Classics on the Island
While there is no Classic TT on the Isle of Man this year, there are still plenty of treats for the classic motorcycle enthusiast who wishes to visit ‘Ellan Vannin.’
Anyone who’s attended any of the road racing on the Island knows of the miles of superb roads and scenery to be enjoyed, and will also be aware that the Island has some truly incredible museums as well, several of which focus solely on motorcycles, while others, such as the Isle of Man Motor Museum, exhibit all forms of motorised transport.
Within the motor museum, based at the old RAF Jurby station in the north of the Island (which, incidentally, my father was based at during the Second World War – Ed), is the Isle of Man TT Museum, opened in 2018 and containing, as you may have guessed, many exhibits pertaining to the Tourist Trophy races which started in 1907.
Currently there are more than 300 bikes on display, from turn of the last century machinery to modern TT racers and superbikes, with one of the newest exhibits being a rotary-engined display, with examples of these machines from DKW, Norton and Suzuki, and a Norton rotary prototype on its way too.
Like many museums, they run a ‘friends of the museum’ scheme, and can also cater for group attendances and special events, and if there is a specific machine that you wish to take a closer look at, then by contacting the museum they can ensure that it is available for viewing. Again, like other venues, the machinery is kept ‘active,’ and regularly run, so not everything is on display all of the time.
More details can be found on the website at www. isleofmanmotormuseum.com or on 01624 888333.