The first of this year’s Newcomers’ visits to the Isle of Man took place at the weekend.
The event proved a great success and was well received by around 25 prospective competitors for this year’s Manx Grand Prix who visited the island to see the Mountain Course and amass some first hand knowledge about riding in the event.
The weekend, organised by travelling marshal Jim Hunter along with other members of the Manx Motor Cycle Club, consists of practical guided tours along the course as well as information and question and answer sessions.
The newcomers enjoyed sunshine for much of their visit, in stark contrast to the weekend in March 2013 when no one had a sight of the mountain section because the road was closed by snow drifts.
In recent years the event has seen a surge of interest from riders wanting to compete in the Newcomers’ race so the weekend sessions offer a valuable insight into what is involved.
Visitors spent much of Saturday doing laps of the course by car or minibus along with ambassadors – experienced mountain course competitors who this year gained coaching accreditation from the ACU.
The ambassadors are able to offer tips on lapping the course safely.
Particularly troublesome or difficult sections of the course were highlighted and the visitors got a chance to ask advice and sometimes even walk along them.
A large number of competitors come across from the UK and several from the Isle of Man or Ireland. In previous years, for an increasing number from the continent, the visit could be their first chance to drive the course.
In recent years newcomers from France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands have competed in the event. For future newcomers, attendance at a weekend is likely to be compulsory.
Back at the Grandstand the visitors met officials from the Manx Motor Cycle Club, including chairman Harvey Garton, clerk of the course for the Manx Grand Prix Phil Taubman and race secretaries Caroline Etherington and Ann Kinvig. This gave an opportunity to find out information about the entry process as well as paperwork such as racing licence and Mountain Course licence requirements.
Representatives were also there from the Marshals’ Association.
A special information session was also provided courtesy of scrutineer Jeff Kirby who explained some of the finer points of bike preparation in advance of the event.
With the visitors assembled around a race bike in the scrutineering bay, he was able to demonstrate some of the additional requirements for bikes racing on the mountain course compared with a normal short circuit.
The weekends are part funded by the Hailwood Foundation charity.
The Mike Hailwood Foundation was established in 1981 in response to fans wanting to commemorate the life, success and popularity of the eight-times world champion.
Since the late 1980s, the Mike Hailwood Foundation has done a lot of work to attract newcomers to the MGP and TT, which is an extension to its original remit.
The charity is run by a small band of fans and enthusiasts.