PETER PERRINS TT LAPA RIDERS-EYE VIEW |
 Peter Perrin of Maidenhead, Regional Sales Manager for Kawasaki, has ridden in the TT for a number of years now. He has had some good machinery and expert mechanical assistance so I feel he is the ideal person to give a true appraisal of a lap of the T.T. course. I was pleased to be able to sit down with him recently while he related to me his approach to, and how he attacked, the worlds most famous road race circuit. I have incorporated a format which I have been using for a number of years now. It is based upon Geoff. Dukes visual TT Guide from the 1950s. It is very interesting to hear how riders have adapted to course changes over the years ! Other riders in my series have included Steve Hislop, Brian Morrison, Kate Parkinson, Ago Murphy, David Madsen Mygdal, Francesca Giordana and Liz Skinner to mention only a few ! Ian starts........ I remember when I first came to the TT, the spectator committed himself for the whole day to watch just one race ! We all went out to some vantage spot as a group from the hotel, in a bus, with enough packed food to last us most of the day. We all had the basic scorecard and rugs, and sat in a long row on the bankside at Creg-ny-Baa to watch for more than four hours as the race of seven laps unfolded. The six lap, two hour races appear to be over before they start these days. Peter responds...... Oh, Ian, in the two hour race, the rider has it easier only by road surface standards. The speed now gives little lea-way to correct even the minor mistake. Ian asks....... Right then Peter, talk me through your lap please, including your approaches. Peter begins....... Well, after the start, topping 150mph, I aim for the top of Bray Hill, pulling on the bars to wheelie over the camber of the crossroads, otherwise the front wheel 'digs' in and starts a wobble, and aim the bike between the little yellow manhole cover and the kerb. Rocket down the hill over to the left hand kerb, wait, wait, then I force the bike into the apex at the bottom of the hill. It's funny because before you know it you are up the other side, I think it is due to the G-forces as you compress into the dip. I then wait for the two wheelies that are Ago's leap, making sure I am upright for the take off. Then I set myself up for the first "corner"... Ian asks... Quarter Bridge ? Peter responds.... Just as I approach Quarterbridge , I ease the brakes when the front lifts as I cross the camber of the joining road on the left, watching for the shiny road surface at the apex of Quarterbridge. First lap and after pitting I really do notice the extra fuel load so I am careful on the brakes. On to Braddan Bridge where there is the first lefthander so I have to be aware of the cold tyres. Exiting Braddan through the lefthander by the wall, over the manhole cover, I am e aware that I can spin the back tyre, but I need to pile it on flat stick now through to Union Mills. The approach is like diving into a funnel, so I watch the rise before I enter the section. I need to be gentle with the brakes, and back down the box. Through the right then just before I take the left in the middle of changing direction, there is a small rise( a culvert) which can unsettle the bike, especially if I am too greedy with the gas. I feed it on once the bike is settled all the way round the left that exits Union Mills, out onto a straight, wringing the bikes neck and optimising the gear changes, a couple of wheelies up the hill, through the first right kink, you don't even need to use all the road. Ballagarey is next and is SO fast, one of my favourite places to watch as you can stand on the wall and watch directly over the top of the racers as they hurtle through----It's mind blowing. Through to Greeba castle , I keep it flat until the end of the chequered kerbs on the right, then I roll it and back down through the box, taking care on the exit of this section as the camber drops away and it is easy for the back to attempt to overtake the front. Through Appledene, another couple of wheelies, into Greeba bridge, and I again watch the rear end as the suspension unloads over the bridge and the camber drags the rear away from you . Into Ballacraine a well used braking marker are the two trees close together on the right-hand side ( watch the road surface ). Up to Ballspur, I am aware of the field exit on the right, tractors can leave mud at that point, I then fire out of the left Ballaspur and keep accelerating round the right , downhill into Dorans. Into Glen Helen now, carefully does it through Laurel Bank, needing some caution and then out into Black Dub, taking care on the exit, into Glen Helen proper, three lefts, the first is flat, the second is a tricky off camber narrowing left, that runs through past the Glen Helen Hotel. If you stop for refreshment , take a look at the brilliant picture of Robbie Dunlop hanging off the side of the JPS Norton as it leaps over Ballaugh Bridge , big bike, with a small rider, airborne- brilliant. It was in the bar by the pool table. Onto the 11th , flat-out left, using the telegraph pole as the apex, as I exit still cranked over, the road drops way and I am on the back wheel cranked over at high speed. Down into the right-hander, again it has a jump just before, the important part of this section is the left hand exit so you must late apex the first right-hander to set up the left. Into Handleys....Steady her up on the brakes, and wait, the camber close to the wall is good and hopefully will hold me in, back up through the gears onto sweeping left right left, again I must take a line that allows the bike to be upright over the humps. Into Barregaroo. Bumpy on the brakes into the 13th, long long left on the exit, I try and get the bike upright so I can get the power on again. Into Kirkmichael, apex the lamppost by the Mitre........ That must be great to sit on the wall next to the lamppost, with a pint, with all the guys aiming for you !!!!  Peter in action Through the village, onto Rencullen, wheelie right-hander, lefthander, upright, wheelie , into dip, right-hander, and wheelie as I change into top, pile it on now to Ballaugh Bridge. At the bridge, I brake hard and wait until I see a gap and jump, but I don't go too mad and snap the chain !! I pile it on again out past the Raven. Past the Lady in White "Gwen" , on to Ballacrye, flat stick top gear around the bumpy lefthander that preceeds the jump, the bike moving about on the ripples, get upright , roll off , over the jump , roll on , and head down to Quarry Bends, which is top gear on a 600 for me !! The bike is travelling very quickly through this section and it is difficult to change direction, so I may have to roll it a little to get the front tyre to bite. One of my favourites is the Kerramoar section. I take care out of Ginger hall, wheelie over the top and I shoot downhill into Kerramoar, using a telegraph pole as a braking marker, I then dive into the positive camber of the lefthander by the cottage, out and hug the wall all the way round the right then get her upright and over the small jump, a really satisfying part of the course. Through the fast bumps that are the Lezayre road and on into Ramsey. In Ramsey the road narrows and I am in among buildings again, the last time this lap. It is quite a drag up to Ramsey Hairpin under the trees. You can almost hear the commentary on the speakers. I am now climbing up the mountain section and have left the low part of the course behind. As I get to the Gooseneck I am welcomed by a bank of spectators and they wave as I negotiate the tight right hand bend. I take a deep breath, a handful of throttle and look for my first view of Snaefell. It is flat out but you can't judge the speed due to lack of hedges and houses. Across the Mountain it is bend after bend and I am apprehensive about poor visibility and the odd spot of rain which can be evident up here even on a nice day ! You get to the Bungalow feeling relaxed but are jolted by the tram lines. You can run over the grass if your line is not inch perfect. Windy Corner is never calm !! You come out of the "Three Lefts" and try to lose speed as you approach the right hand bend. I bang open the throttle and think of the 33rd. Thirty Third is difficult to judge--the camber changes so quickly. The road opens out and it is again bends until you see Kates Cottage on the right. Bumpy but by now you can see Douglas over to the right and you know you are nearly back to the start. I take care where I brake for the Creg (I remember a video by Steve Hislop when he earholed it down the slip road !!) Down from the Creg is totally flat out, absolutely on the stop... A careful negotiation of Brandish sets me up for Hillberry and I power down past Cronk-ny-Mona to Signpost. I see the road into Onchan and haul the bike round. Houses are round me again and speed feels fast as they flash past. Round Bedstead and into the Nook you feel you are going far too fast and the bike wrestles with you as it tries to keep going quickly !!. When you take Governors you feel you are going backwards after being flat out for so long... I join Glencrutchery Road and see ahead of me the RadioTT Tower and have two options. Refuel OR Go through ! If I have timed it right I do it right !! Ian comes back....... So that's one lap out of the way then, what do you do different on the next lap ? Peter replies Well, the bike is nicely warmed up, the tyres are worn in and I am in racing mode. The petrol is half gone so the bike flicks better, however when I refuel we are back to square one again !! It is total concentration all the time and you feel a mixture of elation and exhaustion when you come to a halt at the end of the race. Ian ends.... Thank you very much Peter for that interesting quick lap round the TT Mountain Circuit. Enjoy your TT..... Peter.... Thank you... Pleasure talking to you, so where will you be watching us all today ? Ian replies.... I will be at my favourite spot today, Clarks, just before Keppel Gate.... Peter..... See you there !!!!  |