DOCGB

Last year we made a decision to move from Glen Maye after several years of low attendances, and it's just as well we did, as this was how the Waterfall pub looked on Mad Sunday.

Last year we made the acquaintance of David Teace, a Ducati owner who ran the Creg-Ny-Baa hotel. Sadly, David died of a heart attack early in 2009, so was not able to see the success of his offer.

His widow, Sandrine, made us welcome though, and David's father brought along his 996R for display in the "marquee" area they had organised at the rear of the pub. This also doubled up as our "site office" for the day.

MultiStradas proved quite a popular tool for the Island this year. With all the lumps and bumps on the roads down south I might fancy one myself next year!

There were some keen folk there well before I arrived....

...including this lovely special Harris Mille....

...Which included a home-made kickstart assembly.

Being on the circuit and on Mad Sunday, there was evidence of some serious rubber abuse on the way in.

....and some people came prepared for any eventuallity.

Sport-Classics were also quite well in evidence this year, in varying flavours...

...along with 1098's, which tend to hunt in packs!

Trick bits all over the place.

750GT is Manx and a regular visitor. Still worth a photo though...

...and lots of people had a look here and went "oooh!" and "aaah". Trick isn't just new!

Richard Leatherbarrow won the best bike award at the BBQ last year with his 748, then traded it in for this. Yum.

Updated Hailwood Rep was as ridden in last year's TT Ducati Parade lap by David Hailwood ....

....and autographed to prove it.

Geoff faces Bologna and gets ready to pray to Taglioni.

More trick bits. Custon made dual seat made to look like plastic is all vinyl. Pillion footrest hangers are home made and effective.

Watch what you're doing with that can of.....Oops, quick, scarper before the owner comes back.

Another one of last year's trophy winners, David Quarrie (Pantah) also went down the 1098 route this year. Kept the Pantah though....

...but got an excellent plate to go on the beast.

A couple of genuine Hailwood Reps kept each other company....

...though one was in need of a little attention, suffering from stripped threads in the front head exhaust port. Been there, done that, only mine happened in Italy.

And I think he just ran out of chain adjustment on this one!

Super agressive little Monster looked the biz...

...as did a rare 916 Senna.

More trick stuff!

The boss of the Zard exhaust importers turned up on a rolling advert for all the bits they make for the 999 range.

Dripping in carbon, and beautifully made stuff like the fully adjustable rearsets...

....and what a steering damper!

OK so it's a Bim, but it's got a Duke motor, and the Elirio looks brill! Swinging arm is a work of art!

From the rear it's so narrow if you sit down too quick you could cut your bum!

Bob Hartmann left his Sammy Miller Special bevel at home this year and came on the Paul Smart Rep. Keihan "Conti's" look the biz and sound lovely.

Awards time.

David Teace's father Terry presents the trophy for "Best Special" to John Quaye for his Joerg Jakobeit built Harris, with Billet 6-pots, Marvic wheels, Ohlins and WP suspenders and a hand-made exhaust system.

It was a bugger to start though!

Jonno presents the "Best 2-Valve" trophy to Graeme Balshaw for his 1000S-based, ItalSport-built, Hailwood Rep for the new millenium. Trick bits include 1098 forks and brakes, 999R wheels and Termi's. Nice.

And the "Best 4-Valve" award was a tough one this year, with several really superb bikes in contention. Steve Robins 888 just edged it though. 916 motor and loads of blue hoses. Spaggy hand out the prize.

Terry had brought David Teace's 996R along for display, and David's son Nathan was really pleased to have a few pics taken on his dad's bike.

Catching them ever younger, a 3 year old Manx resident tries Spaggy's Paso for size in preparation for the 2025TT.

Steve celebrating winning the "Best 4-Valve" award.

Monday was race-day, with the Saturday events delayed. Weather on the mountain was cracking.

However, when Ago and Rossi came by there were no knee-down heroics.

The electric bikes came out on Tuesday.

Postponement of Saturday's program meant that Tusday was also a race day, and it finished really late, so it was not entirely surprising that the BBQ crowd was well down on previous years.

It was gone 9 by the time the Port Erin Chapter of the DOC arrived, and we effectively just about doubled the numbers.

Still, it was nice enough for a pint or two, and Trevor at the Shore Hotel still fired up the Barby for us, so we could bulk up on the best burgers in the Island.

Stray KTM sneaked in on the end of the line of Dukes.

And the sunset really was this colour. No trick photography here.

More racing was the order of the day on Wednesday...

...and Friday. Then we went home.

Here's looking forward to 2010 for another fabulous TT week.