The Manx Classic three-day sprint and hillclimb fires into life this afternoon, Thursday.
It promises to be an exciting high-octane event with cars from plenty of eras represented on the start line.
From Edwardian racing cars and vintage thoroughbreds, through much loved classics to modern performance cars, this year will see almost 100 cars, spanning 1911 to 2015, lined up to compete for the fastest time of day title at each of the three venues.
A whole class of Bugattis will compete this year, 80 years since the marque won on Manx soil in the 1935 Mannin Moar ‘around the houses’ race in Douglas. MGs and Rileys for the same era will be represented too, with one competitor coming all the way from Germany to compete on the island for the first time in his 1932 MG J2.
The three-wheeled Morgans are making a return again this year, competition was close in 2015 between Ewan Cameron and Sue Darbryshire, this year Nancy Thomas will be joining the line up too.
And there’ll be lots of interest in the battle of the Minis in Class 2A (pre 1968 cars up to 1500cc), with regular local competitor Dave Musgrove looking to retain his winning form.
Connor Corkill and Steve King, in their Ford Escorts, will be vying for wins in Class 4 (rally cars), and Class 8 (4WD & Turbo cars) is shaping up to be an interesting battle between locals and visitors, with Volkswagens, Mitsubishis, Mazdas and Nissans all in the mix.
Manx Classic schedule:
Thursday, April 23
Governor’s Sprint, Douglas:
Roads closed: 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9.30pm
Friday, April 24
Creg Willey’s Hillclimb, Glen Helen:
Roads closed: 9am to 5pm
Saturday, April 25
Lhergy Frissell Hillclimb, Ramsey:
Roads closed: 9am to 6pm
Full road closure information on the website at: http://www.manxmotorracing.com/localinfo.htm#roadclosureinfo