From spectator to MGP rider. How and how much?

Manx Folk lore would have it that not so many Manx Grand Prixs ago, there was a certain member of the local constabulary who stood at Douglas Road Corner, Kirk Michael tasked with enforcing the 30mph speed limit. Armed with hand held speed radar gun he stopped unsuspecting bikers out for a ‘quick lap’ as they appeared over the brow of the hill from Westwood Corner. Imagine the disbelief and sense of relief when the guilty and ‘oh so apologetic’ biker was presented with an entry form for the Manx Grand Prix, as opposed to the expected speeding summons and subsequent fine!

We all know that racing on open roads proves nothing other than just how stupid some people can be, but it’s hard to believe that in these days of accountability, when all our favourite roads are being suffocated by the ‘speed camera’ that such things ever went on. Well how’s this for a thought - we’ll take your favourite bit of road in the whole world and close it for you. We’ll take all the other vehicles off it, take away any chance of somebody pulling out in front of you, let you know if there is anything on the road surface that could cause you a problem and never mind speed limits, the faster you go the better. Sound like a dream? No, sounds like the Manx Grand Prix!

Sean Murphy. 2009 Senior Newcomers race winner. manxphotosonline

Hold on a minute though, just what is involved in going from spectator to lining up on the Glencrutchery Road to face the toughest challenge in motorcycle racing and how much is it going to cost you?

If you’re starting from scratch you are going to have to compete in at least twenty different race days. For the first ten race days you will be clad in obligatory orange jacket to identify you as a novice. Over the course of the ten days you’ll have to compete on at least three different circuits. What you need to do then is qualify for your national licence which will involve you competing on at least four different circuits and finishing in the top half of the field in order to get one of the required ten signatures.

Let’s talk ball park - you are riding a four cylinder four stroke and don’t suffer any major mechanical failures, you manage to stay on board through the entire 20 (minimum) race days (highly unlikely I know!) thereby avoiding any major repair costs. Cost per race day including entries, some allowance for tyres (assuming one set will last you two meetings), getting there, fuel etc will be in the region of £250. Total cost: £5,000

When it comes to deciding what you are going to ride you’ve got two choices really; one is converting your existing road bike, the second is you buy a ready to go racer. Converting a stock road bike into a racer is surprisingly expensive. You need at least a can (£200) and a Power Commander (£200), a couple of hours on the dyno to set it up (£100), a steering damper (£150-200), 520 drive chain + sprockets (£100), a set of bodywork (or 2 - say £400), a decent rear shock (up to £600), front forks re-working (£200), aftermarket clip ons and rear sets ( £300), a little generator and a pair of tyre warmers (£400) and preferably a spare pair of wheels with wets on (wheels £200-400, wets £250).

Ryan Kneen. 2008 Senior Newcomers race winner. manxphotosonline

Laying your hands on someone else's race bike is a much better idea. They've already done all the race prep and you can get yourself something to learn the ropes fairly quickly, that has had all the bugs and glitches sorted out. At worst, all you should have to do is pay for an engine refresh. This can be surprisingly cheap on a 400 - absolute max £3000 for a competitive machine. For a 600, it's a case of setting realistic expectations - you can spend a fortune on a time bomb putting out 130bhp which will need real skill to ride fast or you can buy a lightly tuned bike that might not have the best horsepower in the world but would be likely to last a full season. I'd say £5000 would get you a pretty good 600.

So there we are. £10,000 should just about do it! All you’ve got to worry about then is your ACU Mountain Course license (£25) and your Manx Grand Prix entry fee (£300 per race). In total, that’s an awful lot of money to spend - is it worth it?

David Taylor has been riding in the Manx for 14 years: “As is always the case, Newcomers are obliged to attend a special briefing and undertake a guided lap on the 'tour bus'. I still recall hearing the advice at the briefing that no matter how many times we'd visited the TT or how many open roads laps we'd done, the Mountain Course would look very different when we commenced our first practice lap. With perhaps a touch of arrogant self-confidence, I thought this advice was complete hot air and, to judge by the expressions on the faces of some of my fellow newcomers, they clearly shared my opinion. The following day I did my very first 'closed roads' lap of the TT Mountain Circuit. Even now, 12 years later after laps at much higher speeds on vastly superior bikes, I still remember that first practice lap at fairly modest speed on my Kawasaki ZXR400. It counts as one of the most intense experiences I've had in life. It makes anything I ever did as a TT spectator on open roads pale into complete insignificance.” 

Neil Cudworth has been riding in the Manx every year since 1979. When asked why he keeps coming back he said: “I think it’s the TT course. I think you keep trying to achieve the perfect lap. I think, because of the sheer length of it, it’s the biggest challenge in motorcycle racing.”

Ian Hickey has won twenty Silver Replicas and was the ‘Spirit of the Manx’ recipient in 2007: “Of course I did my first lap thinking it was 150 mph at least and found out afterwards it was 92mph. It takes about six years before you really know your way around and I still get nervous before I going out. What would I miss if I stopped riding in the Manx? The king prawn Madras! And the atmosphere. Racing here is the best experience you could ever have on a bike.”

Bob Simmons became the first rider ever in the history of the event to compete for forty consecutive years: “The attraction is the challenge of trying to get a perfect lap, qualifying and getting the bike round and keeping up with old friends. The Isle of Man spoils you for any other type of racing.”

For my money, riding in the Manx Grand Prix was a lifetimes ambition achieved. It’s what I always dreamt of doing, but unusually turned out to be one of those odd occasions where the reality turned out to be so much better than the dream!

Jim Hunter
MGP Rider

Contacts

Auto Cycle Union: acu.org.uk
Manx Motorcycle Club: manxgrandprix.org
Darley Moor Motorcycle Racing: darleymoor.co.uk
British Motorcycle Racing Club: bemsee.net

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