An image similar to what will be found in Rachael Clegg's 2014 TT Calendar.
Order it here! It looks fabulous: http://www.rachaelclegg.com/prints

Text by Rachael Clegg:

"A GOOSE, a budget blonde from Rochdale, several tubs of Swarfega, umpteen gallons of diesel, an Aljazeera journalist and an assistant with a bladder problem – that’s all it took to create this year’s TT calendar. Who needs swanky Pirelli professionals when you have Manx farm animals and a woman with urinary issues?

The idea to create an arty / slightly comedic TT calendar struck me on the journey back from TT 2010. Being a total anorak, I’d recorded the sound of an AJS warming up (a wonderful ‘growl’ noise) before the classic lap on my dictaphone, which I then listened to on my return journey. On the same dictaphone there was also a recording of a very funny TT press conference - the combination of the humour, the visceral thrill of a classic engine and the post TT blues, got me thinking….

Within a week I’d decided to create a TT calendar – one that did justice to the quirky history of the Isle of Man TT races by interpreting it in an artistic manner. I researched dozens of unusual tales from the race’s 105-year history and used each tale as inspiration for the images, which I sketched out as I was doing the research. There are enough shots for each of the 37 and three quarter miles of the course – this calendar is part one, if you like.

The calendar nods to my heritage - both my dad and granddad were TT, an obsession with TT history and an interest in images. All the props are genuine, kindly lent to me by Guy Martin, John McGuinness (in whose leathers I was almost arrested), Ian Lougher, my father, a farmer (who lent me the goose) and an eccentric Manxman. Even the jerry can in the Brandywell image has a history – it belongs to veteran TT racer Vin Duckett.

With the exception of Brandish Corner, which was foolishly shot at rush hour, all the pictures were taken at around 4am over a four-week period throughout the TT and Manx Grand Prix. My alarm would go off at 3am - I’d get ready, grab Peter (photographer) and Shaz (assistant) and we’d load the van and I’d drive us (rather badly) to whichever sections we’d planned. But there were always set-backs: weather, very keen speed walkers and on one day the photographer even forgot the camera. It was all very Carry On.

The photographer – who transformed my crude sketches into great shots – is Aljazeera’s Africa reporter and a former BBC foreign correspondent; more at home in a war zone than legging it round the TT course with a woman with a penchant for extreme nudity.

Making the calendar was hilarious – I’ve never giggled as much in my life. "