TT classic

I've been listening to a TT classic all week in the car. Its a 2005 album by Teddy Thompson called Separate Ways. Anyone who follows folk rock music will know that, with Fairport Convention founder guitarist Richard as a father, TT's music is unlikely to be upbeat.

Organisers of the Isle of Man's TT classic don't appear to be going separate ways from the Manx Grand Prix. They remain upbeat about the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling but surely the proof of the pudding is in the financial performance. Its one thing saying that visitor numbers are up but at what cost? The cost of bringing so many top, past and present, TT riders back to the Isle of Man will be huge. And entrants who last year paid more than £300 per race to enter (in the Manx Grand Prix Classic race) had free entry this year.

For our holiday guest of 17 of the past 18 year, it really was a TT Classic as he won a replica for the first time. In a classic case of quitting when ahead, he has now retired after 25 years. I've never been entirely comfortable having a rider under our roof so, although its an end of era and I'll miss our chats, I am happier than listening to TT in the car.

This morning should have been the Peel to Douglas run. Although I have enjoyed having the morning at home, its sad to see the event go for ever. People used to judge their season by how well they had done in a classic race like the Peel to Douglas. With all respect to some of the series and events we stage, performances are soon forgotten.

But just as Teddy Thompson wouldn't produce such good music if he didn't have failed relationships to write about, let's hope that our relationships with the road races that remain are even stronger when we put the Peel to Douglas affair behind us.