Mannin Beg Race, Queen's Promenade, Douglas, 12 July 1933
Date(s): 12 July 1933
Scope & Content: Motorcar No.4 is Dennis K. Mansell in an MG Midget (2nd in race). Motorcar No.12 is John Ludovic Ford and Maurice Henry Baumer in an MG Midget. Motorcar No.7 is F.W. (Freddie) Dixon in a Riley (the race winner).
The Royal Automobile Club (RAC), unable to organise street motorcar races in the United Kingdom due to a ban on road racing, turned to the Isle of Man, where legislation allowed it. A racing circuit on the streets of Douglas was designed. Two races were organised, Mannin Beg ('small') for non-supercharged cars with engines smaller than 1500cc on 12 July 1933 and Mannin Moar ('large') for cars with engines over 1500cc and supercharged cars on 14 July 1933.
The circuit of the 1933 race was 4.6 miles long. The start line was near the Villa Marina on Douglas Promenade. The first series of corners included Greensills Corner, a sharp right hander that led onto Church Road, followed by an equally sharp left hander that led into Finch Road. Then the course turned right around the House of Keys onto a fast section over Prospect Hill, Bucks Road and Laurieston Road. Next, six sharp bends followed a zigzag pattern over Ballaquayle Road, St. Ninians Road, Dukes Road and Falcon Terrace before ending up on Victoria Road and to Governor's Bridge in a fast left hander. A right hand turn onto Governor's Road and Onchan was the most Northern corner of the circuit. From there the course followed a fast steep downwards section on Summer Hill Road between a wall on one side and houses on the other before coming back onto the Promenade and ending up via Castle Mona Road at the Villa Marina.
Language: eng
Item name: photograph
Collection: Photographic Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: PG/13820
Subject tags : #TT&MOTORSPORT