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It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, the Isle of Man is Boring?
Dry those leathers with some indoor TT activities
TT is here and with it, timed to perfection, the Manx monsoon season. We lucked out last year, guys. Whatever sacrifice one of you made to the TT weather Gods to bag us glorious sunshine for two weeks in 2023 has worn off. The sound of chafing thighs rubbing against damp leather is deafening. And we’re at risk of the main vehicle action being the construction and departure of Noa’s (Bakehouse) Arc.
But. All is not lost. Though some will tell you that the most fun to be had on the Isle of Man consists of either a Diabolo or illegal drug usage, there’s actually a load of hidden treasures for you motorbike fans to feast your eye holes on that don’t require an umbrella.
Isle of Man Motor Museum
A self-described ‘petrolhead’s paradise’, Jurby’s IOM Motor Museum shows vehicles in all states of life. Many of them have personal stories behind them, which are displayed on plaques in front of each exhibit. It’s got more cool things on wheels than Brian Potter from Phoenix Nights. You’ll find historically significant cars, motorcycles from days of black and white TV to now, Mary Poppins’ style steam cars, trucks, buses, fire engines, A HOVERCRAFT, airport limousines, agricultural equipment and even a self-propelled gun. And that’s just a sample.
It’s essentially James Bond’s garage.
Jurby Transport Museum
Jurby really is the place to be for cool motors and criminal activity. (Jurby Prison is nearby) And it really would be CRIMINAL to not stop by the Jurby Transport Museum. (Sorry if that’s inappropriate).
The next door neighbour of the Isle of Man Motor Museum is the Jurby Transport Museum. It’s housed in a former RAF Bellman Aircraft Hangar, built during the winter of 1939/1940, and will take you on a journey of transport through the ages.
Leece Museum in Peel
Exhausted those first two? My goodness, your love of vintage motor vehicles knows no bounds. I applaud you. Let’s head on over to Sunset City (Peel) and the Leece Museum.
It’s got a permanent exhibition of vintage TT & MGP winning racing machines and off-road bikes. What’s equally as cool is where the exhibition is. It’s housed in the Black Hole Prison cell where wrong doers were incarcerated in days of old for minor inconveniences. Like walking too slowly to church. After that, Peel is the best place on the Island for a pub crawl so once you’ve indulged in the Leece Museum you can drown your sorrows at the state of the weather in a bunch of different charming drinking holes. For added fun, apparently one is haunted. I won’t tell you which.
TT gallery at the Manx Museum
Back to the big smoke that is Douglas and the classic Manx Museum. Its TT gallery officially opened last year, and tells the story of the Isle of Man TT from 1907 to the present day through the real-life tales of riders, families, mechanics, marshals and fans.
Motorcycles, leathers and helmets are mounted on their matching machines using fully jointed skeleton models. Terrifying at night. One of the most iconic items in the gallery is an AJS motorcycle ridden in the 1914 Junior TT; one of very few pre-First World War TT motorcycles to exist.
Victory Cafe cinema
Strap in, we’re heading to the Mountain Road for this one. Victory Cafe is perfect for motorbike enthusiasts. It’s a biker themed cafe, that also sells cool biker merch.
It’s also got it’s own mini cinema room. Instead of typical cinema seats, the room is decked out with airplane seats from a defunct Japanese airline. The chairs have all the original features of an aeroplane seat. You can use your tray for some snacks, pop your feet up with the recliner or even pull your seatbelt over you, if you’re so inclined. Just DON’T kick the seat in front of you. Or the person sitting in it may kick back. Hard. I speak from experience. My teeth are still in that cinema somewhere.
Aviation museum at Ronaldsway
This independent museum features the aviation heritage of the Isle of Man and tells the stories of the Island and its people in wartime. The museum tells two exciting stories – the aviation and military heritage of the Isle of Man and the history of the Manx Regiment – the most successful light anti-aircraft regiment in the British Army.
When you leave, make sure to wave sympathetically at the people stranded in the Ronaldsway waiting lounge. You’ll see them stood by the glass windows; their hands pressed desperately on the glass as they enter their 28th hour of EasyJet delays. Bankrupt after spending £46.78 on one herbal tea and a chocolate covered rice cake.
Murray’s Motorcycle Museum
This is small but as we all know, it’s not the size that matters, it’s what you do with it. And Peter Murray has done well with it. He’s packed the space full with treasured machines and memorabilia. The museum represents years of motor collecting covering machines from the late 1800’s through to modern times.
Tram or train trip
And finally, instead of looking at old school machinery, why not immerse yourself INSIDE IT by taking a trip on the Isle of Man Steam Railway, or tram (horse or electric).
*Added incentive to hop on a horse tram: If they’re not used the horses get sent to a certain factory and repurposed as Pritt-Sticks. So.. be that on your conscience.
Hopefully there’s at least one thing there to whet your appetite without actually getting wet. If not, you can borrow my Diabolo. I want it back though.
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