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Photo Gallery: Isle of Man TT 1987 - First Look

What I did on my summer vacation, 20 years ago.

September 6, 2007

It’s not much of an island, really, the Isle of Man. Just 33 miles long and 12 1/2 wide, it lies quietly in the Irish Sea, midway between England and Northern Ireland. But for 100 years now, as May gives way to June, the Isle of Man grows exponentially in stature as it welcomes thousands upon thousands of motorcyclists, there to take part in TT Week, one of the sport’s great happenings.

Twenty years ago, I was one of those thousands, riding a Cagiva 650SS up from the riveted bowels of the ferry ship Lady of Manonto the dockside at Douglas, the Island’s capital city. I was there as part of Cycle World’s assault on the TT, spearheaded by Editor-at-Large Steve Thompson, riding a Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Production race.

As I rolled along the Promenade, the two-mile stretch of Victorian holiday hotels that rings horseshoe-shaped Douglas Bay, I realized I didn’t know quite what to expect from the Isle of Man. Of course, over the years I’d read the magazine reports and my mental scrapbook was filled to brimming with vivid, sepia-toned images from the past. There was Geoff Duke “crawling under the paint” of his big Featherbed Norton as it flashed down Sulby Straight. John Surtees hurtling the works MV 500 over the jump at Ballaugh Bridge. And strongest of all, visions of the epic arch-rivalry between Mike “The Bike” Hailwood on the shrieking, shaking Hondas and the immaculate Giacomo Agostini aboard his equally immaculate “fire engine” Agustas.

Then the strangely romantic names of the corners and landmarks around the 37.73-mile TT Mountain Course came to mind. Bray Hill and Ballacraine…the Quarry Bends and Creg-ny-Baa…Windy Corner and Cronk-ny-Mona. On and on, magic names all.What concerned me as I weaved through traffic—besides the fact that, like the English, Manxmen drive on the wrong side of the road—was whether the 1987 Isle of Man TT could possible live up to the advance billing that my mind had drummed up.

I needn’t have worried.

Another Horrible Crash?: Nope, just Moto Guzzi power hooked up to a Morgan three-wheeler in place of the usual J.A.P. V-Twin.

Wooden Wheel: Who knew that back in the day Dunlop also made artillery-style car wheels? Taken at an auto concours at Ramsey, Man?s second-largest town.

Cheers!: For Thompson?s TT assault, Team Cycle World was made up of family and friends, here posing on the portico of the Douglas Bay Hotel, home of bad showers but great breakfasts. Besides, Mike the Bike slept there.

Man Machine: My borrowed Cagiva 650SS, with Ducati V-Twin power, was perfect for exploring the Island on the race?s off days.

Café Cool: Norton café-racer shows off its Featherbed frame, Commando motor, front-brake air scoop and "bacon slicer" cooling ring. Want one just like it.

Bums & Elbows: When the sun is out and the races are on, spectating gets no better than at the Isle of Man.

Rubber Writings: In 1987, Thompson was the 28th American to compete in the Isle of Man TT races. At the time, his 101-mph lap marked him as just the third U.S. rider to break The Ton.

Fill ?er Up, Wash the Shield: Thompson?s one pitstop went flawlessly. In an earlier practice race, a loose gas cap had doused him with gasoline.

The Prom: The Douglas Promenade, home to Victorian Hotels, 12,000 motorcyclists and for those into fine art, nightly "Miss Wet TT Shirt" competitions.

Team CW: Clever use of orange jumpsuits had other teams worried we were out of the joint on some sort of odd work-furlough program...

Seeya in 113 Miles: Thompson takes off on Glencrutchery Road for his three-lap race.

Fairy Tale?: Island lore has it that to cross the Fairy Bridge and not wish the little people well is to risk horrendous luck. Most of the racers believe.

Silence, Please: Riders are reminded that TT race starts are dead-engine.

Thattaway: CW?s Paul Dean took part in a vintage lap of honor aboard a Ducati 750SS that belonged to "Sir" Alan Cathcart, then a CW contributor, now gone over to the dark side.

Bike Parking Only: Forget racing, just finding a slot along the Prom wasn?t easy.

Shop Torque: Just like Hailwood et al, we rented a "garrige" from a Man local.

Is that you, Valentino?: Thompson performs a pre-race "Rossi," 15 years before we ever heard of the guy!

Headstrong: Then 39 years old and not long after risky brain surgery to remove a benign pituitary tumor, Thompson was a man on a mission at the Isle of Man.

Classic Manx: Most arrive on modern sportbikes, but there?s always a classic component to TT Week, with shows and parade laps.

Dangerous Place: A sense of mortality is never far away on Man.

Three Legs: The Island?s symbol ties in with its motto: "Whichever Way You Throw Me I Stand."

Never Heard of It: LEF (Lewis, Ellis & Foster) special used what looks like a dohc-converted BSA Gold Star for power. Can that be right?

Real Production Number: Back in ?87, Production TT rules were pretty strict when it came to equipment. Note stock muffler and?look closer?even passenger footpegs!