Mais umas vistas de Douglas
As fotos da praxe tiradas ao lado da estátua do grande campeão.
Short HISTORY about Isle of Man TT
The first TT races on the island were started in 1904. The Automobile Club of Great Britain decided to hold the trials for the Gordon Bennett Challenge Cup Race on the Island. The government on the Isle of Man changed the laws to allow roads to be closed for racing. This was something laws in the UK did not allow. Back then the course started at Quarter Bridge in Douglas and the cars did 5 laps over 51 miles.
The first motor cycle trials were held in 1905 at the same time as the trials for cars, but it was not till 1907 that the TT Motorcycles had a race of their own. The Auto Cycle Club, a branch off the Automobile Club of Great Britain, wanted to use the races as a way to promote the efficient and cheap transport of motor cycling. The course at this time started at St John's and competitors were to complete 10 laps over 15 miles.
O Manx Grand Prix irá realizar-se na semana de 16 a 22 de Agosto, (falhamos este por pouco tambem :-(
The race began in 1923, as a replacement if the TT Races were moved off the Island. Started by the Manx Motorcycle Club, the race was originally named the 'Amateur TT' and used the TT Mountain Course over 5 laps. Raced by non professionals, but the term 'Amateur' really meant that the rider and stock machine had no manufacture support or reward. The first race had 33 entries each playing an entry fee less then a quarter the price for the TT. The winner of the Seniors Race received a trophy donated by the Mayor of Douglas, Ald. A.B. Crookall, MHK. This trophy is still presented to the winner today. The Motor Cycle Club donated the trophy for the 350cc.
Regulation changes in 1925 allowed any machine type to compete in the races. Donated the same year was the York Trophy awarded for outstanding merit. The Amateur TT was renamed to the Manx Grand Prix in 1930 and from then on it would only take competitors domiciled in the British Isles, which had not taken part in other international races. In 1967, the Manx Grand Prix became a National event, but it would not get a race of its own till 1999.
The Manx Grand Prix celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1998, and is till held every August on the Mountain Circuit.
The first Southern 100 Road Races took place in 1955. The three races covering the classes of 250cc, 350cc, and 500cc attracted 73 entries. The 250cc and the 350cc were the traditional classes of their day, raced over 6 laps covering 25 miles. The 500cc, was the premier race over a massive 24 laps covering a distance of 100 miles. By 1958, the Southern 100 Races had gained national status and in 1962, sidecars were added to the races. In 1968, the Solo Championship was started and in 1969 the Southern 100 Races were part of the British Championship and later in 1992 and 1993 they were included in the Irish Regal Championships.
The Southern 100 Races now feature mass start solo, sidecar and classic motorcycle races, which start and conclude the TT Festival. Competitors race on the main roads of the Billown Circuit covering 4.25 miles. The races are run by the Southern 100 Club in Castletown and known as the 'Friendly Meeting'.
The club will introduce new electric timing (optional) for 2003 with the hope of moving to them permanently in 2004. Everyone should know the benefits of an electric system, which include quick results, intervals between riders, and live racing results just to name a few.