I'll go out on a limb here . . . . there is no finer exemplar of the talent, tenacity and downright testicular fortitude required to race at the Isle of Mann than the late, truly great, Joey Dunlop. I know there are those who would nominate the current vogue of the likes of McGuiness et al and even the non winning but not lacking in cojones, Guy Martin, as well as crew like McIntyre, Hislop and Rutter, however, nobody, and I mean nobody, attacked the legendary IOM course with such a complete absence of fear and over such a protracted period of time as Yer Mon . . . . for me, this son of Ballymoney, will forever remain the epitome of cool under pressure, there was not one section of this widow making 37+ mile public road deathtrap that scared or fazed him, not the proximity of all the soft, spongy, safety barriers in the shape of houses, rock walls, gutters, lightpoles and sudden drop-offs that lead to more ancient rock walls and possible impalement on sheeps horns. Joey didn't even acknowledge their potential life ending existence.
Remember also that up until the early seventies when the late, and also very great, Barry 'Ace' Sheene led a boycott of the Isle's circuit, this was a part of the GP tour, the likes of Ago, Hailwood, Pasolini, Woods, Meier, Duke and so many more had all put their lives on the line here, and many were not so lucky to walk away, and they still continue to pay the ultimate price on a yearly basis, break no bones about it, the IOM is most certainly a motherfucker and the ultimate ballbreaker . . . . that Dunlop was killed riding at a circuit in Estonia, far from his beloved spiritual home, is an irony verging on almost Shakespearean dimmension, even though he was by birth a proud Northern Irishman his love, respect for, and connection with this awe inspiring road race circuit was legend, he lived for the duel of man/machine versus the course and over a period of nearly thirty years was it's most celebrated and prolific conquerer, as well as the peoples perpetual champion . . . . and for many of us, he will be remembered that way for all of two wheeled eternity . . . . Joey Dunlop, the roadracer's roadracer, was, and is, the very spirit and embodiment of the Isle of Mann TT.
Enjoy one of the first videos of its kind, as Yer Mon throttles the living fuck out of a then state of the art Honda RS850R and shows the mountain just who is the boss.
Remember also that up until the early seventies when the late, and also very great, Barry 'Ace' Sheene led a boycott of the Isle's circuit, this was a part of the GP tour, the likes of Ago, Hailwood, Pasolini, Woods, Meier, Duke and so many more had all put their lives on the line here, and many were not so lucky to walk away, and they still continue to pay the ultimate price on a yearly basis, break no bones about it, the IOM is most certainly a motherfucker and the ultimate ballbreaker . . . . that Dunlop was killed riding at a circuit in Estonia, far from his beloved spiritual home, is an irony verging on almost Shakespearean dimmension, even though he was by birth a proud Northern Irishman his love, respect for, and connection with this awe inspiring road race circuit was legend, he lived for the duel of man/machine versus the course and over a period of nearly thirty years was it's most celebrated and prolific conquerer, as well as the peoples perpetual champion . . . . and for many of us, he will be remembered that way for all of two wheeled eternity . . . . Joey Dunlop, the roadracer's roadracer, was, and is, the very spirit and embodiment of the Isle of Mann TT.
Enjoy one of the first videos of its kind, as Yer Mon throttles the living fuck out of a then state of the art Honda RS850R and shows the mountain just who is the boss.
Very well said! That vid's amazing, there's a reason he was the King of the mountain!
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