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Isle of Mann

Spinal

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
4,806
Location
between Uxbridge and the Alps
Car
x254, G350, Duster, S320, Mach1, 900ss and a few more
So, I was looking at an old Top Gear (Season 3, Episode 2) and suddenly discovered that the isle of Mann doesn't have speed limits...

I was planning a trip to Germany, but the Isle of Mann is mighty closer ;) Any ideas on where I can find some good maps of the larger roads?

Any advice on driving on / driving to the Isle of Mann?

Michele
 
So, I was looking at an old Top Gear (Season 3, Episode 2) and suddenly discovered that the isle of Mann doesn't have speed limits...

I was planning a trip to Germany, but the Isle of Mann is mighty closer ;) Any ideas on where I can find some good maps of the larger roads?

Any advice on driving on / driving to the Isle of Mann?

Michele

The Island is not that big and although there is no speed limit, the roads are not that fast either. There are some fastish roads on the Isle of Man TT circuit but they are few and far between, if you fancy a real burn-up this is not the place to go.

Many a biker have been killed trying to eminate the TT riders speeds, only to find out that even they slow for the bad corners. If you don't then goodbye biker.:crazy:
 
What do you want to go for? Interesting fast road driving or max your car out in a straight line?

Ferries to the IOM are not that cheap, I dare say getting to Germnay cheaper.

IOM has no limits out of town and some good fast mountain roads. However, not the place for someone to speed who doesn't know the road.

As you were considering Germany where only certain autobahns have no limit, I'd say the IOM is not an alternative.
 
Hello,

The IOM hs great roads but thery are not for maximum speed runs, they are for bends and driving.

If you simply want to Max it take your car to a run what you bring, or a V-Max type event.

Urban myth that Germany has no speed limits and since I have been going to europe you do notice more and more cameras. Most autobahns are 2 lanes also and when your bobbing on a car pulling out way up the road means you have to apply the brakes quite hard.

Saying the above I've maxed a few of my cars at the early mornings on such roads. Even this year I saw 130mph out of the bus loaded up which I thought was quite good and it felt like 70.

If you do go for it, I tend to wait for a local to blast past and then wind it up, that way they create a path for you. Check you tyres before you give it beans though.

Idealy trip would be through europe, to the alps for a good blast, back via Germany and the ring. You will find out what your car will do sure enough....


cheers
 
Howdy! Max out my car? No, no! I would NEVER to that to my poor engine! I just want a nice windy road with no-one on it and no-one telling me I can't go over 40mph!

As for motorbikes, I love my Ducati and have learnt to respect it - its fast, its fun, and its dangerous - there is no way I have anywhere near enough experience to do anything fun yet!

All I really want is a nice mountain/country road, a sunny day, and an empty road ;) (notice how I don't really want a speed limit ;)). I've found a map of the TT track, any advice on that? Is it a good drive?

Re Germany, its a ski-trip to Austria, with a possible stopover at Nurburgring - its a big maybe; it all depends on weather I can lay my hands on a cheap XJ6 (pre-1994 - something cheap, heavy, solid and with a massive engine!)

Michele
 
Hi Michele,
PLEASE accept this post in the way it is meant. I was an advanced motor cycle instructor, and loved doing this as a hobby. There is nothing more rewarding than riding a bike properly and with a bunch of like minded riders, have you taken any sort of advanced riding course?

As my old sergeant used to say, "Man and machine as one.":) Mega rewarding when riding with a group of like minded riders.

It is not the size of the bike that will allow you to make safe progress, but the 'size' of your ability. If you, Sp!ke, me or anyone else thinks they know everything and they are god's gift to bike riding, then they are idiots.:devil:;) Planning a ride and reading the road is something that will NOT come with hours behind the handlebars, it needs to be taught and you should become a better rider for doing this type of course. Riding a bike is extremely dangerous, especially on today's busy roads. It is dangerous not because of either your ability or lack of it, it is dangerous because of all the other road users and a good instructor will teach you how to read not only the road but most potential hazards.

I hope I have wasted my breath and you have already commenced a course, or completed it. Motor bikes are great vehicles for enjoying the thrill of the wind roaring by and I wish you luck with whatever decision you make.

These remarks will also apply to car driving :)

Regards
John
 
My 2p if you are referring to the bike.

Wait till spring and then take the bike on a trackday - it will teach you a lot and make you realize how it is impossible to get anywhere near the limits of the bike on the road, and its much safer. INMHO the most fun you can have on your own (with a motorbike). The only downer is its fiercely addictive which (as I found) can get expensive..

I would expect the same applies to the car as well. (You could try the nurburgring :cool:)

Treating any public road as a test track makes an accident just a matter of time.

Ade.
 
Hi Michele,
PLEASE accept this post in the way it is meant. I was an advanced motor cycle instructor, and loved doing this as a hobby. There is nothing more rewarding than riding a bike properly and with a bunch of like minded riders, have you taken any sort of advanced riding course?

As my old sergeant used to say, "Man and machine as one.":) Mega rewarding when riding with a group of like minded riders.

It is not the size of the bike that will allow you to make safe progress, but the 'size' of your ability. If you, Sp!ke, me or anyone else thinks they know everything and they are god's gift to bike riding, then they are idiots.:devil:;) Planning a ride and reading the road is something that will NOT come with hours behind the handlebars, it needs to be taught and you should become a better rider for doing this type of course. Riding a bike is extremely dangerous, especially on today's busy roads. It is dangerous not because of either your ability or lack of it, it is dangerous because of all the other road users and a good instructor will teach you how to read not only the road but most potential hazards.

I hope I have wasted my breath and you have already commenced a course, or completed it. Motor bikes are great vehicles for enjoying the thrill of the wind roaring by and I wish you luck with whatever decision you make.

These remarks will also apply to car driving :)

Regards
John

I've registered with IAM for motorbikes and paid my first £25 - the day after I booked my evaluation, I "flopped" (which involved me pressing both breaks, suddenly stopping and going "plop" onto my side and feeling like a moron...) Since then, I haven't really been on the bike since getting the strapping off my hand (broke my pinky). I need to rebook my IAM course again...

As such, for the IoM I would go by car - the bike has nothing to do with it ;)

Michele
 
Since then, I haven't really been on the bike since getting the strapping off my hand (broke my pinky). I need to rebook my IAM course again...

As such, for the IoM I would go by car - the bike has nothing to do with it ;)

Michele
Well done and I totally agree with Ade B, only morons think they can push the limits of a modern bike on our public roads. Track days are the only place to try and emulate my super hero Valentino Rossi :)

Good luck with the car adventures.

John
 
I would expect the same applies to the car as well. (You could try the nurburgring :cool:)

Part of me is eager to have a go at the ring, but I have one nagging thought, and that is that in order to do it you need to have a car with good balance and braking, and that you're willing to sacrifice to either yours or someone elses mistake.

I'm not in that position at the moment, and though a leisurely drive in the Eiffel's in the E class is an attractive proposition, explaining it to my insurer isn't something I'd like to do.

Whatever you take there remember to add the cost of a full set of discs, pads, fluid and tyres, assuming nothing goes wrong, probably makes a trip cost 1000-2000 quid for most of us in modern mercs.
 
Part of me is eager to have a go at the ring, but I have one nagging thought, and that is that in order to do it you need to have a car with good balance and braking, and that you're willing to sacrifice to either yours or someone elses mistake.

I'm not in that position at the moment, and though a leisurely drive in the Eiffel's in the E class is an attractive proposition, explaining it to my insurer isn't something I'd like to do.

Whatever you take there remember to add the cost of a full set of discs, pads, fluid and tyres, assuming nothing goes wrong, probably makes a trip cost 1000-2000 quid for most of us in modern mercs.

I've only been to the ring once for my brother's stag do. We took two 993s and an Elise S2 round which was brilliant. I was just a passenger in my friend's C2 993 - which was a hoot - although he cooked his brakes (aided by a Cadwell trackday prior) and spent much of the laps complaining about lack of braking.

The tyres were all fine though.

Came back to the UK in the elise with the top off - got back to london deaf and very sunburnt but smiling :D

We did see a whole variety of cars, vans and buses though on a fairly quiet and sunny friday - so it certainly seems that you can take anything round. If I was ever in the area, I'd go round in what ever I was in - you don't have to go fast. ;)


Ade
 
Having driven both places in question i prefer IOM the others are 100% right about top speed driving its not the place for that at all but if you just wanna have some fun driving on good twisties without worrying about a speed limit should you stray over it then its the place to go.

It's easy enough to get yourself acquainted with.

As for the ring nothing beats the feeling of driving it and you can drive it faster should you wish but the only thing I'm always worried about is i could be driving along at a decent speed but nowhere near the cars limits and somebody comes screaming into my car.

That can happen on any road anywhere but i think your more likely to find yourself in that situation on the ring than on the IOM because of the number of people there on any given day.

Also your insurance would likely tell you to stuff it if you had an accident on the ring.
 

the day I was there we passed blokes in a blue transit, an elderly couple cruising round in an 80's SL and were left for dead in an AMG CLS and a variety of souped up golfs, all with superior track knowledge (and probably better drivers).

simply saying that you can go round the ring at a pace you choose in any kind of vehicle, rather than pushing for a personal best. It is after all a public toll road.

Not sure I'd want to take my bike round though... on the quiet day we were there, two brit bikers ran into each other! No one hurt though.

Ade.
 
Thanks for all the advice, the Jag I was looking at fell through (someone bought it for £25 more than me - and I would have been willing to pay the extra had the seller responded in time regarding the history of the vehicle!)

So now, I'm looking for another one - frankly, considering the cost of the car (£500-ish) if I run the brakes and tyres down to the ground, I don't think I'de bother replacing them; the car seems like a nightmare to maintain! It would be a run-it-for-a-year-and-then-scrap-it sort of thing... (or run it until the wheels are below the legal limit and then see what it can do on a track :p)

I'm trying to organise something in 2 weeks time for the IoM - that would be in my W202 though. If I can get a XJ6 in time for Christmas I think I'll pop by Nurburgring; if not - it will be for another time!

If I do find a Jag - any idea on a company that would insure me for a day on the Nur? I know its a public toll road; but I would feel safer knowing I had a dedicated insurance... has anyone done this before? Any names I should call?

Michele
 

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