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
MICK GRANT 2005-2006		E.mail francesthorp@manx.net

Hello Members and Friends

This years TT races were excelled by the fact that we had the most wonderful two weeks of sunshine. Everyone was happy and enjoyed themselves. The speeds were phenomenal. The TTRA Headquarters namely the 38th Milestone yes, that yellow Portacabin was exceedingly busy and has become the first port of call for members arriving at the Grandstand and the opening remark being “I have come for one of your special cups of tea” It is always a thrill to meet up with everyone and hear their news, again there were a good number of members who travelled from far distances, some came for the week and some for a few days and it is nice for them to meet up with fellow members whom they have not seen for many years which makes for such wonderful stories.

The 2006 Annual General meeting was held at the Masonic Hall. Woodbourne Road. Douglas on the traditional Tuesday of Race week and was very well attended. Again, this was a great success and the meeting was followed by a sit down buffet which allows everyone to have a chat and socialise. I would like to say thank you to so many who were present and also for congratulations and telephone calls saying how much they had enjoyed themselves. Can I also spread my thanks to your Committee
who assisted to make it such a good night.

We have received comments regarding the day which the AGM is held. Traditionally it has always been held on the Tuesday of Race week. But now we do have a slight problem in that the LOH is held on the final Friday of race week and the Steam Packet Company do a package for the riders which is from Wednesday (middle of race week) to the following Monday. We understand the problem that is why we held the 2005 AGM on the Sunday evening at the end of race week. This wasn’t satisfactory to some members as they left on the Friday to go to Mallory. We are aware that we cannot please everyone.

New Members TT Riders Association - Riders Past and Present

Neville Jones. Raced in 1951.Now lives in Spain.
Michael Rutter.World Superbike Racer. Son of the famous father Tony Rutter and one of our past Presidents.
Etienne Godart. France. Keith Turner- Sretford.Mcr. Nigel Smith. Port-St-Mary.IoM.
Bob Dowty Jun. (Sidecar 2006).Son of the MGPRA Rider Bob Dowty Snr.
Stuart West. East Yorks. Nick Houghton (Sidecar 2006) Oakham
Geoffrey Deakin. (Sidecar 1961-62) South Africa and Robbie Sylvester Pontefract Yorks. who unfortunately had a very serious accident 2006 TT and is still recovering from his bad injuries but is in good form mentally. All our best wishes to you Robbie and your wife.

New Members of the “ Friends of the TTRA “

There have been new members to “The Friends” and I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming you and thank you for your support and we hope that you will enjoy being involved in this Association. It was nice to meet up with some of you again and look forward to maybe meeting up at the Annual Luncheon in October. Application form attached.

Under the Chequered Flag

Umberto Masetti. World Champion – Gilera 1950 -1952 passed away June 2006
Barry Pepperill. Sadly lost his life on the Billown circuit Southern 100 in June 2006
Jun Maeda the 38yr old rider from Kyoto in Japan who had achieved 6th position in last years Senior but sadly passed away in hospital this year some days after an accident in 2006 practice on the TT course.
Barry Hodgkinson passed away 1995 in Sydney. Thank you John Mola for recent information.
Laurence Flurry 77 yrs well known from the 50’s with many victories and was riding motorbikes days before he suffered from a stroke but passed away in hospital.
Kent Anderson well be remembered from the 60’s and was a world champion on 125cc.machines.
Colin Hardman passed away in a tragic fatal racing accident in the UK.
Thomas.L.Irwin who was a one time rider in the 1948 era.
Our sympathy goes to all the families concerned.

Those were the days. A few names from the past

I thought it would be nice to mention some of the riders and wives who keep in touch and would like me to send their best wishes to you all.

Gwen Crellin – Ballaugh is still reasonably well, suffering with eyesight problems and has recently moved for a spell into a residential home.
Nanou is very well and has been talking to me about having a trip to England and maybe the IoM.

Dorathy White - widow of Suzuki Race Team Manager Rex made a surprise visit TT week and her first port of call was to the 38th Milestone and enjoyed her cuppa.
Neville Jones turned up for the Manx Races last week with his wife Dorathy from Spain, he raced in 1948. He had a very enjoyable time on the Island and maybe back next year.
Ron Hazelhurst on his 59th visit to this years TT races his first race was 1949.He looks well considering he has had back surgery and is still leading a very busy life.
Richard and Stella Madsen-Mygdal are still regular callers after 51 years. They follow and support there son David who is a very successful racer on the Isle of Man Stella was showing and collecting more signatures for her now racing sons original autograph book which is 50 years old. He too is a TTRA member.

Barry Randle 60/70’s rider has untaken leg surgery and wishes member friends to know that he is feeling better and hopes to be at the Luncheon.
Dick Gore continues to keep in touch by telephone from Australia and sends his best wishes to all his racing pals in the TTRA and MGPRA. Of course I am involved with the MGPRA I just change the hat for the Manx week races and still provide the cuppa and refreshments.

Tom Gill was over for the practice week
Harry Haveland from Ireland visited the TT and was kept busy catching up with the many faces. He was accompanied with the very great supporter at all the road racing meetings Nigel McClatchery who again has been visiting the IoM for over 40 years.
Ken Kavanagh – very well and keeps very active.
Gerald (Gerry) Turner from Dunstable has not been too well but is making a good recovery and his wife Kay is keeping well too.
Geoff Duke has now had eye surgery and is feeling very much better and is looking forward to attending this years Luncheon.
Harold Cosgrove still visiting the TT with his wife Mary after 49 yrs. Harold has been in hospital and he is doing well now.
Again, thank you to everyone who visits members that are unwell, we are very grateful to you for keeping us up to date with their progress and circumstances keep on helping please.

Wednesday of Manx Race week on behalf of the TTRA I attended a memorial service and the dedication of a granite seat in memory of the late member and TT hero 58 yr old Dave Saville who passed away in March. The seat has been erected in the garden of the Mitre Hotel, Kirk Michael. An accident in the1993 Senior MGP left Dave a quadriplegic. Widow June and her family,Dave’s parents Don & Phylis and family attended and many of his racing friends. An excellent get together with a buffet was enjoyed at the Sulby Glen Pub. Thank you to everyone who supported the occasion.

Where are you now. Your bulletin has been returned.

Sandra Barnett – Evesham.Worcs
Peter Courtney – Leeds
Jim Moodie - For goodness sake someone must have his address.
Michael Higgins – Leigh. Lancs.
Dave Ashton – Chinley-High Peak

GERMANY
Wilhelm Noll. Harold Gasse. Klaus-Michael Kniese.

AUSTRIA
Toni Rechberger

USA
Eddie Roberts. Exton. Brian Zekey Craryville.New York

Isle of Man
John Campbell. Chris McGahan. Dave Corlett

Finally has anyone any idea where or what happened to John McNeil who raced in the 60s on Bultaco bikes. A telephone number from a friend is waiting for you……..
Also: Sidecar Tim or Tom Jarvis – Warwickshire who may now be in the States.

Special Mention of Thanks

I would like to say a big thank you to all who have sent a donation or top up as you call it. As you know we do not go out of our way to ask for donations but we are very grateful. We had a visit to the IoM from a group of friends from the Isle of Wight when we received two cheques in memory of one of their friends who passed away. Another family member sent a generous donation in memory of his brother Geoff Honnor from Rainhill, Merseyside. Then there was “The Ol Boys” from Clifton Reynes, Bucks who sent a substantial cheque the proceeds from a raffle at their 4th Annual Classic/Vintage weekend held at a pub. Also received has been a cheque bequeathed under the will of the late Thomas Lewis Irwin. It is very touching and generous when we receive these unexpected gifts. A letter of thanks has been sent to each one on your behalf as members.
Race Mission very kindly donated a 25th anniversary cake to the 38th milestone to sell slices for our donation box. This was to share their celebration of 25 yrs being available at the race meetings for anyone needing them. Those who actually saw this cake will confirm that it was a fabulous piece of artwork and we were very appreciative for their kind thought and generosity. The TTRA wish them success for the next 25 years.

I would also like to say a big “Thank You” to our fund raising charity “The Friends of the T.T.R.A “for the hard work and generosity which is carried out through the year and the effort that is put in by the Chairman Tony East and Pat at Kirk Michael which raises a great amount of funds and goes into assisting the TTRA with the large amount of calls that we have made upon us at critical times with some members needing assistance financially or in other ways.

At this point I would like to ask you all.
As a member of the TT Riders Association and what it stands for, if you would make a big effort for the 100th year of the TT and persuade one friend each to join “The Friends of the TTRA” (FOTTRA for short). I know there are many of your friends who accept the invitation to the most exclusive Association Luncheon in the world and mix freely with the greatest of stars in the Motorcycling sport.
This would be such a nice way of putting their contribution back into the benevolent pot of the TT Riders Association. Just in case you have forgotten the only persons who can actually join the TTRA as a member must have started in a race on the TT course in the Isle of Man. and this is why you are a member of the most exclusive club there is. For those who wish they could have achieved that “The Friends” have been designed for. Please think about this. The future of the TTRA has to be protected, who knows who out there may need some help someday !

The Highlight of the Year

Is shortly upon us and we again plan to have another great day where you will be meeting up with lots of your pals.The Installation of your new President Nick Jefferies will be carried out by outgoing President Mick Grant and Charlie Williams has again agreed to be our Compere & Auctioneer and will try to keep you unruly lot in hand. Thank you Charlie.

I am again politely asking you to be aware that this function is our own once a year
FUND RAISING EVENT and it would really be appreciated if you would please spare some time for this Auction and show respect to persons who are out there bidding and being very generous offering high amounts of money because it is there way of donating to the Association.
It might interest you to know that we donate in the region of £10.000 per year to very deserving cases and so this is why I am asking you to just allow us some of your time. On this note we are always very grateful for interesting items for the auction, Have a look in you attic. Or in the case of a large picture donated by Vin and Carole Duckett look in your workshops too. Unfortunately we cannot take credit cards so please bring plenty of cash and or cheque book !
See you all there……

On the note of Fund Raising we have been selected as a preferred Charity together with two other Charities by Phil Morris - Road Racing Legends who is holding a Charity event on February 23rd 2007 at the Winskay Hotel.Oswestry. Tickets will be available from January 2007 for more details Tel. 01691 662082 or 07802655165.

WE ARE STILL INTERESTED TO KNOW WHO IS THE OLDEST TTRA MEMBER. COME ON NOW DON’T BE SHY.

Bringing the News Bulletin to a close may I personally thank you for your kind wishes and get well cards to Tom who is now feeling a lot better and we would like to wish you all a Very happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year 2007.

Frances Thorp. (Secretary)