Michael Rutter – Make Life A Ride

Up Close at the TT – Under Tree this Christmas

December 9, 2019 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.

The Isle of Man that isn’t the TT

June 18, 2019June 19, 2019 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.

Entrance to Marine Drive – just a few minutes from Douglas

*Marine Drive – just a few minutes from Douglas*

The rolling hills are incredibly quiet on non-race days.

Sometimes you forget you are on an island.

Man and Machines Surviving the TT

June 5, 2019 by competitiveimage

With a single lap of 37.73 miles and 264 turns, there can be no doubt that part of the TT is survival for both the men and machines. Although not the fastest point of the race but one of the clearest illustrations of the physical demands of the race is at Ballaugh Bridge.

Coming over the bridge at over 60 mph, everyone is launched into the air.

The following sequence is from Monday’s Superbike Race and to give you an idea of speed, these are continuous shots at 12 frames per second.

Dominic Herbertson up out of the saddle launches over Ballaugh Bridge

Dominic’s moto touches down, he is further off of the saddle.

Touchdown and his bike almost bottoms out.

Dominic’s suspension rebounds and he is still high on the saddle.

Now full gas, front wheel lifting and rear tire compressing.

This sequence is less than a 1/2 second out of the race. Now think 6 laps for the big bikes. 226 miles with 1,584 bone-shaking, bike-bashing turns, with miles and miles of rough roads in between.

Amazing athletes, amazing machines and really no surprise when one breaks down on the side of the road.

The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play.

June 1, 2019June 1, 2019 by competitiveimage

New BMW 2020 S1000RR – Resting in the Rain

The sun did not shine.

It was too wet to play.

So we sat in the house

All that cold, cold, wet day.

I sat there with Jon

We sat there, we two.

And I said, “how I wish

We had something to do.”.

Dude – let’s go get some interviews!

And that’s exactly what we did.

With apologies to both Dr. Seuss and The (Manx) Cat and the Hat, for the most part the 2019 Isle of Man TT has been too wet to play.

Practice was supposed to be Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Although previously unscheduled, there was practice on Sunday and again on Tuesday but even though the roads looked good at the start and here in Glen Vine, up on Snaefell Mountain, the visibility was so low the medical helicopters wouldn’t have been able to fly.

But that was for Friday, let’s rewind a bit.

I am here at the TT to collect and tell a few stories about the oldest, fastest and most dangerous race in the world. Mostly, I do this with my camera. This year, my favorite video producer Jon Phillips has joined me for a week at the TT. In addition to shooting stills, our plan was to shoot video interviews with some of the riders that I got to know last year and create a YouTube Channel to share some of the drivers’ insights with fans in America.

This is special year, and it will be even more special if the weather clears. This will be the TT’s introduction to the brand new and amazing BMW S1000RR. When first introduced in 2009, it was revolutionary. The new model is NOT an evolution, but total redesign. We will have lots of comments from top drivers. Including Peter Hickman and Michael Rutter.

Stay tuned while we get the edits done over the next few weeks and in the meantime, here are a few photos.

A few early morning photos and conversation with Michael Rutter about his lap on the 2020 S1000RR

For Sam West it’s still a work day, sitting here between his Superbike and Superstock S1000RR

Lee Johnston eager to get out on the Mountain Course.

Peter Hickman, the World’s Fastest Road Racer is riding the new S1000RR

When you’re fast, there is always someone trying to chase you down.

What’s the last thing to go through a bug’s mind, when your going 192 on Sulby Straight?
*Wasn’t that Michael Rutterrrrrrr?*

Superbike Are On the Road

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 by competitiveimage

Michael Dunlop on his first practice lap on his new S1000RR Superbike

4:00 PM on Monday afternoon the skies darkened, the rain clouds moved in and within minutes, the speakers in the paddock blasted out the news that the evenings practice was canceled. Not unexpected but not what was hoped for.

Tuesday morning was bright, sunny and cool and we headed up to the former Jurby Airfield and current Motordrome for some early morning testing. The Jurby course is a short course where the teams can get some time in and make adjustments without having to worry about riding the entire TT Mountain course.

We went up hoping to get a few photos of the new 2020 S1000RR. TT veteran Michael Rutter was supposed to be on the bike for the first time, in addition to his Superbike and Mugen Electric.

There are only five of the new RR’s on the Island. Peter Hickman and Michael Dunlop each have their Superbike and Supersport and then there is this one. Furnished courtesy of BMW Motorrad UK to Performance Bike Magazine. This is the M-Sport model, just as it came out of the crate.

Performance Bike Magazine had arranged with Michael Rutter, the TT Officials and Motorrad UK to take the bike out for a test lap on the Mountain course, immediately after the conclusion of the Monday’s official practice session.

As the side car practice ended at 8:50 PM, Michael Rutter got on to the new 2020 RR for the very first time.

Michael Rutter on his first ride of the new 2020 S1000RR flying over Ballagary

I have only heard two bits of detail from his first ride:

He absolutely loved it; and
He hit 192 mph.

Not bad for the first time on the bike!

More to follow tomorrow.