My trip over to this year’s (2018) Isle of Man TT Races got me there just in time for the final race session from the Billown Circuit, – the Pre-TT in Castletown. This session is generally held on the Monday at the start of practice week however this year it has been moved to the Sunday (one day before). This works well as it means you can sit relax and enjoy the racing without having to worry about getting to your chosen spot on the TT Circuit for the Monday night practice.
Also the Sunday night of practice week was traditionally a bit slack, with very little going on. That has now all changed as we now have racing all day and evening.
The Pre-TT runs in Castletown, Isle of Man on the Billown Circuit on the Friday, Saturday (1st Day of Practice) and Sunday. This year that was 25th – 27th May but to be sure you keep up to date subscribe to the TBNI.Blog Road Racing Calendar – it automatically updates so you will never miss another meeting! https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The official website of the Pre-TT Races can be found here : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The Southern 100 series markets itself as ‘the Friendly Races’ and ‘Road Racing’s Biggest Secret’ and that’s a pretty fair representation.
This muti bike start meeting covers classics, junior and senior as well as classic suberbikes and sidecars.
The crowds are not massive (they deserve to be) – the people are friendly the pits are wide open with the riders all working hard and happy to interact with the spectators.
If you like a grandstand there are a couple near to the start / finish line where seats start at the princely sum of £1.00!
Drinks, food, refreshments, souvenirs etc are all there and all reasonably priced – all in all this is a great meeting, very akin to any of the Irish / Northern Irish National meetings and although the crowds weren’t huge it has a very loyal following with plenty of visitors coming from the Emerald Isle (and all over) purely for this meeting and the heading home before the TT proper even gets underway. That in itself is a fine testament to this meeting and it really should make it onto everyone’s to do list.
Check out the results of the 2018 Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races here :
