Isle of Man Southern 100 Road Races Visitors Guide :
*** Updated for 2026 ***
TBNI.Blog have compiled the most useful and popular of our posts in relation to the Isle of Man Southern 100 Road Races in order to bring you a basic Isle of Man Southern 100 Visitor’s Guide, to give you an idea and some knowledge of the course, the races and their preplanned times and some of the other racing events on the Island over the period of the Southern 100 Friendly Races.
2026 Event Dates :
The 2024 Southern 100 will run 6th – 9th July 2026.
History of the Isle of Man Southern 100 Road Races :
Prior to the 1954 Manx Grand Prix success of Derek Ennett, George Costain and Sid Mizen, the Southern Motorcycle Club held their race meetings at Andreas Airfield.
As a result of double win at the Manx, the Southern club decided there should be a race in the south of the Island and to hold a meeting on what was to become known as the Billown circuit.
In the early 1950s, the Isle of Man Government decided to build a by-pass to avoid the town centre of Castletown, and whilst traffic was minimal compared to today’s motorised Island, the by-pass provided an integral part of the new course.
The first meetings to set up the organisation were held in the Station Hotel, now the Viking, in Castletown, which is where the Ennett family lived. This band of gentlemen with foresight also used to meet on a Sunday morning in the Control Tower at Ronaldsway Airport, with Theo Watterson. In between landing planes, the time was taken up planning the Southern ‘100’!
Amongst the first committee were, George Costain and Joe Mylchreest, who officially measured the circuit, using the official ‘chain’ measure (22 yards) and walked around the course measuring down the centre line of the road. The total official distances was, and still is 4.25-miles.
Southern 100 Racing took over the organisation of the Southern 100 Races in 1981, the Southern Motor Cycle (IOM) Club having taken to decision to separate their two sections, road racing and off-road. However it was the same team at the helm and the races, and the event has grown in stature over the forty years of the present organisers to the reputation the event is held in today.
Since the first race on Thursday 14th July 1955, the 350cc won by Derek Ennett a total of 604 races have been run over the Billown Course, including 145 Sidecar races, with 108,749 racing laps completed, a racing distance of 461,911.520 miles at the end of the 2022 meeting.p>
Southern 100 Tickets :
As was the norm with most road races post Covid spectating at the Southern 100 still remains free around the Course. There are still prohibited and restricted areas, however around the 4.25 miles there are many excellent vantage points.
The Club also has a number of Grandstands available which offer seating and other facilities such as hot food / drinks, and toilets. Full details of the Grandstands can be found here and these are an excellent way to increase your comfort and support the Club. Tickets start at £5, which to be honest is an absolute bargain!
Isle of Man Southern 100 Circuit and Map :
The Course is 4.25 miles in length and has an average width of 25 feet with right- and left-hand bends. The road surface is tarmacadam. All races will be run in a clockwise direction of the course.
Southern 100 Vantage Points :
There is over 4 miles of circuit to watch the action from, with plenty of holes in the hedges to peek out from from the most notable Vantage Points are :
Start/Finish Line (0/4.25 Miles)
Line the fencing down the iconic Colas Billown Circuit Start/Finish line or enjoy the comfort of the grandstand. You will get to see the spectacle of mass start road racing and see who crosses the finish line first. The grandstand is priced at £5 for Monday, £5 for Tuesday, £10 for Wednesday and £15 for Thursday.
Winning Enclosure
Our ‘paddock grandstand’ is covered so will keep you sheltered from any rain or sun (we can be hopeful)! The grandstand is priced at £5 for Monday, £5 for Tuesday, £10 for Wednesday and £15 for Thursday.
Ballakeighan Corner (0.55 Miles)
Ballakeighan is the first corner on the circuit. Bikes pile into the corner on the first few laps after the mass start. The corner then leads onto Ballakeighan straight.n.
Unfortunately we are no longer able to offer fans the opportunity to get to Ballakeighan from the holding area as we no longer have access to the drive way of Balladoole Mansion. View details here.
Iron Gate (1.11 Miles)
Iron Gate comes at the end of the Ballakeighan straight. It is a right hand turn shortly followed by a fast left hand turn that leads onto Ballanorris (Joey’s Gate). The Colas Grandstand is also located here with a great view all the way down Ballakeighan straight and of Iron Gate. The grandstand is priced at £5 for Monday, £5 for Tuesday, £10 for Wednesday and £15 for Thursday. We also have Funky Foods located here for all of your catering needs! There is of course also a couple of toilets.
Ballabeg Hairpin (1.55 Miles)
Ballabeg hairpin is the slowest corner on the Billown Circuit. It can be very deceiving for riders, as the camber of the road drags the rider into the corner earlier than they need to turn. There is a public toilet available here.
Cross Four Ways (2.80 Miles)
Cross Four Ways is notorious for its overtakes and slow speed low side crashes. It is the second slowest corner on the circuit and usually attracts a large crowd of spectators. Laura and the team from The Barrister Van will be on hand all weekend to keep you refuelled and there is also some toilets.
Church Bends (3.10 Miles)
Church Bends is one of the most popular locations for fans. With two fast flowing bends around the walls of Malew Church. There is plenty of parking back again this year (in the back field accessed through the normal gate entrance). There is toilets here too.
Castletown Corner
Watch all of the last corner action from the School Hill Grandstand. Our catering team will also be on hand to feed you. There is also public toilets here. The grandstand is priced at £5 for Monday, £5 for Tuesday, £10 for Wednesday and £15 for Thursday.
Southern 100 Parking :
Car Parking for the Southern 100 Motorcycle Show is available in the ‘Day Paddock’ adjacent to the Race Paddock with overspill parking available at the IFGL Car Park close by.
Other ‘Non Official’ Parking Spots are available, but it is impossible to list these here, the best advice I have is to take a ride round the Circuit and see what is available near to your chosen spot. Park legally and safely with respect for the locals and their property and you will be fine.
2026 Southern 100 Schedule :
Please note : This is the provisional schedule and subject to change.
(Save this image for easy access to the Schedule).
PDF Also Available for download here
2026 Southern 100 Program of Races :
WEDNESDAY MORNING 8th JULY (Roads Closed: 9:45am – 11:50am)
- Race 1 – Peel Holdings Senior Race (7 Laps) 10:20am
WEDNESDAY EVENING 8th JULY (Roads Closed: 6pm – 9:40pm)
- Race 2 – Mike Kerruish Plumbing & Heating Lightweight Race (6 Laps) 6:20pm
- Race 3 – Ellan Vannin Fuels Senior Race (7 Laps) 7:00pm
- Race 4B – JCK Ltd 600cc B Race (7 Laps) 7:40pm
- Race 4A – H&H Motorcycles 600cc Race (7 Laps) 8:15pm
- Race 5 – Ace Hire Sidecar Classic Race (4 Laps) 8:45pm
THURSDAY MORNING 9th JULY (Roads Closed: 9:30am – 12:45pm)
- Race 6B – JCK Ltd 600cc B Race (6 Laps) 09:50am
- Race 6A – S&S Motors 600cc Race (7 Laps) 10:30am
- Race 7 – G H Corlett Solo Founders Race* (6 Laps) 11:10am
- Race 8 – Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Senior Race (7 Laps) 11:40am
- Race A – Station Garage Sportbike Consolation Race (6 Laps) 12:15pm
THURSDAY AFTERNOON 9th JULY (Roads Closed: 1:30pm – 4:45pm)
- Race 9 – Bettridges of Foxdale Car Sales 600cc Challenge Race (7 Laps) 1:50pm
- Race 10 – Bushy’s Brewery Sportbike Race (6 Laps) 2:30pm
- Race 11 – Ellan Vannin Fuels Solo Championship Race (9 Laps) 3:20pm
- Race 12 – Daryl Blake Construction Classic Sidecar Race 2 (4 Laps) 4:00pm
Open Air Prize Presentation held in Market Square, Castletown 8:30pm Start
2026 Southern 100 Prize Fund :
Full details and regulations can be found here :
Road Closures : (Subject to Change.)
Please note all times stated on this page are provisional and may vary slightly due to prevailing conditions
- MONDAY 6TH JULY 2026 : 18:00 – 21:40
- TUESDAY 7TH JULY 2025 : 18:00 – 21:40
- WEDNESDAY 8TH JULY 2025 : 09:45 – 11:50 & 18:00 – 21:40
- THURSDAY 10TH JULY 2025 : 09:30 – 12:45 & 13:30 – 16:45
Live TV Coverage from King of the Roads :
Manx Radio 1368 : https://www.manxradio.com
Road Racing Flags and Their Meanings :
https://tbni.blog/2022/05/18/road-racing-flags/
Official Sites :
Official Southern 100 Road Races Website
Official Southern 100 Road Races Facebook Page
Keep up with all the latest News on the Southern 100 Facebook Page, the Official Southern 100 Twitter Feed and the Official Southern 100 Website.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
You will also find new information as soon as it is available through the TBNI Facebook Page and TBNI Twitter Feed.
So Follow those also.
