The Blackford Pre-TT Classic Road Races will run from 27th May – 30th May 2022 with racing happening on 27th, 28th and 30th May 2022 at the Billown Circuit.
The Pre-TT Classic Road Races came into being in 1988 at the request of the then TT organisers, the then Auto Cycle Union, Classics having first appeared on the Billown course twelve months earlier at the popular Southern ‘100’ Road Races.’ The first TT Classic Races were held on the 31st May1988, the meeting consisting of four races, 250cc/350c; 500cc; Unlimited and Sidecars and attracted 115 entries in all.
Honour of being the first race winner went to Graham Godward of Royston in Hertfordshire, riding a 350cc Aermacchi, whilst the 250cc category was dominated by ‘local’ classic man Mike Cain from Onchan on his 250cc Suzuki. Dave Pither, Seeley Matchless took the 500cc race from Richard Swallow on Syd Lawton’s Aermacchi with Alan Dugdale third. Riding a BSA Metisse, Stroud’s Robert Price finished first in the Unlimited race, whilst the controversial MV Agusta sidecar outfit of Mark Kay and Richard Battisson took the chequered flag in the final race of the day. The Classics had arrived at Billown!
Thirty plus years on, the Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races is rated as one of the most popular and ‘must do’ events in the annual Classic calendar attracting well over 250 entries for its nine-race event.
The Isle of Man Southern 100 Club have confirmed via a Facebook Post that their 2021 event is now cancelled due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic.
2021 Southern 100 Cancelled
2021 Southern 100 Becomes a Victim of Covid Virus
It is with much regret that the Directors of Southern 100 Racing must announce that the 2021 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races have been cancelled due to the ongoing Corona Virus pandemic and the uncertainty of the Isle of Man borders being fully open to general travel by July.
It seems to me that the entire 2020 so far has been spent posting about events being cancelled – and to be fair the entire 2020 so far has been spent posting about events being cancelled!
So, without further ado here is some good news. The Provisional Dates for the 2021 Southern 100 events have been announced.
Southern 100 Racing are extremely grateful to our Title SponsorsIsle of Man Steam Packet Company, Blackford Financial Services and Silicone Engineering Racing who are carrying forward their 2020 support to next year, similarly our race sponsors have intimated that their much-valued sponsorship will be in place for 2021.
Southern 100 Racing held a meeting of its senior race officials on Wednesday evening 18th March to discuss the running of the 2020 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races either on the scheduled dates of 6th, 7th, 8th & 9thJuly or possibly postpone them until later in the year.
It was decided after discussion regarding the present and on-going situation regarding the Coronavirus 19 crisis and the announcement by the Isle of Man Government’s Chief Minister earlier today that the current situation could continue for at least a further six months and after consultation with the club’s Chief Medical Officer regarding the availability of Doctors and Paramedics to cover the races, many of whom travel from the UK, that it is unlikely that they will able to leave their respective positions, we would have insufficient cover to run the races on the scheduled dates or any other.
The Doctors, Paramedics and other medical people who live on the Island will be similarly occupied at Nobles & Ramsey Cottage Hospital and other Medical practices and will like their UK counterparts will be involved with the COVID-19 cover and unlikely to be allowed to take leave.
Added to the lack of medical cover there is also the likelihood of a shortage of Race Marshals due to travel restrictions presently in place which may well be increased between now and July and could result in less than the required number of marshals available to man the 4.25-mile Colas Billown Course.
It was therefore decided by the Race Committee, very reluctantly to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races.
The Committee left it was better to take this decision now, rather than defer on a monthly basis in the hope that Medical cover would become available at the ‘last minute’.
Whilst it is major disappointment for the race organisers, we know that the announcement will be met with a similar response from competitors and race fans who enjoy attending the ‘friendly races’ year on year and Southern 100 Racing look forward to welcoming you all back to the Billown Course in 2021.
This also means that the postponement of the Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races announced in a Media Release on Monday 16th March are now also cancelled. Competitors who have entered will be contacted by the Race or Club Secretary in the next few days.
The dates of the 2021 Road Races on the Billown Course are:
Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races
Friday, Saturday & Monday 28th, 29th & 31st May 2021
Silicone Racing Post TT Road Races
Saturday 12th June 2021
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Southern 100 Road Races
As this situation evolves and affects more events TBNI.Blog will endeavour to keep you up to date.
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/
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