Does Mad Sunday still exist at the IOM?

The retailers like Clinton's insist by selling for 10 pound Mad Sunday T Shirts, while on the start finish line a white van has a different story.

It has Simon Andrew's Foundation Tribute lap T Shirts for 8 pounds with all profits going to support injured riders or their families in case of death.

Simon was killed while competing at the North West 200 and his father Stuart set out to provide a positive image for motorcyling while raising funds for the cause.

Mad Sunday had been a free for all speed race for idiots who thought they were racers when nfact they were only wantabe racers. It was a disaster waiting to happen and put at danger the general riders who also wanted to be a participant in a lap on Mad Sunday and rightfully wear the T shirt to that effect.

I first participated in the SA ride in 2015 and found it a memoriable and stolid event that leaves a lasting taste in my mind as a must do on the next visit.

So it was no rest Sunday as the opening at the start finish line opened at 8.30am with the schedule start @10am. As expected arrival revealed hundred's & hundred's of motorcycles already parked in pit lane and most available footpath spaces while hundred's more circulated the streets.

Why not? I thought and just parked on the roadway about half way toawrds Bray Hill from the Start Finish line. No issues the lines behind me did the same and soon spread 4 deep across the road.

We had several announcements about "must obey road rules"and then a delayed start as again someone had crashed on the mountain section.

Then under Police escort the front of the line moved off and within a short space of time I was moving slowly in a never ending stream of fellow motorcyclists all heading around this iconic course.

The everlasting memory from 2015 was that of people just standing on the road side clapping and waving something only seen before in the fneral procession of Princess Diana.

2018 was no different as thousands of people of all ages clapped and waved as every motorcycle went past. I could not help but notice one old lady seated with her hsband standing behind her she was clapping just after 10am when I went past. I passed her spot two ther times one as late as 4pm and yes she still was sitting in the same spot waving and clapping, if that is not dedication and respect for memories of fallen riders people would need to rethink.

The young children will I am sure gain a respect and love for motorcycling as parents had bought them to watch, wave and clap and most of these appeared by location to be locals in their own front yard. Motorcycling is the Isle of Man, it is a unique event seen nowhere else in the world, it drives the economy and these young Manxmen showed us the riders their respect for why we were riding the tribute lap as well as a thank you to us for joining them twice a year at their home which becomes not only our temporary home but memory wise a home away from home,in a lifetime, that occurs no other place in our motorcycling ethos.

The mountain mile gave back as the masses soon thinned and again the ton up magic was enjoyed in solitude like existence- man and machine in motorcycle heaven.