26th Milestone

Infobox TT course
Name = 26th Milestone


Caption =
Latitude = 54.300
Longitude = -4.394
OSgridref = SC443921
Parish = Lezayre
Distance = 26.00
Precedes = Gooseneck
Follows = Guthrie's Memorial

26th Milestone ["Manx Independent" pp1 dated 3rd August 2007 - Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd ISSN 1358-4931] is a corner on the primary A18 Mountain Road in the parish of Lezayre in the Isle of Man between the 25th and 27th Milestone the road-side milestone markers used for the Isle of Man TT Races. The right-hand corner was re-named 'Joey's' in honour of Joey Dunlop, a 26 time winner of the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races.

This corner and the steep up-hill section of the primary A18 Mountain Road was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy automobile car races held in the Isle of Man between 1904 and 1911. Also, the 26th Milestone is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races.

The Mountain Road was developed in the mid-19th century from a number of pre-existing roads and paths. This included the building of a number of sheep-gates including the East Mountain Gate, the Beinn-y-Phott sheep-gate and Keppel Gate. The primary A18 Mountain Road section road from Keppel Gate to Park Lewellyn is a product of the Disaforesting Commission of 1860 ["Manx Milestones" by Stuart Slack pp58 (1st Edition)(2003)The Manx Experience ISBN 1 873 120 58 3] which includes the distinctive road embankments and road grading. A small-size metal milestone ["Manx Milestones" by Stuart Slack pp56-57 (1st Edition)(2003)The Manx Experience ISBN 1 873 120 58 3] from the period of James Garrow as Isle of Man Surveyor-General ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 3 May 1913] was situated at the 26th Milestone [1870 Isle of Man Survey - Ordnance Survey Map Grid Ref 230872] as the 13th milestone road marker on the primary A18 Mountain Road.

A serious incident occurred at the 26th Milestone during the 2007 Isle of Man TT Races. The result of an accident involving a race competitor, Marc Ramsbotham riding a Suzuki was killed along with two spectators, Dean Jackob and Gregory Kenzig, during lap 5 of the Senior TT race. The accident also resulted in injuries to TT Race marshals, Hilary Musson and Janice Phillips. ["Isle of Man Examiner" pp1 dated 12th June 2007 - Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd ISSN 1358-4383] The Isle of Man Constabulary investigating the deaths of a race competitor and two spectators at the 26th Milestone during the 2007 Senior TT Race arrest a marshall on the suspicion of manslaughter, although the individual was later released without charge. ["Manx Independent" pp1 dated 3rd August 2007 - Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd ISSN 1358-4931] Further safety work is carried-out at the 26th Milestone for the 2007 Manx Grand Prix with the removal of part of a grass bank and a new race marshals shelter is created by the Isle of Man Department of Transport. During the winter of 2007, the 26th Milestone road-side marker, the A18 Mountain Road metal 13th milestone and Mountain Course marker board are removed from the site.

ources

External links

* [http://www.iomtt.com/CircuitGuide/CruickshankstoGuthries.aspx Circuit Guide with Steve Hislop, 11 times TT winner]
* [http://www.iommgp.com/tour/map.shtml Map of course]