Arrived on the early early morning ferry…… always a tiring journey but wasn’t too busy so managed to get a little rest. Drop of the wet stuff to be greeted with but it doesn’t matter at the moment as we’re just so pleased to be back! Sent down to the bottom paddock….the bone yard apparently, this was ok, a big enough space and electric so no too bad. A lot of teams still to arrive and some big spaces are being held for the great big units, unfortunately where we usually park but there’s alot of teams to fit in.

Had a steady day getting the awnings set up, walking the dog and getting supplies in, its so nice to be back, we’ve missed the Island so much with the Covid break! Stu Castles called down to help out and see us which was epic as we havn’t had chance to catch up in such a long time. Phil had already arrived and was set up in the RV parking, which, apparently was ok until the numbers increased then the generators struggled with the capacity!

Had the pleasure of Mr Binns coming to help, apparently we have got him all to ourselves for practice week whether we like it or not! Wouldn’t change a thing Ben!! Matty Rostron and Lisa Ried are on their way and we cant wait to have the whole team together. First practice is on 29th and signing on to do first.

Wayne and Matty waiting for signing on and briefing, with Steve and Matty Ramsden, in the main hospitality unit.

All stickered up and ready to go out for first practice. Huge thanks to our sponsors for the support they have shown us this year. Our race one support is from Dirty Weekender Van Conversions based in Worcester, Jonny Leubke and his team do an unbelievable job of converting the VW vans into awesome camper van, totally bespoke to the customers requirements. You wont get a more professional and friendly service. Our sponsor for Race 2 is W.M.B, We Move Bikes Logistics based in Gloucester. Paul Lusty and his team ship bikes all over the world and they have great links with the Isle of Man for getting machines safely to the Island, but also, to the many bike shows across Europe, Harley Davidson rallies, private customer shipments and they even helped us get our wonderful Ireson the the USA when she was sold 3 years ago. Highly professional and extremely competitive.

Our other sponsors and supporters have their names and/or company names around the fairing and along with a mention on this website, with links to those businesses, we try to personally thank everyone for their support throughout the year, not just for the TT. Every single penny or pound is put into the outfit to try and improve performance, which, in turn, hopefully is repaid with great results.

With the excitement of getting out for first practice, we were a little dissapointed to be flagged in just short of a second fast lap, there was plenty of time for another lap but there was a solo who ‘needed’ to go out for a lap so the sidecar session was cut short. Very frustrating but Wayne and Matty had stopped for adjustments and could now prep for tomorrow nights practice. Matty took Wayne up to his grandads to collect some supplies and it was a very humbling meeting for Wayne. Brian Rostron is another TT legend and has so many stories and photos that is was an inspiring meeting for the Real Racing driver. Thank you Matty!

Second practice should of been out at 8.05pm but an incident in the solo practice session has left the sidecars with not enough time to get out. This is very frustrating as we don’t get as much practice time as the solos anyway and we seem to get let down at the very last minute. An earlier practice session should be in place for us to have the qualifying and track time. Hope all are ok involved and we hope to be out tomorrow.

Finally out for a lap or 2, one flying lap should help get things in a better perspective and give all teams some much need track time.

After a few minutes delay they were sent out one by one, off down Bray Hill. Great to hear them all going off the pit lane and having some of that noise back in our lives! Following the live timing and it was looking pretty solid, until they didn’t come through the next sector……. always a worry but we’d had a message through that they had broken down at Balagarey. Engine failure, big one, but no oil on the road, Wayne saved it and pulled it in before they lost any oil which could of been a disaster! Back to awning to change the engine and move forward. Thanks to everyone for your support and messages.

The late night and long day, changing the engine proved to be in vain as this engine ‘spun up’ on the ramps and there was nothing we could do about it. We would have to miss the next qualifying session and change to our 3rd engine, very frustrating and tiring, but with our strong team around us, we got the engine up and running, giving us a shot at the next session. Well done to everyone who has helped, Matty, Ben, Phil, Stu, and anyone else who’s given just moral support, John Fisher, Barry and Pauline, Louisa and Lisa. Its been tough.

Top Boys…. Stu Castles, Noel Beare, and Ben Binns

After a tense few days we managed to get out for some qualifying laps, first one across the line at 97mph, running in, and second lap at a steady 105. The hard work has paid off and we have a qualification time! Phew!!

A turn around of practice times for the sidecars again, this time due to the weather forecast which can always change everyones plans! A good vibe in the paddock tonight with everyone buzzing around. clouds in the sky but all good so far.

Well its not good news folks…… After all the hard work of the past few days, the team went out for their qualifying session and we doing ok, until Wayne and Matty were reluctantly forced to pull in at Parlament square. Just so deflated, another engine blown. Looks like another late night to prepare one final engine for the Race tomorrow. Not sure its going to be possible though, there’s alot on the line here!

Race 1….

After lots of hard work, the team have had to think logically about the first race and whether getting out is possible or not, the decision is that we wont be out for Race 1. Absolutely totally gutted and frustrated. 3 engines gone and only one left, without finding the cause of the problems, we would be silly to risk our last chance engine until we’re sure of a diagnosis. We going back to basics and try to rectify it and get out for a bit of testing with any luck, ready for Race 2.

We are very sorry that we wont be out for the first race and cant thank you all enough for all the messages and support. With the race about to start, Good Luck to all the other teams and have a safe fast day! Wayne took himself off and joined the marshals at the Nook for the day, he enjoyed being part of it and helping even if he couldn’t race. Matty went out as pit crew for his brother in law and donned his overalls for the day, cracking job Matty!

After the loss of the 3rd engine, which i might add was kindly borrowed from fellow competitor Nigel Smith, thanks Nige, we had to get number 4 from main land which was at the engine builders being repaired from the TT. So, after sorting his ferry out and making the special journey with dog Eric, Mike turned up with engine number 4. Fingers crossed for this one !! We still could not believe the run of bad luck with all of this, we’d checked and changed virtually every componant on the engines, checked data, looked for the obvious to the obscure as we’d never had this misfortune before!

Hard work continues for Real Racing as the rest of the sidecar paddock gets ready for Race 1. I went up to the Parc Ferme to do a live and wish everyone a good race. Great to see so many well turned out machines, though the numbers are lower than ever we hope sidecars will make a bigger comeback. they have a unique following and a huge fan base, the racing is in a class of its own and the teams have such an amazing relationship with each other. Hopefully the grid will become better than ever in the next few years.

As they all head off down Bray Hill, the front runners and the rest of the pack share the excitement and the nerves……. and then we hear it…….. race stopped…….. red flag incident at Agos. The news is always a huge concern, more so for the teams and families back in paddock, but the marshals and spectators have to deal with it too. We hear one of our French teams have been involved and it is serious. If you’ve followed the racing then you will of heard about the whole situation and i will go into details, only to say, our thoughts are with the families.

The race is to be re scheduled for another day so we thought we may get to race after all but there was a few little areas the boys still wanted to check, so we decided we would get out for the sidecar dash on wednesday and then fridays race 2. Thank you to everyone for your help in the work shop, its been emotional and frustrating but we’ll be back.

Wednesdays one lap dash went well and the team were pleased to be out there, un like me who has been in bed with a horrible tummy bug! Yuk!

Race 2….. its only a 2 lap dash as the races have all been cut short because of various incidents and hold ups. Wayne and Matty are excited and nervous too but cant wait to get down Bray Hill. Its all go and they’re off…….. A great start, coming through all sectors in steady times across start finish line and heading past St Ninians for lap 2, at the Glen Helen sector but then a red flag stopped the race. The leaders were around the Ballaugh Bridge sector so the race finish was called and it was the end of the race.

I cannot express our sadness, yet again, at the information that was coming through about the incident…..again by Agos…… so similar to the previous accident…… was absolutely devestating. Father and Son team Roger and Bradley Stockton both had lost their lives in the incident. We are all in shock in the paddock and send our heartfelt wishes to the family and friends.

So with the team back in the paddock, very relived and very emotional with the whole TT fortnight but we did secure 12th place, 107.333, the last bronze replica, and Wayne and Matty had worked really well together, sadly not enough time out on the course but we’re going home and can now prepared for the Southern 100 and enjoy the next episode of Real Racings 2022 journey.
Big shout out to 3Wheeling for hosting and supporting the sidecar races this year and to Chris Beauman for his invitation to visit his beautiful home in Crogga Valley where all the sidecar families spent the day, it’s was fantastic!! Thanks Chris!