Reporter Tom Curphey caught up with some TT fans at Glen Lough Camp Site
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00:00 Hello, so we're here at Glen Lock and we're here with Dennis and Adam. Dennis, tell us where you've come from.
00:06 I've come from Lincolnshire.
00:08 So quite a way to go.
00:10 Yeah, about 171 miles I think it was we travelled.
00:16 Glen Lock specifically, what brings you to this campsite? I know there's a lot of campsites to choose from the Isle of Man.
00:20 Do you like this? Is it centrally located? What's the reasoning for here?
00:23 To be fair, I've not been to this campsite, so I thought I'd try a different one.
00:28 We had one up near Ramsey last year, so we thought we'd try another one this year and next year we might try a different one on the other side.
00:34 So I'm here with Dave and Sam. Hi Dave. So where have you come from?
00:38 Tonopandy, South Wales.
00:40 And Sam?
00:41 Aberdare, South Wales, yeah.
00:43 And what brings you to Glen Lock and specifically the TT?
00:46 Because it's an ideal site, it's just off of the race course.
00:50 And it's been my second time at the TT. The last time I came was when I was a little boy with my dad and Sam wanted to come, so I come for company.
01:00 Yeah, basically it's my first time here. I've been watching it for years on YouTube and stuff, so yeah, it's just a great time here.
01:10 So you said you came as a kid, something must have hooked you back here to come here again, mustn't it?
01:14 You watched as a young boy, now you're back here. How many times have you been to the TT?
01:18 This will be my second time. The last time I came it was probably about 50 years ago.
01:22 And has much changed? Do you remember it 50 years ago?
01:24 A little bit, yeah. The bikes, obviously back then it was more, you know, like the old style riders, you know, Mike Harewood and those guys.
01:35 And the bikes were a little bit slower then, not as fast.
01:38 And now, the Mike Harewoods of the past, have you got a favourite this year?
01:43 Yeah, John McGuinness, he's good.
01:45 He's proven popular around Glen Lock today.
01:47 Yeah, yeah. And Lee from where we live in the Ronde.
01:53 What about you, have you got a favourite?
01:55 Peter Ekman, class. Michael Dunlop, I want him to get his, beat the all-time record. But yeah, just enjoying everything.
02:07 Got one of our local boys, Paul Williams, he's from up where we live, he's racing as well.
02:13 What numbers here, I'll keep an eye out.
02:15 He's got a few numbers, I think he's number 58.
02:18 I'll keep an eye out for him. And you mentioned that you watch it on YouTube, I just want to touch on that quickly.
02:22 How does it compare, watching it on YouTube and then actually getting here and seeing the sheer speeds in person?
02:27 It doesn't do any justice whatsoever. The first bike that passed me, when I sat on that edge on Monday, was just unbelievable.
02:38 Yeah, brilliant.
02:40 So it's worth the trip, and just in general, I know the weather's not the best, but the Isle of Man as a whole, you must get out on your bikes and see a bit of it.
02:46 What do you think of the place?
02:47 It's really nice, it is really nice. Everyone's friendly. It's a great place to come.
02:53 What about you?
02:54 Awesome, just that mountain road is brilliant. How many times have we done it now? Three, four times?
02:59 Three times now, yeah.
03:01 Mega.
03:02 Great to be in St Paul.
03:03 Great to be back in with the weather. And what about you, how many times have you been?
03:07 So I used to come when I was small with my mum and dad, and then I came last year on my own bike, and also this is my second time on my own bike.
03:16 So when you came as a kid, it must have been a good year then to keep coming back?
03:18 Yeah, most definitely. It's sort of a huge festival, and it's part of that whole experience.
03:26 You could go on your own, and you would have never been lonely in this place, ever.
03:31 That's a great line. What do you think about the Isle of Man in general then? Have you got to see much of it away from the racing?
03:35 Yeah, it's beautiful. I would absolutely come and live here if I could.
03:39 With this weather?
03:40 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Being by the sea, you know, the roads, the people. We even got picked up by a resident the other night, it was raining, and we went up to the river, and she just walked in and said, 'Can I come live here?'
03:53 She was amazing, she was beautiful, people were lovely.
03:56 That's lovely to hear. Thanks for the piece.
03:58 Very good.
03:59 For you, for the first time, what's it like for the first time watching Emily's Path to Extinction?
04:02 Yes, it's a really nice mile.
04:05 So we're here with Stéphane, all the way from France. Whereabouts in France, roughly?
04:08 From the north-east, near from Germany.
04:13 Okay. And what brings you to Glenlock, the TT in general? What brings you here?
04:17 The TT is the race number one in the world. That's why it's the second time we are here. We came in 2014, and 10 years later, we are back.
04:30 And has much changed in those 10 years? You were here in 2014?
04:33 No, we were in the same camping, Glenock campsite. It's the same shower, nothing has changed. The weather has not changed too.
04:45 Of course it hasn't. It's the classic Isle of Man.
04:47 Yes, yes. And we are happy to be here again.
04:51 Have you got a favourite spot on the course you like to watch? Anywhere around the Isle of Man that you like to watch?
04:55 Yesterday we were at Bray Hill. It's very… when you are near from the road, and just together we are going to look where we are going to see…
05:10 because you have to choose your point, because when the road is stopped…
05:18 You'll be stuck on the other side, can't you? You've got to find your spot.
05:20 Yes, absolutely.
05:21 So, I'm here with Neville, and I've broken into his tent. How are you, Neville?
05:25 All good, thank you. I'm having a great time.
05:27 Where have you come from?
05:28 Milford Haven.
05:30 And what brings you to the Isle of Man? What draws you here?
05:34 The racing, the racing.
05:36 And have you been here before? How many times have you been to the Isle of Man?
05:39 Three times before.
05:41 And how long ago were they?
05:43 The last time was '17. Obviously we had Covid and everything else, and that was that.
05:48 Has much changed since you were here in 2017?
05:51 I think it's got a bit bigger, definitely.
05:54 The racing, that is. Do you think there are more visitors now?
05:58 Well, I would say so, yes. Even back in the street, it's very busy now.
06:02 And here in Glenlock, you've got a lovely set-up. I must add, I'm very comfortable here.
06:07 What brings you to this campsite in particular? I know it's central, and it's a good spot to watch, isn't it?
06:13 Yeah, exactly. Been here before. The showers are good, everything is good. They've got a bit of music at night and things going on, yeah.
06:20 So that's what you look for in a good campsite?
06:22 Last time we came, we came on the bikes and obviously camped, but we've done that through the campervan now.
06:25 So we didn't bring the bikes this year because obviously, I better be careful what I say, the police are a bit hot with the guns.
06:31 Can't go too quick.
06:32 No, no. No, it's a good site.
06:36 And obviously in 2017, and now you're back here, have you got any current, the current crop of riders, have you got anyone in particular that you're rooting for this year?
06:42 I might put that on as usual. All of them, as long as they're safe, you know what I mean? Finish safe, that's the main thing, you know?
06:48 Yeah.
06:49 Obviously, winning is everything, but we've got one of the local boys in with some lads from Colford, and they've got two lads from Colford in the sidecars.
06:58 Have you guys got a particular spot on the Isle of Man that you love to watch from? We watch it anywhere. What was it? Barrow... Barrow-Garrow?
07:07 Barrow-Garrow, yeah, what a spot that is.
07:09 Yeah, it's a great spot down there. I've watched it everywhere, Craig the Bar. Obviously we go up to Pits and have a wander round, watch the start and finish.
07:16 And we've got anywhere you can get in, really, as you know, it's getting busier and busier.
07:20 And a bit away from the bikes and the TT in general, what about the Isle of Man for you? What do you think about this place in general?
07:26 Well, I'll be honest with you, I've been to most of it, but obviously yesterday, some of the boys I've been out with before, so we took them to Laxey to see the wheel, which was a good day out.
07:34 We went to the motor museum, which I thought was great. I thought it was just me, a couple of cars and bikes, but it was an outstanding museum.
07:42 So it's worth going there? Oh yes, running through, yes.
07:45 And we'll hope for better weather, but just finally, what would you say to someone who's maybe toying with the idea of coming to the TT and is not too sure whether to come, what would you say?
07:53 You've got to go. You've got to go. If you're into motorcycles, you've got to come over here. I always say to some of my friends who've never been, you've got to go, even if it's just once.
08:02 You know, you see them on the films and TV, you can't see the speed until you see them run.
08:07 Well, you've heard him. Get here. Thank you very much. That's alright.