Birkin's Bend
Encyclopedia
Birkin's Bend is situated between the 15th Milestone and 16th Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course
between Kirk Michael Village and Bishopscourt
on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road and the road junction with the tertiary C19 Orrisdale Road in the parish of Michael in the Isle of Man
.
This series of bends 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, Birkin's Bend is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT
and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix
Races.
During an early morning practice session for the 1927 Isle of Man TT
, Archie Birkin
brother of Tim Birkin, one of the "Bentley Boys
" of the 1920's, swerved to avoid a fish-van travelling to Peel
and crashed fatality. The corner at Rhencullen on the A3 primary road where the accident occurred was renamed 'Birkins Bend.' From 1928 practice sessions for the Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix were held on closed-roads for racing.
The Rhencullen complex of bends including Birkin's Bend was subjected to road widening and reprofiling during the winter of 1953/1954 for the 1954 Isle of Man TT
Races.
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...
between Kirk Michael Village and Bishopscourt
Bishopscourt, Isle of Man
Bishopscourt consists of a Seventeenth Century Mansion House, the St Nicholas in the Church of England Diocese of Sodor & Man and the former estate of Ballachurry or Bishopscourt Manse...
on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road and the road junction with the tertiary C19 Orrisdale Road in the parish of 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...
.
This series of bends 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, Birkin's Bend is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 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...
and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
Races.
During an early morning practice session for the 1927 Isle of Man TT
1927 Isle of Man TT
The 1927 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy saw more changes occur with a fatal accident during practice to Archie Birkin, a brother to Tim Birkin of the Bentley Boys fame. The corner in Kirk Michael where the accident occurred was renamed Birkins Bend and from 1928 practice sessions were held on...
, Archie Birkin
Archie Birkin
Charles Archibald Cecil "Archie" Birkin was a British motorcycle racer, brother of Tim Birkin, one of the "Bentley Boys" of the 1920s.-Background and family:...
brother of Tim Birkin, one of the "Bentley Boys
Bentley Boys
The Bentley Boys were a group of wealthy British motorists who drove Bentley sports cars to victory in the 1920s and kept the marque's reputation for high performance alive...
" of the 1920's, swerved to avoid a fish-van travelling to Peel
Peel
Peel or Peeling can refer to:* Peel , rind or skin-Places:* Peel Park * Peel Street Australia* Peel * Peel River * Peel Island, QueenslandCanada* Peel, New Brunswick...
and crashed fatality. The corner at Rhencullen on the A3 primary road where the accident occurred was renamed 'Birkins Bend.' From 1928 practice sessions for the Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix were held on closed-roads for racing.
The Rhencullen complex of bends including Birkin's Bend was subjected to road widening and reprofiling during the winter of 1953/1954 for the 1954 Isle of Man TT
1954 Isle of Man TT
The 1954 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the second race in the 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season and proved highly controversial for course and race changes. The 1954 Junior TT was the first race where the official race distance was reduced from 7 laps to 5 laps...
Races.
External links
- Barregarrow to Rhencullen 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