how long is the isle of man course

by Dario Abbott III 6 min read

Location Douglas, Isle of Man
Time zone British Summer Time (during event-season ...
Major events Isle of Man TT Manx Grand Prix Sidecar W ...
Length 37.730 miles (60.718 km)
Turns 219
Jun 11 2022

37.73 mile

Full Answer

What is the course distance of the Isle of Man Sportive?

The course distance is 37.7 miles (60.7 km) with 2132 ft of ascent; two laps is 75.5 miles with 4264 ft of ascent and three laps is 113.2 miles with 6396 ft of ascent. During the sportive the roads will be open to normal traffic so all cyclists must ride responsibly and obey the Isle of Man traffic laws.

What is the Isle of Man TT course?

The motorcycle TT Course is used principally for the Isle of Man TT Races and also the separate event of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT Races held in September of each year. The start-line for the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course is located on Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas, Isle of Man.

What is the course record for the Isle of Man time trial?

The course record on a bicycle is 1hr 23min 48sec which Peter Kennaugh set during the Nelson Trophy Memorial Mountain Time Trial on the weekend of the Isle of Man CC in September 2015. The Manx Team Sky pro rider broke Chris Boardman’s previous time of 1hr 23min 54sec which had stood unbroken since 1993.

Why choose the Isle of Man Mountain Course?

The Isle of Man Mountain Course holds a unique place in the hearts of all motorcyclists; a demanding but thrilling throwback to an era of racing long-since past which provides the sternest of tests for man and machinery.

How long is the TT course?

37.730 milesIsle of Man TT Mountain CourseLocationDouglas, Isle of ManMajor eventsIsle of Man TT Manx Grand Prix Sidecar World Championship (1960-1976)Length37.730 miles (60.718 km)Turns219Race lap record16:42.778 seconds – 135.452 mph / 217.99 kmh average (Peter Hickman, BMW S1000RR, 2018)2 more rows

How many laps is the Isle of Man TT?

six-lapIsle of Man TT organisers have announced that the postponed Senior TT finale will go ahead on Saturday and will run over the full six-lap distance.

What is the fastest speed at the Isle of Man TT?

On the penultimate lap of the Senior race, the Smiths BMW rider set a new world road racing course record by coming from behind to narrowly beat Harrison after an epic struggle, raising the bar to 135.452mph.

What is the fastest part of the TT course?

Sulby straightThe entry into Quarry Bends is critical for a fast lap because you unless you get this complex just right you'll be too slow onto the long (almost 1 mile) Sulby straight, the fastest part of the TT track. On the approach after the jump at Ballacrye (see below), Hillier tops out at 184.7mph in 6th gear.

How many racers have died at Isle of Man?

Between 1907 and 2022, there have been 155 fatalities during official practices or races on the Snaefell Mountain Course, and 265 total fatalities (this number includes the riders killed during the Manx Grand Prix, and Clubman TT race series of the late 1940s/1950s).

How many died in Isle of Man TT?

265 competitorsThe big picture: Overall, 265 competitors have died in races on the island's infamous 37.7-mile Mountain Course since the TT's 1907 debut.

What is the deadliest race?

Isle of Man TT Through the years, this track has taken the lives of 239 motorcycle riders caused by hitting light poles, walls, and fences or flying off jagged cliffs and even crushing many spectators, giving this event the title of the most deadly race in the world.

How many miles is the Isle of Man?

Home to a variety of scenic highlights that both inspire and captivate visitors, the Isle of Man is a truly unique destination. Just 33 miles long by 13 miles wide, you won't need to travel far to unearth the Island's natural beauty.

How fast do bikes go in Isle of Man?

Current Isle of Man TT Lap RecordsCategoryRiderAverage SpeedOutrightPeter Hickman135.452mph / 217.989km/hTT SuperbikeDean Harrison134.432mph / 216.347km/hSupersportMichael Dunlop129.197mph / 207.922km/hLightweight TTMichael Dunlop122.750mph / 197.546km/h5 more rows

How many days is the Isle of Man TT?

The annual TT event is spread over six qualifying days and five days of racing. Each lap is almost 38 miles with more than 200 bends and climbs from sea level to more than 400 metres. The average speed of the first winner in 1907 was 38 miles an hour. The current record is 135 miles an hour.

Who is the most successful TT rider?

From that moment on, he would change the game in motorcycle road racing very much in the same way his great hero – and team-mate at one time – Joey Dunlop, the TT's most successful rider with 26 wins, did from the 1970s through to his death in 2000.

What bikes are used in the Isle of Man TT?

This class features twin cylinder 650cc bikes modified from middleweight road bikes. Extensive modifications turn these bikes into racing machines by tuners and engineers for the unique challenges of the TT Mountain Course. This class competes in the Bennetts Lightweight Race for 4 laps.

What is the Isle of Man?

The Isle of Man Mountain Course holds a unique place in the hearts of all motorcyclists; a demanding but thrilling throwback to an era of racing long-since past which provides the sternest of tests for man and machinery. The annual TT and Grand Prix races see a phalanx of professional and amateur racers descend upon the island to test their mettle against the demanding roads, in what are hugely important dates in the island's tourism calendar, drawing in tens of thousands of fans.

When were the first races on the Isle of Man?

The first races ran on the St John's Course – the Mountain Course having been deemed too challenging for contemporary machinery – between 1907 and 1910.

How long is the Glencrutchery Road course?

Competitors now turned left at Cronk-ny-Mona and followed the primary A18 Mountain Road to Governor's Bridge with a new start/finish line on Glencrutchery Road which lengthened the course from the pre-World War I length of 37.50 miles (60.35 km) to 37.75 miles (60.75 km).

What is the highest point on the golf course?

Hailwood Rise: the highest point on the course, just before Brandywell, named in recognition of the legendary Mike Hailwood. Duke's: the 32nd Milestone Bends were renamed 'Duke's' in honour of six times TT winner and six times World Champion, Geoff Duke, OBE. Greeba Bridge: name derived from Scandinavian: Gnipa, a peak.

Where is the Isle of Man?

The Isle of Man is a small crown-dependent yet independent island located between England and Ireland in the Irish Sea . It is known for being a tax haven and vacation destination for 50 weeks out of the year, but for two weeks every summer its home to one of the most dramatic and daring races in history. The topography ranges from climbing seaside hills to flat meadows to dense forests, with historic castle ruins and sleepy villages speckled about the land. The roads that traverse the island go through all of these features as well as the various towns and villages with the largest being Douglas, the island’s capital.

What is the Isle of Man TT?

The Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) is frequently called the world’s last great motorsports event, a title that is beyond well deserved . Every June racers compete on closed public two-lane country roads at speeds exceeding 200mph, making it one of, if not the, most dangerous motorcycle race in the world. But how did this often-lethal event, held ...

How long was the 1911 TT?

In 1911 The TT switched to the substantially longer 37.73 mile course (The Snaefell Course, then 37.40 miles). At this point the TT consisted of two classes, the 350cc Junior TT and the “Blue Riband Event”, the 500cc Senior TT.

How long is a TT track?

These days, most purpose built race tracks like those used in MotoGP are under four miles long with somewhere between 15-20 turns on average.

How long is the Senior TT?

The Senior TT consists of six laps around the 37.73 mile circuit, a total distance longer than a trip from New York City to Boston or half the distance from San Francisco to Las Vegas, all in around an hour and forty-five minutes. In some events riders must make a pit-stop in order to refuel and swap tires.

When did the Snaefell Mountain course become a FIM?

In 1949 the Snaefell Mountain course officially became part of the FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship, a little racing league that today goes by the name MotoGP. For the next 27 years the TT became increasingly popular on a global scale.

When was the first TT held?

The island had its own Parliament which meant that it did not have to comply with the U.K. Parliament’s Act. The first ever TT was held in 1907 thanks to the 1904 Isle of Man Parliament Act that permitted road racing.

How long is the Isle of Man TT?

The event consists of one week of practice sessions followed by one week of racing. It has been a tradition, perhaps started by racing competitors in the early 1920s, for spectators to tour the Snaefell Mountain Course on motorcycles during the Isle of Man TT on " Mad Sunday ", an informal and unofficial sanctioned event held on the Sunday between 'Practice Week' and 'Race Week'.

When did the Isle of Man TT start?

The Isle of Man TT was part of the FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship (now MotoGP) between 1949 and 1976. During this period the Isle of Man TT Races counted as the United Kingdom round including the Sidecar TT, 50 cc Ultra-Lightweight TT, 125 cc Lightweight TT, 250 cc Lightweight TT, 350 cc Junior TT and 500 cc Senior TT races counted towards the FIM Motor-Cycle Grand Prix World Championship. After the 1972 races, multiple world champion and dominant motorcycle racer of his time Giacomo Agostini announced he would never race again at the Isle of Man, declaring it too dangerous for international competition and that it was outrageous that such a race should ever be part of a scenario professional riders were forced into; at this point the Isle of Man TT was not suited to the growing professionalism and business aspects of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. More and more riders joined his boycott, and after 1976 the race was stricken from the championship and replaced by the British Grand Prix .

What engine class was used in the 1976 Isle of Man TT?

From 1975, the previous 500 cc and 750 cc classes for Sidecars were replaced by a 1000 cc engine capacity class. The new FIM Formula 2 class for Sidecars was introduced for the 1990 Isle of Man TT.

How many laps did the 1911 Isle of Man TT take?

The 1911 Isle of Man TT was the first time the Junior TT race took place, open to 300 cc single-cylinder and 340 cc twin cylinder motorcycles, contested over five laps of the new 37.5-mile (60.4 km) Snaefell Mountain Course.

What was the speed limit for the Isle of Man?

As the Motor Car Act 1903 placed a speed restriction of 20 mph (32 km/h) on automobiles in the UK, Julian Orde, Secretary of the Automobile Car Club of Britain and Ireland approached the authorities in the Isle of Man for the permission to race automobiles on the island's public roads.

Why was the Isle of Man TT cancelled?

The 2001 Isle of Man TT races were cancelled, and did not take place because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK in the spring and summer of 2001, and the difficulties of disinfecting 40,000 spectators and competitors (and their motorcycles) to ensure the disease was kept off the island.

How fast is Peter Hickman?

Peter Hickman 16 m 42.778s – 135.452 mph (217.989 km/h) (2018) The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world.

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The TT Venue

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The Isle of Man is a small crown-dependent yet independent island located between England and Ireland in the Irish Sea. It is known for being a tax haven and vacation destination for 50 weeks out of the year, but for two weeks every summer its home to one of the most dramatic and daring races in history. The topography …
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The History of The TT

  • Around the turn of the century, motorcycle racing in Europe was in its infancy but nonetheless on the rise in popularity. By 1903 the U.K. Parliament passed an act that forbid riders from exceeding 20mph, which lead Sir Julian Orde, the Secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, to venture to the Isle of Man in hopes of finding more race-friendly authorities. The islan…
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Who Races and Why?

  • Since the first race in 1907 the TT has hosted some of the world’s most talented motorcyclists from almost every era in two-wheeled motorsport history. Legends like Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood and Joey Dunlop have all competed on the island course, each earning Senior TT victories. The prize money has become far more modest since the Grand Prix’s departure from t…
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Race Direction Specifics

  • Over the years the TT organizers have had to find ways of minimizing the risk involved in participation. One way this has been achieved is through the use of a time-trial format where each rider sets off individually in ten second intervals via a “clutch-start” versus a traditional group start. This gives riders more space and lowers the amount of dangerous wheel to wheel racing in suc…
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What Makes The TT So Special

  • Aside from individual events such as the Macau Grand Prix, Ireland and Pikes Peak, the TT is about the only place in the world where public roads are closed for the purpose of flat out motorcycle racing. Try starting an event like this today anywhere else in on the globe and you’ll find it’s nearly impossible. Tradition and cultural significance are two of the only reasons that th…
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Lives Lost on The Snaefell Mountain Course

  • The Isle of Man TT is often referred to as the ultimate proving grounds for riders and their machines but the breathtaking display of skill isn’t the only thing that has made the TT so famous. The risk involved in racing on the island is a major appeal for the event because as one racer has said, “Nine times out of ten if you get it wrong around here, you’re done.” So it’s no surprise that p…
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Summary

The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world.

Notes

1. ^ "Isle of Man TT results: Peter Hickman becomes the world's fastest rider with record-breaking Senior TT victory". Isle of Man TT. Duke Marketing Limited. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018. Peter Hickman produces an astonishing record final lap to win the Senior TT at the Isle of Man TT to pip race-long leader Dean Harrison in one of the closest races ever seen.
2. ^ The Manx Experience. A Souvenir Guide to the Isle of Man. page 66-67 Gordon N.Kniverton 8th edition The …

Overview

The Isle of Man TT is run in a time-trial format on public roads closed to the public by an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man). The event consists of one week of practice sessions followed by one week of racing. It has been a tradition, perhaps started by racing competitors in the early 1920s, for spectators to tour the Snaefell Mountain Course on motorcycles during the Isle of Man TT on Mad Sunday, an informal and unofficial sanctioned event held on the Sunday betw…

Early Isle of Man TT race history (1904–1910)

Motor racing began on the Isle of Man in 1904 with the Gordon Bennett Eliminating Trial, restricted to touring automobiles. As the Motor Car Act 1903 placed a speed restriction of 20 mph (32 km/h) on automobiles in the UK, Julian Orde, Secretary of the Automobile Car Club of Britain and Ireland approached the authorities in the Isle of Man for the permission to race automobiles on the island's public roads. The Highways (Light Locomotive) Act 1904 gave permission in the I…

Format of the races

The TT Races since the first race in 1907 have been in the format of time-trial. The races held on the Clypse Course during the period 1954–1959 were the more traditional full grid starts along with the 1924 Lightweight TT Race and Clubmen TT Races from 1948, which were also "mass-start" races. The current format is a "clutch start" and race competitors will be "started singly at 10-second intervals".

Practice sessions

The format of the Isle of Man TT is one week of practice/qualifying followed by one week of racing. Historically, there was an early morning practice session from 05:00–07:30 am. This was discontinued for the 2004 Isle of Man TT races.
During an early morning practice session for the 1927 Isle of Man TT races, Archie Birkin, brother of Tim Birkin of the Bentley Boys fame, crashed fatally at R…

TT course official vehicles

After the completion of a practice or race period, an official course vehicle displaying the notice Roads Open proceeds around the Mountain Course, passing each point opening the roads including side-access junctions to public use. On the Snaefell mountain road section from Ramsey to Douglas, the official vehicle displays the notice Roads Open One Way.
Originally introduced in 1935, there are eight machines positioned around the course to provide …

Crossing places during practice and races

The 1982 Road Racing Act (Isle of Man) and the supplementary TT Road Races Orders allow vehicles and pedestrians to cross the Snaefell Mountain Course at certain points between scheduled race periods under the supervision of a police officer. Several permanent pedestrian overbridges have been erected. These points include:
• A2 St Ninian's Crossroads with the A22 Ballaquayle Road and the A22 Ballanard Road