Tag: BMW Motorrad

Up Close at the TT – Under Tree this Christmas

by competitiveimage

At every one of my TT presentation participants asked about purchasing prints.  With my travels and preparing for the 2019 TT, I just didn’t want to take the time to move ahead and set up the process to sell prints.

Starting with my fall programs, I put together a collection of my 33 favorite images from the TT and created a photo catalog Up Close at the TT and webpage to facilitate the purchase of prints.  

What has ultimately happened is that people want to buy the book!

To that end, I have created two different formats that are available to purchase.  Both are hard cover books measuring 8 ¼ “ tall by 9 ½” wide, so that when opened each double page spread has one image that is 8” x 12” and a smaller 4” x 6” image. 

Included are images of the World’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman, John McGuiness, Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter, Dean Harrison, Guy Martin and others, at some of the most famous portions of the iconic Isle of Man Mountain course. You can view all of the book’s images on my website.

The content for both formats are exactly the same. The first is a ‘lay-flat’ format with heavy weight paper, and the second is printed on 100# premium luster paper.

If you are interested, please contact me at paul@competitveimage.us.

Lay-flat format printing: $100, plus $8 shipping;

Standard format printing: $45, plus $8 shipping.

Upon request I will sign each book as desired.

Payments should be made via PayPal to paul@competitiveimage.us

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoy shooting them.

That Dean Harrison guy sure is fast!

by competitiveimage

Leading up to both the 2018 and 2019 TT Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman were billed as the ones to watch.

Indeed they were worth watching, that is if you could possibly turn your head fast enough to keep them in sight. Dean turned in a fastest lap of 134.918 and Peter set the record with a lap in the 2018 Senior TT of 135.452, mere seconds difference over a lap of the Mountain Course.

On the first night of practice, I had my favorite spot to get the riders coming over Ballagarey. My son Jon was with me shooting video and after a few riders when by, Dean came flying over the hill and Jon looked at me and said, That Dean Harrison guy share is fast. Yes everyone is fast but when a few of the top riders go by, they actually are noticeably faster.

Although I am a BMW guy, it was great to see Dean pick up a win in the Senior TT and a couple of other podiums as well.

A favorite comment from the 2019 race was when I asked my friend Harry (age 6) what is favorite motorbike was, he emphatically said “Powasaki.” With Dean’s consistently fast time, all I can say is Powasaki indeed.

Deal getting ready for the first practice session
Dean and Conor Cummins waiting to be sent off in practice.
There was a great relief among the riders and crews when practice was finally able to begin.
Practice at Ballagarey.
Dean at Braddan Bridge
Flying over Ballaugh Bridge.
Dean and Conor turning in at Ballaugh after the red flag.
Dean and Conor taking it easy at Ballaugh and chatting with the marshals.
Close to the wall at Greeba Bridge for his 2019 Senior TT win.

The Isle of Man that isn’t the TT

by competitiveimage

As I travel and share stories about the Isle of Man and the TT, I always tell people that if you only go the Isle of Man and only watching fast motorcycles, you are missing half of the experience. This small island nation is a truly an amazing place to explore. There are rugged coastlines, lush National Glens, rolling hills, historic churches and cemeteries, as well as the an amazing waterwheel built in 1854.

I could go on and on, but I will just share a few photos and you can start planning your days off at the 2020 TT.

The Lady Isabella in Laxey
The Lady Isabella in Laxey
The Lady Isabella in Laxey
Ballaglass Glen near Ramsey
Ballaglass Glen near Ramsey
Entrance to Marine Drive – just a few minutes from Douglas
Marine Drive – just a few minutes from Douglas
A 12th Century Viking Castle
The rolling hills are incredibly quiet on non-race days.
Sometimes you forget you are on an island.

Back home, with my head still spinning

by competitiveimage
Peter Hickman won 3 races at the 2019 TT

WOW – it has happened, I am on the plane headed home and the last three weeks have flown by like the motorbikes hitting the end of the Sulby straight, and the 2019 Isle of Man TT is in the books.  

My hope is it will be remembered not for the rainy days but the incredible skills of the riders, the tireless efforts of their crews and the perseverance of the marshals as they were at their stations waiting for the racing to commence, only to have another day canceled.

There is a spirit to the Isle of Man, part of it comes from the community that is part of nature of living on an island and part is showing off for the TT. For weeks before the riders, crews and spectators arrive homes along the course and throughout the island are trimming hedges, painting homes and preparing to show off the Isle as the it becomes the center of the Road Racing universe.

I am truly one of the lucky ones, I have had pleasure of making some amazing friends over the last three years. 

  • Rob, a Deputy Sector Marshal and good friend.
  • Pete & Jen, my amazing hosts who set an high bar for making visitors feel like family. 
  • Allan ‘Kipper’ Killip, who began as a Traveling Marshal in 1962 
  • Jim Hunter, a Traveling Marshal (#2)
  • Malcom Wheeler, who with his wife Julie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at this year’s TT, where they had spent their honeymoon.  Malc was on the podium 3 times in the mid-80’s.
  • Trevor Denning, Deputy Chief Technical Officer
  • A Senior TT Party that starts the day with bacon baps and has an amazing view of the course.
  • A 50th surprise birthday party, 
  • Dozens and dozens of dedicated marshals. 

And of course the riders  – 

  • Peter Hickman
  • Michael Rutter
  • Lee Johnston
  • Sam West
  • Dominic Herbertson

And with the mighty come the fallen, I had also gotten to know Dan Kneen who was killed in 2018 and Daley Mathison who perished in a crash this year. No one will every really know what happened, but all should remember the amazing spirit and skills of these two young riders, who passed doing that they loved. 

Daley Mathison on his BMW S1000RR Superstock flying over Ballagary

For 2019, we have also had the chance to see the newest Superbike how it would fare alongside the time and race tested machines.  The all new BMW S1000RRmade its TT debut and quickly proved to be the fastest cat in the jungle. 

Needless to say, there are a lot of stories to share.  I hope that if you follow my blog, you will come and see for yourself what has enticed generations of motorcyclist to make the pilgrimage to the Isle of Man.

Stay tuned, my plan is to post a new blog every Tuesday and Thursday for the next few weeks or until I run out of things to share.  

Please send me a questions or topics of interest you have and I will try to respond.