Patrons:	Hon.Treasurer	Hon. Secretary
THE EARL OF MARCH	JOHN KIDSON	FRANCES THORP
MICHAEL SUTTON	Thrupp Farmhouse	Mountain View
MURRAY WALKER O.B.E.	Thrupp Lane	Glen Maye
	Stroud GL5 2DF	Isle of Man IM5 3BJ
President;	Tel/Fax 01453 762255	Tel/Fax 01624 843695
TONY RUTTER		E.mail francesthorp@manx.net

Hello Members and Friends

I would like to start my Bulletin with the details of the “ High Spot” which of course is always the ANNUAL LUNCHEON

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR GUEST OF HONOUR THIS YEAR IS:
MR GEOFF DUKE O.B.E.

WHO HAS KINDLY ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION FOR THE 2004 LUNCHEON.

THE LUNCHEON DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
DATE IS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3RD 2004. RECEPTION STARTS 11.00AM
VENUE IS AS LAST YEAR---- THE CENTENNIAL CENTRE. 100 ICKNIELD PORT ROAD.
EDGBASTON.B’ham.
The ticket price is £27.00 per person. Please note new commencing times.

THE LUNCHEON WILL COMMENCE AT 12.30PM
“ WITH THE INSTALLATION OF MR TONY RUTTER OUR NEW PRESIDENT “
…… Please be prompt ……

Please send your reservation to:
Hon. Secretary
FRANCES THORP
Mountain View
Glen Maye
Isle of Man IM5 3BJ

With Name of Member of the TTRA and Phone No. along with your payment.

Name of guests must be given at the time of ordering tickets and paid for at £27.00 per person. A map will be issued with your tickets.
Naturally we want to accommodate all requests so PLEASE will you order your tickets and PAY IN FULL BEFORE OCTOBER 27TH

ANNUAL LUNCHEON

With regards to the purpose of the TT Riders Association and the “Luncheon” I would like to remind our members and friends that this Association was formed back in 1951 by riders of that era and the purpose of this exclusive “Club” which can only be joined if a rider has started in a race in the Isle of Man TT Races and that is what makes it exclusive. Our main function is to assist with injured riders, families with children who sometimes need financial assistance especially where there has been a bereavement through the sport. We also take great care of our older members who reach a period when they are alone and need assistance to make life a little more comfortable. Christmas gifts are also sent. In the years 1951 up to 2003 the subscriptions were £1 up to £15 for Life. 2003 brought an increase of the subscriptions up to £25.00 for Life. As everyone will know we have very heavy outgoings and some of the assistance we give is ongoing. Our one way of raising funds is by donations and our fund-raising at the luncheon with the Table-envelope and the Auction.
Please try to be generous in the envelope as you will be aware of the amount of incidents this year and we have covered most of them financially. For the members who have only ever paid the one subscription many years ago perhaps you would consider sending a small top up as the Bulletins are costly and as they go all over the world and are very much appreciated it would be a nice gesture. Likewise, we wonder if there are any members with a business who would be prepared to share the cost of the posting of the Bulletins. For further details on that please contact Frances…..

WHERE ARE YOU NOW ?

In the last Bulletin I did have a good response to our lost members and have been asked to repeat it. A few members have re-united with old friends which is nice. I have still got some returns from the May issue so if any of you can assist please send me details phone,fax or e.mail. I will be pleased to hear from you.

H.Waddington. Liverpool. Martin Orgee.Kidderminster. G.Daniel.Erdington.B’ham.
Carl Fogerty.Blackburn. Colin Hardman Isle of Man. Norman Black. Hove.Ray Fay.Liverpool.
Barry Woodland. Amersham.
Ireland
Ian Switzer.Dublin. Ronnie Perry. Co Londonderry.
Scotland
Ian Duffus
Germany
Klaus-Michael Kniese. Jon Ekerold,Wolf Gerstanmaier. Eddie Roberts. Hans-Georg Anscheidt.
Australia
Derek Rumble. Kel Carruthers.
New Zealand
Blair Degerholm. Paul McQuilkin.
U.S.A.
Lance Weil. Brian Zekey

NEW MEMBERS from May 2004.

The Association would like to welcome you and hope that you will enjoy the mutual association with friends of the sport and hope that you enjoy many years.

Alan May. Dagenham. Peter Gerrish.Hampshire. Steve Sinnott. Peterborough.
Castella-Jean-Claude – Grandvaux. Alex Donaldson. N.Ireland. Paul Maguire.N.Ireland. Victor Gilmore N.Ireland.Stuart Robson.Yorkshire. Michael Cain.Ipswich.Alistor Copland. Coventry. Chris Palmer (TT winner 2004) Isle of Man . Barachetti-Giuseppe.Parma. Ian Conn.Ruislip.
Todd Welch. U.S.A.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The A.G.M was held on June 9th 2004 in the Isle of Man it was well attended. The Officers and Committee members were re-elected and everyone seemed very happy with the running of the Association. On behalf of all the members of the Association around the world I would like to thank John Kidson – Hon Treasurer for the sterling work that he carries out throughout the year with the Association finances and as we all are aware one has to keep the finger on the pulse these days to get the best returns. John does it well. Thank you John.

Advertising via Magazines and press days by Malcolm Wheeler and Mortons Media
Thank you. It was also very generous of Mortons who presented a cheque for the sum of £600 from a charity event held by the staff.

I would like to say Thank you to all our committee members and in particular Joe Wood from Dublin who is always chasing around getting new members for the TTRA despite being a little under the weather. It would be nice if you the members know of racing friends who have never joined because of being busy doing the business. Let me know who they are and I will send the application form. If they are coming to the Luncheon in November they can join up then I will have the forms with me………
On that note if there is anyone who would be willing to offer some help on the door to assist with the signing in, taking the tickets, handing out the name badges or signing up new members we would appreciate it. Please let us know. Likewise - Have you any interesting items for the AUCTION we depend on you to help raise the charity funds, Please have a look around your loft.

The new “Rules of the Association” are now available by request.

FRIENDS OF THE T.T.R.A.

The purpose of the “Friends “ is for guests/sponsors etc to be able to join and assist in bringing in funds which in turn contributes to the TTRA to carry out its function as the “Charity that takes care of the Present and Past Riders.” There will be application forms available and the joining fee is £150. Please contact me if you need further details.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT 2004/2005 - MR TONY RUTTER - 8 TIMES TT WINNER & 4 TIMES F11 WORLD CHAMPION and many more wins to his credit…..

It is a great pleasure to be able to announce our new President for the Association. As Tony was unable to attend the Annual General Meeting to receive his chain of Office, it was agreed that it would be very appropriate to carry out the ceremony at the “Annual Luncheon” so please make sure that you are at your table prompt when announced and this will save any further delays to the proceedings.

GET WELL WISHES

At this point to many of our members I know of who are unwell at different degrees our best wishes and good luck to you all and you are always being thought about.

If any member does know of any unfortunate situations where some assistance could help to make life a little more comfortable we will always diplomatically look into the situation and it will be dealt with great confidence.

RELATIVE ROOM.

The Isle of Man have a brand new Nobles Hospital which has been moved out to Braddan and as you know the race weeks put a lot of pressure on to this facility which we are very grateful to the Doctors and Staff for all their work and kindness. There has been a very nice private sitting room with a small bathroom and facility made available for the relatives to make a cuppa and try to relax under sometimes stressful situations. The TTRA donated towards furnishings and decorations. Because of the need for something similar at the back of the Grandstand -Race Centre, this was also repeated with the same donation. Thanks to Wyn Evans – BEN for assisting us with this. We were hoping the facility would be redundant but unfortunately it was put into use both TT and Manx Grand prix week.

THE “ 38TH MILESTONE “

Many members who are frequent visitors to the TT or MGP race weeks are well aware of the above venue, but over the past months of speaking to a great number of members on the telephone I realised that when I mentioned the “38th Milestone” it drew somewhat of a blank. No they have not extended the TT circuit it is still 37.3/4 miles and then the refreshments and chat carry on in the last port of call. For those who have never been I will explain a little about it.

In the early years of the TTRA there was the Marquee for the Riders and guests where I remember Norman Scott one of the Founders of this Association used to be there to greet everyone, the signature book had to be signed and then a drink was offered and old photographs were hanging up to talk about.
Times moved on and because of reasons I won’t bore you with but the future of the meeting place for our Association became very difficult and unsatisfactory. The TTRA and the Manx Grand Prix Riders Association decided that it would be a good idea to join together and purchase a Portacabin. This was carried out and a then local ex racer Robin Sherry put a great deal into setting up the delivery from the UK to the Isle of Man.and sorting out a small plot for it to stand on in the rear of the grandstand area. That goes back now about 16 years.

How did I become involved ? Wait for the next instalment Bulletin 54.

SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS.

To all members with “Special Birthdays” this year 2004 to which I have heard of quite a number, Many happy years and good health for your future from your sporting friends.

I would like to make a mention of “Congratulations” to one of our stalwart supporters who I am sure most of the members will know from any of the racing scenes both on the Isle of Man and Irish circuits. Nigel McClatchery has this year achieved his 40th year of attending the Manx Grand Prix Races. Nigel was taken by surprise in the “ 38th” when we made a small presentation to him. Keep coming to the Island Nigel.

OBITUARIES.

It is always with sadness that I have to inform you of this section but I am assured by many members that they wish it to be kept in the Bulletin. Our sporting friends are never forgotten whoever they were.

Jock West – 95 years.
Our oldest gentleman and Ex President of the TTRA he remained in excellent health
until the last couple of months of his life. Jock bought his first Levis when he was 14 yrs old and progressed through a series of second-hand machines and eventually made his debut at Crystal Palace track in south London in 1927. Making his name on Ariels he was sponsored by the factory in Birmingham and entered the Manx Grand Prix in 1931. Jock will be greatly remembered for his support and help to up and coming riders.
Rex Trimnell. The racer,innovator and industry stalwart sadly passed away suddenly May 7th. He will be remembered as the “Lord of Lydden” the popular Kent circuit.And one of the first rides in the UK to get his hands on an air-cooled TSS 125 Bultaco.

Ken Mudford 81 years.
Barry Sormant 73 years Informed by Harry Lowe- New Zealand.
Stan Cameron 72 years Thank you

Dave Wood –. in his 50’s.
Dave will be well remembered for Managing so successfully and modestly so many of the Irish stars. His last weekend was at the Irish North West circuit making sure all was going well for his “boys”
Ron Coxon – 66 years. Ron showed his NSU Sprint Special at Stafford last year. Sadly he lost his wife earlier in this same year.
Stan Rycroft of Peel -Isle of Man. A real racing character who passed away after taking ill on the journey home from a UK race meeting with his son. Stan rode the sidecar TT in 1966/67.
John Pipper – 69 years. John competed in a number of TT and MGP races during the 60’s on a variety of bikes. He will be remembered as a regular at the short circuits in the UK.
Colin Breeze – 45 years. A popular and regular participant on the Island sadly clipped the kerb at high speed at Quarry Bends
Eric Howsley – late of Chesterfield passed away in 2001- just notified.
Emil Horner – 66 years. Passed away in 2003
Les Worthington – 65 years. Finally, with sadness I would like to include a very popular friend to many in the Motorcycling world. Les Worthington (Syd Smith Spares Ltd) Sheffield. who came to retire in the Isle of Man two years ago with his wife Jean. Les was tragically taken by a road accident August 7th 2004 which devastated the local community. I would like to put on record that the family requested that memorial donations in lieu of flowers ,if required be sent to Friends of the TT Riders Associatin.We thank them enormously.

All families have received condolences on behalf of you the members of the TT Riders Association.

Please keep me informed – MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN

## PLEASE TAKE NOTE ##

To bring this 53rd Bulletin to a close I respectfully ask you to ORDER and PAY for your tickets for the Luncheon as soon as possible and before the 27th October. All tickets must be paid for in advance of the day and tickets to be handed in at the door. Members don’t forget to collect your name badge which is made once you have paid for your ticket, this being another reason why it would help to order as soon as you can.

“You are in for a good time,good food and good company”

=================

I hope that you have enjoyed this Bulletin and if you have any newsy bits for the next one please do not hesitate to let me have them. Remember there are a lot of our members who live far abroad and loose touch with the memories of their days when they were the Heroes and Stars and sponsors in the Pit Lane. I get lovely letters saying how much they enjoy and look forward to any news about the happenings.

BOOK SALES

Books that are listed in our stock for sale gain us a small percentage so if you are looking for a gift for Xmas think about them.

The new British 250cc Racing Motor-cycles written by Chris Pereira is a new publication hardback. £16.99
New TT 2004 Race Result Book £6.99
New MGP 2004 Race Result Book £6.99
Tommy Robb – Tokyo £8.99
Rod Coleman Story £8.99
Michelle Duff Story £8.99
Michelle Duff Sweat Jumpers £7.99
History of the Manx Grand Prix 1923 – 1998 £6.99
Honda the Winning Years - £4.99

May I take this opportunity of sending best wishes to you all and a Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy 2005 from my husband Tom and I.

Hope you have enjoyed the Bulletin.

Frances Thorp. (Secretary)