Clypse Course

Clypse Course

Location	Onchan, Isle of Man
Major events	Isle of Man TT
Length	17.63 km (10.92 mi)
Turns	34
Lap record	8:04.2, 80.42mph (Tarquinio Provini, MV Agusta, 1959)

The Clypse Course describes a motor-cycle racing course used for the Isle of Man TT Races between 1954 and 1959.

The course is 10.92 miles (17.63 km) long^[1] and is in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man. The course uses two short sections of the Snaefell Mountain Course which includes the primary A18 road between Cronk-y-Mona and Creg-ny-Baa used in the reverse direction. Also, the primary A18 Mountain Road between Signpost Corner and Governor's Bridge. The highest point of the course is 261 metres above sea level at Ballacarrooin Hill (Ordnance Survey Map SC 406 827 GB Grid.) The name Clypse is probably a contraction from the Scandinavian word Kleppsstar ( Kleppr's farm) which gives the modern name of Clypse Beg and Clypse Mooar.^[2]

History

The Clypse Course was a new race circuit for racing in the Isle of Man was used to re-introduce the Ultra-Lightweight TT and Sidecar TT Race for the 1954 Isle of Man TT Races. To facilitate racing on the Clypse Course, during the winter of 1953/54 road widening occurs on the Mountain Course at Creg-na-Baa, Signpost Corner and the approach to Governor's Bridge. The re-introduction of the Sidecar TT Race for the 1954 Isle of Man TT Race was controversial as it was opposed by the motor-cycle manufacturers and also for the inclusion of the first female competitor Inge Stoll at an Isle of Man TT race.^[3]

The Lightweight TT Race was run on the Clypse Course for the first time in 1955 and continued until the 1959 race. The Clubman Races where run on the Clypse Course for 1955, then reverting back to the Snaefell Mountain Course for the next year. The last year for racing on the Clypse Course was the 1959 Isle of Man TT Race.

For 1960, the Lightweight, Ultra-Lightweight and Sidecar TT Races reverted back to the Mountain Course.

Speed and Lap Records

The lap record for the Clypse Course is 8 Minutes and 4.2 seconds at an average speed of 80.22 mph set by Tarquinio Provini during the 1959 Lightweight TT Race.

Total Overall Race Winners

Rider	Wins
Carlo Ubbiali, Tarquinio Provini	4
Walter Schneider	3
Fritz Hillebrand	2
Rupert Hollaus, Cecil Sandford, Bill Lomas, Eric Oliver, Jimmy Buchan, Eddie Dow	1

Legacy

The Clypse Course has not been used since 1959. Parts of the Clypse Course that are not part of the Snaefell Mountain Course have been used for cycle racing, Hill Climb events and Classic Car Racing. Parts of the Clypse Course which include the secondary road B12 Creg-na-Baa 'Back-Road' and the B20 Begoade Road are regularlly used for the Rally Isle of Man and the Manx Rally.

Sources

1. ^ Motor Cycling 30 May 1957
2. ^ Clepps(Beg) – Manorial Roll 1643 or Cleypse – Woods Atlas 1867 Manx Notebook.
3. ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times dated 22 May 1954

External links

• Circuit Guide
• Clypse Course Results

Coordinates: 54°10′18″N 4°29′31″W / 54.17167°N 4.49194°W / 54.17167; -4.49194