The Manx Grand Prix
18th August - 2nd September 2012

The Manx Grand Prix is the biggest single spectator attraction on the Isle of Man, after the TT Races. It started in September 1923 when members of the Manx Motor Cycle Club first ran a meeting for amateur racers on the Isle of Man. The 'Amateur TT' as the race became known, was run over five laps, a distance of 188.65 miles. Then in 1973 The Manx Rally was born. Today, after many changes and much evolution, it runs for two weeks and includes races, rallying, a parade lap around the legndary 37.73 mile Mountain Course, a Concourse d’Elegance in Castletown Square and of course the marvellous Festival of Jurby.

The timetable of events for the Manx Grand Prix fortnight goes something like this:

18th -24th August - Practice week with racers having a go at the circuit and warming up. This is really fun to go to and get into the Grand Prix mood and soak up the atmosphere before the serious racing begins.

25th August - 1st race, the Newcomers race

26th August - The Festival of Jurby

27th August - 350cc/250cc Classic Grand Prix

27th August - Junior Manx Grand Prix

28th August - Regularity Run and Party on the Prom

29th August - 500cc Classic Grand Prix

29th August - Supertwin/Lightweight race - sponsored by Wemoto

29th August - Manx Grand Prix - sponsored by Wemoto

30th August - Closed-roads lap of the TT Montain Course

31st August - Classic Superbike/Junior Post Classic

31st August - Senior Manx Grand Prix (Wemoto sponsored John Barton, Mick Godfrey of Alf's Motorcycles and Dan Kneen will be racing in this race!)

Wemoto as well as being official partner to the Manx Grand Prix and the Jurby Festival, is also sponsoring the Supertwin and the Lightweight races in the Grand Prix this year.

Many records have been broken at the Manx Grand Prix, including in 2008 the first triple winner in one year. Manxman Dan Kneen, won the Newcomers Lightweight Race on the Monday, the Junior Manx Grand Prix on the Wednesday and the Ultra Lightweight Manx Grand Prix on the Friday! Nice hat-trick for a local boy!

The Festival of Jurby
Sunday 26th August 2012

The Festival of Jurby is a fantastic event which is held during the Manx Grand Prix weekend at Jurby Airfield and run by the Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC) and this year it's being sponsored by Wemoto.

The festival features vintage motorcycles and vehicles, parade sessions, static displays, TT and MGP past masters and iconic machines.

Of special interest this year is Sammy Miller's V8 Moto Guzzi and, in contrast, an up-to-date modern factory built Ducati! Because of its unique attractions the Festival of Jurby draws the biggest crowds of any single day event held on the Isle of Man and in fact last year was attended by more than 14,000 people.

If Classic bikes are your thing you are in luck as there will be Classic bikes-a-plenty, cruising round Jurby airport race circuit. The circuit provides a perfect smooth drivable surface for bikes of any age so they can zoom round and be admired. Bikes which are in this parade do not have to be street legal which means that it is an open invitation for some really interesting and rarely seen bikes to roll up. This year more than 200 bikes are expected to be paraded around the 1.8 mile circuit.The only requirement is that the bikes are scrutineered to make sure that they are safe before they enter the circuit. The plan is for Pioneer, Veteran, old Racing Bikes and Three wheelers to have their own slots on the circuit so that people can watch the vehicles which they really love.

The Sunbeam will also be celebrating it's centenary at the Jurby Festival this year, with a unique display of rare Sunbeams including Charlie Dodson's 1928 TT winner!

After watching the delights of the circuit there is the opportunity to meet some of the heroes of motorcycling and have a chat and grab an autograph or two. This year some of the living legends who are expected are: nineteen-times TT winner John McGuiness, local hero Conor Cummins, Ryan Farquhar, Philip McCallen, Mick Grant - seven times TT winner, Nick Jefferies and the most successful sidecar racer in history Dave Molyneux. Free posters will be availablefor signing by these illustrious riders.

Stars of World Superbikes will also be there, schedules permitting. For example the track sensations Cal Crutchlow, Neil Hodgson and Jonny Rea.

There is a new exciting feature for Jurby this year - the Bikemart where, for a flat fee of £20, you can put your bike up for sale in front of probably the best bike target market that you could wish for. This is ideal if you are interested in buying or selling a bike and you might just come home with your dream machine

The Festival of Jurby kicks off at 10am with the first of the parade laps and will finish at 6pm. Entry is only £3 and under 16s go free. The Jurby Airfield Circuit is located just off the A14 Ballamenagh Road and the best way to find it is to follow the TT course to Sulby and turn left at the Sulby Glen pub then follow the A14 until you get there!

So if you are interested in road races, rallying, vintage motorcycles, Bikemarts or 'Festival fun' head off to the Isle of Man between August the 18th and 31st and enjoy some amazing sights, see some really rare machines and maybe watch another record or two being broken!

Watch this space for more information when it comes out from the festival organisers...