loM plans TT centenary

Britain’s oldest major race to be commemorated on the island of its birth

The 100th anniversary of the first Tourist Trophy will be celebrated by a special event on the Isle of Man on Saturday September 10. Cars from the 1905-22 period, which is when the island hosted the race, will take part in a TT Centenary Run over the full 52-mile road course.

The circuit, 15 miles longer than the famous motorbike course which dates from 1907, includes a loop towards Castletown as well as roads in the north of the island around Jurby and Andreas. It was used for the inaugural race on September 14, and included unsurfaced roads on the Mountain section of the circuit.

More than 30 cars will start the demo at minute intervals. Two 1914 Sunbeams and two 1922 Vauxhalls have already been confirmed.

“We will feature some cars that competed in period and are hoping to have three steam cars from the earliest races,” explained the event’s organiser John Felix.

The run will be the highlight of a four-day programme in which as many as 300 classic and vintage cars are expected to take part.

Its other highlights will include a hillclimb on the TT course out of Ramsey on Thursday, and a seafront sprint in the town on Friday. Cars from the more recent history of the race are being encouraged to take part in the quarter-mile sprint.

Ards, Donington Park, Dundrod, Goodwood, Oulton and Silverstone have also hosted the TT.

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Fact file — RAC Tourist Trophy

1905 — John Napier wins first event in an Arroll-Johnston

1928 — TT moves to Ards

1933 — Nuvolari wins in an MG

1961 — Moss takes his seventh win

1973 — Derek Bell/Harald Ertl score fastest TT win, at Silverstone.