THE HANKS FAMILY--Having known the Hanks family for many years, it is interesting to see just how much they have participated in the T.T..
Father Fred, sons Norman and Roy, Rose, Tom, Tamzine and now Julie have all made the Sidecar T.T. their own. Add all their passengers and associated drivers (including the Biggs family) into the equation and you have a lot of Hanks-related entries !!--Also, remember that Fred Hanks has been deeply involved in the reporting side as well, as writer and editor of the greatly missed "T.T.Special" broadsheets which kept us well informed in the pre-website days !!! See THE HANKS WEBSITE
PRESS CENTRE CONTROVERSY--Following the very sad death of long-standing TT guru Peter Kneale it was in many peoples mind as to who could follow such a dedicated man. We now know that the new Press Officer is Geoff. Cannell. This news has been met with conflicting opinions from two very different camps....Many thought that a new Press Officer should be on call, on site at all the times he was needed--Others think that the way Peter did it was more than acceptable, the fact that he was also the main commentator added to, not distracted from his main job which was keeping the media bang up to date. A number of names were put forward, not least that of Mac McDiarmid, manx resident and highly respected reporter and writer. We can never replace Peter, he will remain unique in his application. The new person will have to establish himself very quickly and be unique in his own way. Personally, I wish Geoff. good luck in his new position.....He'll be O.K...
MICK CHATTERTON--Mick returns yet again...He has been one of the top T.T.-supporting riders for many, many years and we used to meet on the boat going over each and every year, on the same boat as Bill Smith, Steve Murray and the like..Long may Mick race competitively in the T.T.
SHAUN HARRIS--I have known Shaun for a number of years now. I will never forget his involvement with the Britten, and also when he raced for my friend Doug Randall of "Best of Bikes" who loaned Shaun some fast Suzukis..Shaun returns this year ready for action--We do not know what he is riding yet...
GLEN ENGLISH--Glen is not only known as a featured T.T. rider but also has a number of model statuettes gracing the top of my television. George Formby on the Shuttleworth Snap and Ago on the M.V. are just two of Glens excellent models..
WADE BOYD--Always good to see this visitor from across the pond. We wonder what colour his hair will be and what hat he will be wearing this year and in how many races he will participate...
GED TENNANT--Ged is on the entry list but tells me he has received a "REJECT SLIP" from the A.C.U.!!....He is, of course, appealing against this strange decision and hopes to participate--He must know the TT course by now after all these years--Ged married his passenger Maria Clarke a few years back--Then after producing a family,( her own mini sidecar team ) Maria retired..The chair is now passengered by Geds son from his previous marriage, Ian.
MARC GRANIE--The Continental policeman returns yet again !!
PETE PERRIN--Another good rider, but he has told me today ( May 7th) that he has been unable to get a bike for the TT--He was hoping for a Kawasaki ZX9R but there appears to be a shortage of 2002 models.....Can anyone help please ???
NEW GRANDSTAND ANCHORMAN--No one really knows yet who will be taking the Grandstand commentary seat--Is it Fred Clarke ??? (No--He is committed to the "other" mainland motorcycle races !!)--Is it Geoff Cannell ??? Or is it someone we have not yet put forward----Please let us know the decision ASAP !!
PROGRAMMES--IF you are unable to get to the TT you can still obtain a 2002 TT Souvenir Programme.
PHONE:-01624-612626
OR write to- UNIT 1, Snugborough Trading Estate, Braddan, Isle of Man, IM4 4LH...
Cost about £7.00 or just over 20 DM.
MISS YOUR BOAT ?--Well, in theory, you could get so involved in Liverpool looking at all the displays, listening to the music and propping up the bar that you miss your boat over...
Reported in the MCN this week, there will be a four day session from May 29th to June 1st.
However it is also designed for those fans who are unable to secure a ticket to "go over" yet still want to simulate the Douglas Sea Front party..
In those golden days of yester-year we had to make do with a hurried kip on the dock roundabout with very basic refreshments obtained from the port side pubs in drinking hours before a rough overnight voyage lasting up to five hours !!!
AND they used to drain your petrol before you could go on board ship !!!!
DESPICABLE--My Irish contact was on the phone in the middle of this week and, clearly very emotional, related that the Statue of Joey Dunlop in Ballamoney had been vandalised.
Obviously in tears, my friend also said that the statue was daubed with painted slogans.
WE JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN.
We have now been told that youngsters are suspected as having done this terrible thing.
It is just not acceptable, and those responsible must be taken to task, no matter what age they are !!
We can only think to send further condolences to Joeys family at this time........
We have just read the report on NEWS@IOMONLINE and are glad to note that the paint was only emulsion which has washed off..It makes it little better...
MEN AND MOTORS AT THE T.T--T.V. Channel "MEN AND MOTORS" have secured exclusive rights
(UK excluding N. Ireland) to show The Isle of Man 2002 TT Races, plus selected relevant videos(+)
Programming will be as follows:
TT Preview 2002--Friday 31 May, 9:30pm
History of the TT (+) (part 1)--Saturday 1 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 1)--Sunday 2 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
History of the TT (+) (part 2)--Monday 3 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 2)--Tuesday 4 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
Honda TT Golden Years (+)--Wednesday 5 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 3)--Thursday 6 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
Mad Sunday (+)--Friday 7 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 4)--Saturday 8 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT Review 2002 (part 1)--Sunday 9 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT Review 2002 (part 2)--Monday 10 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
PLEASE SEE MEN AND MOTORS WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Obviously in tears, my friend also said that the statue was daubed with painted slogans.
WE JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN.
We have now been told that youngsters are suspected as having done this terrible thing.
It is just not acceptable, and those responsible must be taken to task, no matter what age they are !!
We can only think to send further condolences to Joeys family at this time........
We have just read the report on NEWS@IOMONLINE and are glad to note that the paint was only emulsion which has washed off..It makes it little better...
MEN AND MOTORS AT THE T.T--T.V. Channel "MEN AND MOTORS" have secured exclusive rights
(UK excluding N. Ireland) to show The Isle of Man 2002 TT Races, plus selected relevant videos(+)
Programming will be as follows:
TT Preview 2002--Friday 31 May, 9:30pm
History of the TT (+) (part 1)--Saturday 1 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 1)--Sunday 2 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
History of the TT (+) (part 2)--Monday 3 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 2)--Tuesday 4 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
Honda TT Golden Years (+)--Wednesday 5 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 3)--Thursday 6 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
Mad Sunday (+)--Friday 7 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT 2002 (Raceday 4)--Saturday 8 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT Review 2002 (part 1)--Sunday 9 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
TT Review 2002 (part 2)--Monday 10 June, 6:00pm repeated at 8:00pm
PLEASE SEE MEN AND MOTORS WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION