It's true TG, a monumentous effort, and clearly stuff of legend. We can't imagine it happening today. I'm still hung up on what racers put up with in those days, no matter how many wheels. There will always be safety issues in racing, but to realize how many lives were lost is unimaginable. Especially with the throngs of people attending race events, one would think track owners would have done more sooner.
The IOM is another matter, one I've always struggled to understand.
basically they died so we didnt have to , it took far to long for change to happen and it was not until Robert's , sheene etc proposed a break away series to rival the gp's that anything of any value occurred .
the organisers relied on the fact we loved racing so much they could treat us as they pleased and they knew we would still race .
in this country it still goes on , not so bad at race meetings but track days have next to no safety at all . racers use track days for cheap practice and dont seem to realise that 50 bikes on track , no marshals and no doctor or ambulance at the circuit is a recipe
for disaster . was dropping off some parts at oulton park last year when two riders where killed , it was a long time before a doctor was with them .
as for the iom , well to be honest its a stupid place to race motorbikes but there is no pretence , at least when you go you know you are stupid .