Can anyone tell me is this list complete of IOM M/Cycle road race courses past and present?

St Johns

Mountain 1911 - 1914

Mountain 1914 - present

Clypse Course

Billown Circuit

Jurby

Ramsey (mid eighties I think, and I'm unsure of the route)

I'm planning a scenic day's riding during practice week and will ride every inch of each course, I'm wondering if there's anything I've missed?

alf

Jurby has had more than one course over the years.
Come in and have a cuppa when you're down at Billown

Should I bring cakes?

There was the qualifying trials course for the 1906 International. It started at Quarter Bridge, went south to Castletown, turned right at Castletown Bridge, then up the Ballamodha Straight to Ballacraine, where they turned right and back to Quarter Bridge.

Forgot another course, even if it was only used for 'track days'. Andreas airfield should have been the home of the Andreas Racing Association. Something happened which made them re-route to Jurby Airfield, but by that time the Club had already been named.
Can anyone identify this rider?

Did bikes ever run on the Gordon Bennett course that started near Port Lewaigue, Maughold?

No, that was just for the cars. They had intended to run the bikes on the full Gordon Bennett course - Quarter Bridge to Castletown, up the Ballamodha, straight on at Ballacraine to Ballaugh, where they turned left to Old Ballaugh Church then through Sandygate to Ramsey, through Parliament Square and across the mountain to Quarter Bridge (there was no Signpost corner section, they turned right at Cronk ny Mona and through Ballanard Road to drop down Bray Hill. That course was found to be too demanding for the single-speed belt drivers so they used a shortened version.
In the early days of racing at Jurby airfield, the length of the circuit, particularly round the hanger section, depended on how many concrete blocks had been made and parked alongside the course!

I never saw it but have read on this and others sites that there was a short course in Ramsay probably somebody will be able to tell more.

Me too. There was a photo too, I've done a search but can't find it. alf

Ramsey road race picture is here

http://www.ttwebsite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6408

alf885 Wrote:Can anyone tell me is this list complete of IOM M/Cycle road race courses past and present?

St Johns

Mountain 1911 - 1920 (4-inch course)

Mountain 1920 - present

Clypse Course

Billown Circuit

Jurby

Ramsey (mid eighties I think, and I'm unsure of the route)

I'm planning a scenic day's riding during practice week and will ride every inch of each course, I'm wondering if there's anything I've missed?

alf

Slight change in your post - I think it's correct

There was a road course projected for use in the south end of the island, using the TT section from Douglas to Ballacraine but then turning south to run down the Ballamohda to Ballasalla then back up to Douglas.

It was a very good idea, no possibility of mist on the mountain and a straight with superb undulations and superb scenery if you had time to see it !! The start/finish would have been south at the end of the Ballamohda.

If you are over, you might find it rewarding to try it but be careful of speed limits. It is about 20 miles round.

Why was it never used ????

Thanks for the link Cargo.

I'll double check samwise.

Ta, alf

ian huntly Wrote:There was a road course projected for use in the south end of the island, using the TT section from Douglas to Ballacraine but then turning south to run down the Ballamohda to Ballasalla then back up to Douglas.

It was a very good idea, no possibility of mist on the mountain and a straight with superb undulations and superb scenery if you had time to see it !! The start/finish would have been south at the end of the Ballamohda.

If you are over, you might find it rewarding to try it but be careful of speed limits. It is about 20 miles round.

Why was it never used ????

Thanks Ian, I know the route that the "southern course" would have followed and I will probably use Ballamohda to get to Billown so could claim it! I didn't know that it had been a proposed race circuit.

The one that still eludes me, although I have rough idea, is the Ramsey circuit. I know it used part of the prom and doubled back behind the tall former hotels (Cargo's pic.) but where did it go after that. Perhaps I'll make it up as I go

alf

Well, here's the map, try this circuit out this year.

http://www.bbhmg.com/sckre.htm

I remember racing a Kart on a road circuit in Ramsey in I think 1967.

All I can remember of the circuit was that it was very bumpy (far worse than the Billown circuit was) and that it rained.. A lot...
Was probably around 1.5 miles in length but wanted to forget it as soon as the race was over. Can anyone remember that?