The Isle of Man Branch of the VMCC is expecting record numbers of people to attend this year’s Festival of Jurby on Sunday 28th August. Last year’s event attracted over 10,000 people and more are expected this year as the event’s popularity increases. It is already the biggest single spectator attraction on the Isle of Man, outside the TT Races.

The event, which takes place at Jurby airfield, is part of a weeklong series of events run by the organisation as part of the Manx Grand Prix Festival that will also include rallies, a parade lap around the Mountain Course and a Concourse d’Elegance in Castletown Square on Thursday 1st September.

The ‘Festival of Jurby’ is a free event that features vintage motorcycles and vehicles, together with a host of attractions for all the family. The focus of attention throughout the day is vintage motorcycles and vintage transport. Classic bikes will be featured in a series of 20 minute parade laps around the Jurby airport race circuit where spectators can see some of the famous bikes from motorcycling history in action.

This year attractions will include the appearance of over forty Indian Motorcycles, organised by the Indian owners Club. An Indian motorcycle was notable as the first winner of the 1911 TT, the first race on the now famous Mountain Course. Pete Gagan will be bringing a replica of the 1911 bike, appropriately in the Course’s centenary.

A number of leading riders have also confirmed their appearance at this year’s festival including John McGuinness who will be riding his 2007 TT winning Superbike, his Honda legends team-mate Keith Amor, World Superbike racer Johnny Rea, multi-world champion Brian Reid riding a Loctite Yamaha, New Zealand’s former triple TT winner Graeme Crosby and Nick Jefferies who will be riding his RC45, an ex TT Races machine. Fourteen-time TT sidecar Champion Dave Molyneux will be bringing his George O’Dell Yamaha1977 World Championship machine raced by George O’Dell.

The other attractions at the show include an Italian dedicated Marquee, celebrating 100 years of Benelli as well as other notable manufacturers such as Gilera, MV and Ducati’s. There will also be the first opportunity for people to see the new three-wheeled Morgan, fitted with a lightweight chassis, a motorcycle engine and simple transmission.

Tony East, Secretary of the Isle of Man Vintage Motorcycle Club, commented:

“This is now the third year that we have been involved with the Festival of Jurby and our second as part of the Manx Grand Prix Festival and the event is growing every year. There is a real passion for Vintage and Classic machines from visitors and residents and we believe that our event now represents the World’s finest museum of veteran, vintage and classic machines still in working order.”

The action will move South of the Island to the Southern 100 Club on Thursday 1st September, where a cavalcade of riders will be meeting in the club’s paddock at 4.pm for a 4.30pm start before completing a lap of the Billown circuit and then heading into Castletown for a Concourse d’Elegance in the main square. There will also be a performance by the Manx Jazz Aces, entertaining paraders and spectators.

Geoff Corkish MBE MHK, Political Member for Isle of Man Tourism, said:

“The VMCC’s festival of Jurby and their associated parades have become an important and integral part of the Manx Grand Prix Festival. The Club’s events are a great celebration and showcase of Motorcycling history and their popularity is a tribute to the hard work that the club puts in throughout the year. They are a valued partner of the Department’s in making the festival a success.”


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