will just be another way of me displaying my impending old fartiness. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxdaleliberationfront Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 And it's closed again... The Mountain Road is currently closed between Creg Ny Baa and Cronk Ny Mona (top of Jonny Watterson's lane) due to an RTC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilligaf Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 2 hours ago, gettafa said: I think the MGP always was intended to be a 'second TT', hence holding it at end of August to eek out what used to be called the summer season. I'm not sure the change of name will help, but I suppose it will. I refuse to change from calling it 'the Manx', but I suppose that will just be another way of me displaying my impending old fartiness. The MGP was always in September 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTF Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 8 hours ago, dilligaf said: The MGP was always in September maybe with the school summer holidays being possibly shorter these days it was moved forward so as not to interfere with school time?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian rush Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Theres limited boat capacity. If you're the sort of ballbag for whom tt wouldnt be the same without an unrestricted one way mountain road then dont come. Theres plenty more to take your place who might not be as likely to close the road, fill a hospital bed, injure others or end up in a box with the inquest cost and bad PR that comes with a RTA death in TT. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gettafa Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 9 hours ago, dilligaf said: The MGP was always in September Yep true. I was going by lately when it has spanned August/September. Not sure of the reasoning maybe due to there be no 'summer season' to interfere with. There have been a few recent MGPs that were held later in September and for an evening practices with heavy cloud it was looking like lights would be needed... Is this year's the earliest ever? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gettafa Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 (edited) Incidentally, with bringing the races forward I wonder if that has affected marshals attendance? I wonder if they were consulted? Edited August 18, 2019 by gettafa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Both the TT and the later MGP were seen as extensions to the summer season and for many years 'bookended' it - remember that until the English August Bank holiday was moved from the 1st Sat to last Sat in August some years ago, this early August Bank holiday was the peak of the season - the races have been moved closer together as post the 80s fewer and fewer tourists would be inconvenienced by road closures and the bike fans became the major tourist group - practice in those years was early morning - I recall the 'beware sun' notice on the west side of TT course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilligaf Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Frances said: Both the TT and the later MGP were seen as extensions to the summer season and for many years 'bookended' it - remember that until the English August Bank holiday was moved from the 1st Sat to last Sat in August some years ago, this early August Bank holiday was the peak of the season - the races have been moved closer together as post the 80s fewer and fewer tourists would be inconvenienced by road closures and the bike fans became the major tourist group - practice in those years was early morning - I recall the 'beware sun' notice on the west side of TT course The “Beware Sun” sign is used in the evening too, if I remember it correctly, on the Ballahutchen (sp) for the setting sun ! Edited August 18, 2019 by dilligaf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 11 hours ago, dilligaf said: The MGP was always in September Not for a very long time I think. It originally started out as being the first week in September with the Practice Week before in August, but it was moved back to be the last two weeks in August decades ago (1990-ish?). I suspect the rule now is that August Bank Holiday is the Monday of the race week, which means that the latest the Friday can be is the 4th September, but it can be as early as 30th August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dilligaf Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 14 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: Not for a very long time I think. It originally started out as being the first week in September with the Practice Week before in August, but it was moved back to be the last two weeks in August decades ago (1990-ish?). I suspect the rule now is that August Bank Holiday is the Monday of the race week, which means that the latest the Friday can be is the 4th September, but it can be as early as 30th August. You should know that the MGP was widely known as “ the September Races” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piebaps Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 3 hours ago, ian rush said: If you're the sort of ballbag for whom tt wouldnt be the same without an unrestricted one way mountain road then dont come. Its not unrestricted. There's a speed limit until just above the Gooseneck, there's a restricted section at the bungalow and the limits begin again at Keppel Gate. I suspect we'll see a limit around Brandywell before long too as its a favourite with the lemmings. The whole unrestricted thing is IMHO a very overegged pudding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 12 minutes ago, dilligaf said: You should know that the MGP was widely known as “ the September Races” Oh quite possibly and it was usually in September. But that was changed after about 1990. I can't find a list of dates but the latest death after 4th September was in 1990 (less ghoulish sources gratefully accepted). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 I think the event was brought forward around 1996..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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