Intro to TT Races 2008
This is just some very early correspondence, to start the ball rolling.
Not much as happened yet for TT 2008. However, I’ve done the single most important thing already - I’ve booked the ferry tickets.
I’ve also reserved some accommodation.
I’ve already taken firm bookings, with deposits, from 4 people.
About 10 enquiries for 2008 have come in to me in the last few weeks, and I have a few people on standby from 2006 & 2007, who had to cancel for various reasons.
There’s lots to do. This is just a start.
The plan will be to run it just like 2007 and previous years – it’s a formula which works quite well. Read all the bits on my website for 2006 and 2007 – it will be just the same! Read the testimonials as well. Read here http://www.biketours-uk.com/catman/view/1/441/index.cms and then all the sections here http://www.biketours-uk.com/catman/subcat/6/86/index.cms
List
I’ll set up a distribution list for all potential & real customers. In this way, I can address everyone at the same time. To do.
Accommodation
Some rooms already reserved. The rest to be confirmed.
I have a guesthouse (part of the Homestay scheme) in Douglas, and another in Laxey. It is most probable that I shall use both these places again, as I have done for the last 6 or 7 years.
Most rooms are double bedded, or twin bedded. Single rooms are rare.
There’s always camping as well. At least half the group choose to camp. Arguably it’s more fun, and it’s much cheaper. It takes a certain kind of person however – some hate it, and would never be converted.
UK or USA or Other
Many of my guests –over half, are from within the UK. They tend to have their own bikes, know the score, know how to get to Heysham or Liverpool, and don’t require much additional support. Guests from overseas often need a higher level of support & guidance, and in most cases will need to hire a motorcycle.
Hire bikes
I stopped offering this service at the end of 2006. Long story – too many crashes – too much damage. Not worth it. However I know other people who do supply rental bikes, and I can help you with this.
The package
The deal includes ferry tickets, and accommodation, lots of pre-trip advice & help, a van going out, which carries tools and camping gear, and baggage where convenient, and the presence of myself on the same tour. If anyone has bike trouble on the island, we have tools and there is a degree of support to help you out. People do have problems, believe me. There are usually 30 or 40 people on the TT trip. It’s not a guided tour as such. Most people do their own thing, although a small group normally ride over there together, with me (only 10-12).
The “tour” starts and finishes at the docks in Heysham, and lasts for Race week. This is how it is priced, and this suits the Brits and everyone. One price for all. Brits just want the TT package, and don’t need or want any extras. Those coming from overseas wil need extra support, will need to pick up rental bikes, and will usually need accommodation setting up before and after the TT races, on the UK mainland.
I can do this for you – but it’s a separate issue, and will be planned separately. Everyone’s needs are different. We normally have one night in the Yorkshire Dales before sailing to the IOM. Sailings for 2008 are at a different time, so the night in Dent is less necessary next year. But most who do it, love it.
Insurance
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, get travel insurance. 20% of you will cancel before the trip – and if it’s for a good and valid reason – illness, accident, or worse – then you can claim the trip price back from your insurance. EVERY YEAR, someone has a pre-trip problem. Someone falls ill, or drops a bike on their foot. This causes immense problems and expense – unless you have travel insurance, then all the pain goes away, as if by magic.
Price
I really don’t know the exact price yet. Ferry prices don’t get announced ‘til January 2008, and I haven’t agreed room prices with my guesthouses yet. All I can say is “on a par with 2007”.
Pricing for 2007
This TT place is sold as a package, with ferry ticket, accommodation and in a limited number of cases, a rental bike as well. Therefore the minimum price of a ticket now is £395 GBP – this is the camping package, and includes the support and camp fees. If you choose to buy a place, then NOT camp that’s up to you. Find your own hotel room if you want to, but my minimum price remains the same.
This "package" covers return ferry tickets and B&B or Homestay accommodation, or camping.
Motorcycle rental will be extra if required, and you'll probably need to budget for extra accommodation on the UK mainland before & after the TT races if you are coming in from overseas. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the time it takes to land, move across Britain, pick up rental bikes and get to the ferry ports. Then do it all in reverse AFTER the TT Races. It's a 3 hour check-in period at the port, with a 3.5 hour sailing, plus perhaps a 5 hour ride to the ports . So don't land in Britain just half a day before your ferry crossing. It won't work. I'll discuss individual needs as bookings are confirmed. I'd suggest 2 or 3 nights before the IOM part and at least one night afterwards prior to flying out again.
Bike & Rider, in Guesthouse accommodation (8 nights) £799 GBP
Pillion passenger £649 GBP
Camping Package Price (bike & rider, 8 nights) £395 GBP.
Pillion on camping package £265 GBP
A non-refundable deposit of £200 GBP per head secures your place on this trip.
It has to be absolutely non refundable – and this sum roughly equates to the price of a ferry ticket. Why?
Because from past experience over the last 7 years, approx 20% of you will cancel next January or February. By then, I will have made specific room arrangements for you, specific bikes will be allocated in many cases, ferry tickets will have been paid for, in full, and at least 50% of the accommodation costs will have been paid for, up front.
When someone cancels, it upsets the whole plan, and it’s not always easy to re-sell a place – especially with specific room arrangements (say a mix of twins, or doubles). If a couple cancel for example – two guys don’t want to share the double bed which becomes free.
Lots more detail to add later.
Bill. 11th July 2007.
Exact ferry booking dates below.
Provisional ferry bookings for Isle of Man TT Races 2008
Note – I booked & paid deposits on these tickets on Wednesday 6th June, 2007. At this point, just half way through Race Week 2007, I thought I would have my pick of 2008 sailings. WRONG! My preferred sailings for our support van (same boat as the bikes) were already sold out (for vans), and I bought the very last three bike tickets on my usual 14:15 sailing from Heysham. The rest are on a slightly later boat now. Still great crossings by-the-way, but secondary to what I would have preferred.
The van will be going out one day before the bikes, and returning 1 day after the bikes. When booking 1 year in advance, I have no idea how many pillion places will be required. So I make and guess, and book a few. Extra pillion places can be booked later, according to demand – if space remains on the boat.
Weekend sailings do sell out, and short of picking up any cancellations (sometimes found on eBay), it can become impossible to book any extra tickets on these same sailings.
At this stage, I have no intention of booking any extra tickets. For 2007 (The Centenary), there was exceptional demand, and I ended up booking an extra block of tickets, which I called the “advance group”. These guests sailed out a few days ahead of the main group. For 2008, I’d prefer the whole group to sail out, and return on the same days.
The tickets are bought for RACE WEEK. These are optimised sailings, going out the day before race 1, and returning the day after the last TT Race (The Senior). Note however – the TT race programme does not always run exactly to plan – any delays or changes to the programme are normally due to the weather.
There are THREE groups, under 3 separate booking reference numbers. The van, the last 3 bike / rider / pillion places on the Ben-my-Chree, and the main batch of bike riders.
The main group of bikes – Ref G738xxx / 000
27 motorcycles and 29 adults. (meaning 25 bike / rider tickets, and 2 bike / rider / pillion tickets)
Heysham to Douglas, Fri 30th May 2008, 16:45 on Super Seacat 2, arrive 19:45
(check-in closes @14:45 on outward journey).
Douglas to Heysham, Sat 7th June, 09:45, Super Seacat 2, arrive 12:45
(check in on return sailing closes at 07:45)
The small group of bike & pillions – Ref G738xxx / 000
3 motorcycles and 6 adults. (meaning 3 bike / rider / pillion tickets)
Heysham to Douglas, Fri 30th May 2008, 14:15 on Ben-my-Chree, arrive 17:45
(check-in closes @12:15 on the outward journey).
Douglas to Heysham, Sat 7th June, 09:45, Super Seacat 2, arrive 12:45
(check in on return sailing closes at 07:45)
Note – these 3 bikes / riders & pillions are coming back on the SAME boat as the main group.
The support van – Ref G738xxx / 000
This is booked as a “camper”, as we normally use Stuart’s large motorhome.
It’s booked as 1 camper & 3 adults. Booking some people carrying space has always proved to be useful.
Heysham to Douglas, Thur 29th May 2008, 14:15 on Ben-my-Chree, arrive 17:45
(check-in closes @13:15 on outward journey).
Douglas to Heysham, Sun 8th June, 19:45, Ben-my-Chree, arrive 23:15
(check in on return sailing closes at 18:45)
It might be possible to amend the van crossing times later (to match the bikes more closely), but it can only happen if cancellations occur and space on the boat becomes available. Or if they lay on an extra vessel.
Note – exact words from The Steam Packet Company;
“ Please find above, details of your provisional TT bookings.
Please note that above times / ports / vessels are subject to change.
TT deposits are non refundable, and full brochured fare payment is required prior to travel. An invoice with details of full fare payable will be sent at a later date”
This means, that sometimes, the IOMSPC can and will change their timetables. This has rarely affected me however. Of 44 people on my 2007 trip, only one had his ferry ticket changed – and this was actually for a more favourable crossing as it happens.
It also means that IOMSPC will not publish their 2008 TT ticket prices until at least January next year (2008). Therefore, at this stage, I can only estimate the likely price to me, based on past years.
Bill Roughton
Bike Tours UK
10th July 2007
Can you imagine what Mad Sunday is really like?
No? Watch this (just spotted on www.iomtt.com)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNcW46nhm6o The very famous, & much missed, rider featured is a touch better than you or I will ever be, but it's excellent footage, and demonstrates the slow lane / fast lane syndrome over the mountain circuit on Mad Sunday. Note Police car parked on RHS. Just watching. Note how he creams those 2 Honda MAC riders as well (their road positioning is good though, and they saw him coming and moved over).
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