THOUGHT FROM THE ROAD

Seems the Isle of Man article released some memories and other suggestions. Since it’s truly a motorcycle destination, we thought we’d bring you those thoughts…

Seeing the article about the fabled IOM brough back so many memories, some good, some not so good.

It was 1957. I was a young soldier, stationed in Hanau, Germany at the time. I had purchased a new BMW R250 ($450) and wanted to travel about Europe.. Where would be a great place to start? The IOM!!!!!

As the Steam packet approached the isle, the rst that you see that you see is the ‘isle of refuge’ a tiny island just off the main island. Back in the ‘50s, the ship was not a drive off vessel. Depending on the tides, the bikes were lifted off the boat by a crane. I was nally there.

My housing was at the Douglas Holiday Camp. This camp was used as a prison of war facility for German soldiers. My room was one of many small cabins. The rst thing I did was to get out on the race course and have the ride of my life. Something, probably most of my friends would never get to do. In the evening there was many activities at the camp. It was there that I saw a couple of lovely ladies. They were young nurses working for the summer, before venturing out into the world. The next day, I ran into them in Douglas and ask one of them if they would like a ride around the course. It was a cool day and I offered the young lady, whose name was Lillian, my jacket. I was a gentleman back then. This was the beginning of things to come. I spent all of my non-race watching time with this young lady. To be continued!! As for the races back then, there were two races on the mountain course, 500cc & 350cc. The 250cc, 125cc and the side cars was on another course. The roads were closed early in the mornings for practice. The sounds of the bikes racing around the 39.5 course were different then. There were no Japanese bikes back then. Most of the bikes were equipped ‘dust pan’ fairings, which were banned in future years due to cross winds. It was a different world then. The Sunday before the races was known as Suicide Sunday for obvious reasons. Every biker on the island was out on the course going as fast as they could. But at this time, the course was not closed to regular traf c and the hospitals were standing ready for new business, which they got. I had a great time making believe I was Geff Duke on my 250cc BMW. The roads, on race days, were open to regular traf c, before the races so that people could get somewhere around the course to watch the days event. I picked the Ramsey Hairpin for my rst viewing of the 350cc race. If you got tired of your viewing location and you had left your bike outside of the course, you could just ride to another spot. Sorry, if your bike was on the inside of the course, you were there for the entire race. You were standing about 8 feet away from the bikes going by at well over 100. Can’t do that in the USA. I could go on forever talking about my adventures. It was a sad day for me to be going back to Germany. Not only was I leaving the IOM but I was also leaving the love of my life, Lillian. I was watching the island getting smaller in the distance with the song, ‘Around the World’ playing in my head. BUT, I returned to the island two more times that summer and by September, we were engaged to be married. I returned to Blackpool, England just before returning to the USA with an engagement ring. We were married the next June in England and where do you think we went for our Honeymoon? The Isle of Man, where else! I am sorry to say that Lillian passed away in 1985, but not before giving me 3 lovely daughters. So now you know a piece of my life.

Shira & Brian, As I read Peter Geffert’s & John Kovach’s article of their experiences attending their trip to the Isle of Man, I felt that I should share my experiences with

THOUGHTSFROMTHE ROAD Continued from Previous Page Backroads readers as I have been to the IOM 6 times in the past 30 years. With UK Pound at its lowest in decades and the Euro at par with the US, suddenly, the cost of an all-inclusive trip with a motorcycle, shared room, meals (minus lunches), ferries, support vehicle for luggage and a spare bike looks affordable at €4,600. Eligio Arturi, who I was with last weekend at the Barber Motorsports Fall Festival, is offering a 10% discount for those who sign by Dec 31, which is €4,140. That helps offset the cost of airfare from JFK to London Gatwick (AA-$798) or from NWK to Gatwick (TAP-$829) – then train to central London. Passenger is €2,900 (discounted €2,610)!

The itinerary & details are mototouring.com/product/motorcycle-tours/ classic-motorcycle-tours/isle-man-manx-gp/. Eligio has 20+ vintage bikes listed on the website from BMW, Honda, Ducati & Moto Guzzi. It is true that hotels & ferries are reserved 1 year ahead of time. Yes, he made all the reservations last summer for 2023. There are stops along the way from London to the ferry in Heysham. The races are every other day, so I used to get everyone up at 6:00am for a 2 quick laps on the race route before the public and the Police are on patrol before breakfast! There is a lot to see and do…

The IOM is a worthy Bucket List adventure!

BACKLASH Continued from Page 7 had on the MABDR. 650cc is my rst impulse (like the Honda XR650L or Suzuki DR650S, but what about 400/450 or even 250? You guys ride a lot of motorcycles; what do you think? (And what’s it going to feel like riding a thumper on the highway?) I would value your input greatly.

Hello,

I enjoyed this month’s article on Lake Hopatcong. I lived there as a kid and have fond memories of Bertrand Island Amusement Park. There was a ride whose name escapes me, that you’d sit in a circular car that would go faster and faster in a circle, until the car would be released, banging the occupants through a dark tunnel. That ride surely wouldn’t be allowed to exist today.

Lake Hopatcong is where I also had my rst motorcycle experience, my Dad bought a surplus CZ Jawa 250 Enduro from Popular Mechanics magazine that was dropped off crated on the curb, “assembly required”. I helped put it together and was taken for a ride a few times around the neighborhood. That began my fascination with motorcycling.

In the winter the lake used to freeze to the point where vehicles could drive onto it. At some point one of the bridges was rebuilt, but with a grated surface. During the winter salting trucks would drop some salt through the grate, leaving the ice below somewhat precarious. I believe a few snowmobiles and perhaps vehicles wound up going to the bottom of the lake when trying to go under the bridge. Ah the 70’s...

All the best!