11th Milestone
Encyclopedia
11th Milestone or "Drinkwater's Bend" is a corner situated between the 11th Milestone and 12th Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course
used for the Isle of Man TT
Races on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road which forms the boundary between the parishes of German
and Michael in the Isle of Man
.
The distinctive S-bend corner 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 1922. Also the 11th Milestone was part of the St John's Short Course used between 1907 and 1910 and part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT Races and 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix Races.
The area is dominated by the Ballamenagh and Shoughlaige-e-Caine farmland. During the 1850s, the Castletown to Ramsey
primary A3 Road was re-profiled between and Handley's Corner
. This was to avoid marshland and steep inclines creating the distinctive S-bend known as Drinkwater's Bend after Ben Drinkwater
crashed fatally at this point on the Mountain Course during the 1949
350 cc Junior TT
Race.
The original stone 11th milestone was sited at the corner café at Glen Helen
. An iron milestone from the 1860s from the period of James Garrow as Isle of Man Surveyor-General is now situated at the northerly end of 'Drinkwater's Bend' as the 13th Milestone on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road.
The current site of the 11th marker post or 11th Milestone road marker for the Snaefell Mountain Course has been placed at Cronk Bane Farmhouse on the Cronk-y-Voddy straight. The S-bend corner Drinkwater's Bend still retains the name of 11th Milestone due to the distinctive metal milestone.
The corner was subjected to road surface repair work and re-profiling during the winter of 2005/2006 by the Department of Transport
.
Snaefell mountain course
Snaefell Mountain Course or Mountain Course is a road-racing circuit used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races held in the Isle of Man from 1911 and 1923 respectively. The racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
used for the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
Races on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road which forms the boundary between the parishes of German
German (parish)
German is a parish in the sheading of Glenfaba in the Isle of Man. it formerly included Peel, where St German's Cathedral is located. It includes most of the village of St John's , where the Tynwald ceremony is located. It is a mainly hilly area, apart from a small coastal plain near...
and Michael in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
The distinctive S-bend corner was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course
Four Inch Course
Four-Inch Course is a road-racing circuit first used for the 1908 Tourist Trophy Race for racing automobiles. The races were held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
automobile car races held in the Isle of Man between 1904 and 1922. Also the 11th Milestone was part of the St John's Short Course used between 1907 and 1910 and part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT Races and 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix Races.
The area is dominated by the Ballamenagh and Shoughlaige-e-Caine farmland. During the 1850s, the Castletown to Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
primary A3 Road was re-profiled between and Handley's Corner
Handley's Corner
Handley's Corner is a corner between the 11th Milestone and 12th Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course used for the Isle of Man TT Races on the primary A3 road in the parish of Michael in the Isle of Man....
. This was to avoid marshland and steep inclines creating the distinctive S-bend known as Drinkwater's Bend after Ben Drinkwater
Ben Drinkwater
Reuben Thomas 'Ben' Drinkwater born Rochdale, Lancashire, England a railway signalman and motor-cycle racer who competed in the Isle of Man TT Races and the Manx Grand Prix....
crashed fatally at this point on the Mountain Course during the 1949
1949 Isle of Man TT
The 1949 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy or I British Motorcyle Grand Prix festival were the first races of Grand Prix World Championship that were held in the Isle of Man....
350 cc Junior TT
Junior TT
The Junior TT is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June...
Race.
The original stone 11th milestone was sited at the corner café at Glen Helen
Glen Helen, Isle of Man
Glen Helen is situated between the 9th Milestone and 10th Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course used for the Isle of Man TT Races on the junction of the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey road in the parish of German in the Isle of Man....
. An iron milestone from the 1860s from the period of James Garrow as Isle of Man Surveyor-General is now situated at the northerly end of 'Drinkwater's Bend' as the 13th Milestone on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road.
The current site of the 11th marker post or 11th Milestone road marker for the Snaefell Mountain Course has been placed at Cronk Bane Farmhouse on the Cronk-y-Voddy straight. The S-bend corner Drinkwater's Bend still retains the name of 11th Milestone due to the distinctive metal milestone.
The corner was subjected to road surface repair work and re-profiling during the winter of 2005/2006 by the Department of Transport
Department of Transport (Isle of Man)
The Department of Infrastructure is a department of the Isle of Man Government.-History:The department was created in April 2010 from the Department of Transport....
.
External links
- Black Dub to Handleys Corner with Steve HislopSteve HislopSteven 'Hizzy' Hislop was a Scottish motorcycle racer. Hislop won the Isle of Man TT eleven times and also the British 250cc Championship and British Superbike championship ....
, 11 times TT winner - TT Spectator Guide Section 11th Milestone to Rhencullen
- Map of course