30th Anniversary of Mike Hailwood's IOM TT Win!

[Dingocooke]

Anyone else going on their Duke?? Its the 50th year celbration of Ducati at the TT with bikes fromt he Ducati collection at Bologna, plus parades by past Ducati stars; oh and all the fun of the TT too!!

Practice week is 24th-30th May with race week 31st May to 6th June inclusive

Enjoy!!

[-=JK=-]

Yep, i'll be there in me little tent in Douglas.

First time for me, so the 50th anniversary is a real bonus

[Dan]

Source: Ducati Press Office
Date: 19th May 2008

Tourist Trophy 2008: on 6th June Ducati celebrates the 30th anniversary of Mike Hailwood’s legendary win and the 50th anniversary of its participation in the TT.

Bologna, May 2008 – The 2008 edition of the Tourist Trophy, the classic road race held from 24 May to 7th June around the Isle of Man, is sure to be a special event and a great opportunity to celebrate with Ducati.

Of all the causes for celebration, the most important is undoubtedly the 30th anniversary of 2 June 1978, the date of Mike Hailwood’s unforgettable race to victory on a Ducati 900.
It was an achievement as longed-for as it was unexpected, because Hailwood hadn’t taken part in any official motorcycling competitions for a long time. “Mike the Bike”® stunned the crowds by beating the odds-on favourite Phil Read on his Honda.

In 1958, exactly 50 years ago, Ducati officially participated in the Tourist Trophy for the first time, racing with a 125 team. The factory team, which in its TT debut claimed second place in both the riders’ championship and the team rankings behind MV Agusta, was made up of legendary riders such as Luigi Taveri, Dave Chadwick, Romolo Ferri and Sammy Miller. Ducati used the race to launch its Ducati 125 Gran Prix Desmo, the first racing Ducati fitted with the Desmodromic system that immediately proved the value of engineer Fabio Taglioni’s design.

During the course of its history at the Tourist Trophy, Ducati has led not only Mike Hailwood but many other equally famous riders to victory - riders such as Tony Rutter, who won the TT2 race on several occasions.

Now, for the first time, the Ducati museum in Bologna has allowed eight of its precious vintage bikes - representing milestones of the past, present and future of the Italian manufacturer - to grace the famous road route.

The following sensational bikes will be exhibited at the Tourist Trophy 2008:

125 Gran Sport “Marianna” 1956, the first bike designed by Fabio Taglioni
125 Gran Prix Desmo 1959, the first Ducati fitted with the Desmodromic system
250 Twin Cylinder Gran Prix Desmo 1960, one of the first racing bikes used by Mike Hailwood
900 SS IOM TT 1978, the bike that Mike Hailwood rode to TT victory
888 SBK 1991, one of the first 4-valve twin cylinder bikes ridden by American legend Doug Polen
916 SBK 1994, the first SBK used by Fogarty to win his first World Title
999 SBK 2006, the latest Ducati to have earned the SBK World Championship Title with Troy Bayliss
Desmosedici MotoGP 2007, the bike ridden by young Australian Casey Stoner to win the MotoGP World Championship last year.

These will be on show alongside other Ducatis from private British collections. There will also be a parade of vintage Ducati bikes on the track and special guest appearances by Ducati personalities such as Carl Fogarty, Paul Smart, Tony Rutter, Michael Rutter, Sammy Miller, Trevor Nation, James “Jamie” Whitham and Dave Hailwood, son of the great British champion.

[dickdastardley]

Bloody hell is it thirty years already! I was there as a callow 17 year old youth and recall that you could tell when Hailwood was approaching by the Cheers and waving that preceeded his approach - only balanced by the boos and `****er` gestures that heralded the proximity of poor old Phil Read. As a sideline I do remember visiting the swimming baths in Douglas only to have my legs pulled from under me and as a poor swimmer grasping for means of support other than the surface water which unfortunatly was one of my mates buxom girlfriend who did not appreciate me grabbing a handfull and inadvertantly trying to remove her bikini - even in the name of survival - I`m trying to keep my head above the water not helped by two people grabbing my legs and a busty allison chastising and slapping me as a pervert not noticing the water level has dropped as most of it is down my throat....

[Mr.R]

I was there this year riding my owned from new '79 900SS bevel special, 29 years after I 1st rode her over to the Island.
It was my 15th visit.
Fantastic time was had by all and I can't wait until I next visit Mona's Isle...
I you only ever do it once make sure that you do!
You can't call yourself a fully rounded Biker until you've been IMO!
You'll also have missed the best bikers party on earth, if you never make it.

Steve

[Tush67]

Originally Posted by dickdastardley

As a sideline I do remember visiting the swimming baths in Douglas only to have my legs pulled from under me and as a poor swimmer grasping for means of support other than the surface water which unfortunatly was one of my mates buxom girlfriend who did not appreciate me grabbing a handfull and inadvertantly trying to remove her bikini - even in the name of survival - I`m trying to keep my head above the water not helped by two people grabbing my legs and a busty allison chastising and slapping me as a pervert not noticing the water level has dropped as most of it is down my throat....

You forgot the 'There rests the case for the defence your Honour' bit. Floatation necessity indeed - pull the other titty.

[NedLudd]

Originally Posted by dickdastardley

only balanced by the boos and `****er` gestures that heralded the proximity of poor old Phil Read

I've heard references to Read's unpopularity before. Why was that?

[Mr.R]

Read was part of a group of top GP riders who led a boycot of the TT which at the time was the British round of the World Championships.
The group said that it was dangerous for the younger works riders to be forced to race for championship points at the TT.
This happened in the early '70's and the Island lost it's World Championsip status after the '76 TT because of this boycot.
Read returned to the TT in '77 and won the FI World Championsip, it was seeing this that got Mike Hailwood thinking that if Phil could do it then maybe he wasn't too old to return...
Mike beat Phil in the '78 FI race and was crowned World TT F1 Champion riding the Sports Motorcycles 900 Ducati NCR TT F1 bike.
He returned again in '79 and won the senior race riding a RG500 Suzuki.

Steve