For world-wide motorcycling racing aficionados, the most compelling race of the year occurs in late spring on the Isle of Man—the jewel of the Irish Sea—as the finest road racers on the planet pit their skills against the 37¾ miles of public roads that form the legendary TT circuit. The Snaefell Mountain Course, the oldest motorcycle racing course in the world, is also the most dangerous: High speeds on very narrow, twisting streets, roads and lanes flanked by stone walls and even buildings. Between the first races in 1907 and the end of the 2009 races, there have been 227 deaths during official practices or races. Through the years, the entry list has read like a who’s who of motorcycling legends: Woods, Guthrie, Simpson, Duke, McIntyre, Surtees, Hailwood, Ubbiali, Agostini, Redman, Read.

The TT lost its world championship status in 1977; it was deemed “too dangerous.”  TT Races became part of the TT Formula 1 Championship during the period 1977-1990, as a way of preserving the event’s racing status.  Since 1989 the Isle of Man Department of Tourism has run the races as the Isle of Man TT Festival.

The TT has continued to attract motorcycling heroes. Grant, Rutter, Hislop, Fogarty, McCallen, Jefferies, and McGuinness all made their marks, and Joey Dunlop scored a record-breaking 26 victories.

Sources:  TT website: www.iomtt.com and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_TT

See www.iomtt.com/History.aspx for more information.