Clypse Course
Encyclopedia
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 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.
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.
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.
during the 1959 Lightweight TT Race.
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.
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 between 1954 and 1959.
The course is 10.92 miles (17.63 km) long and is in the parish of Onchan
Onchan
Onchan , is a village in the parish of Onchan on the Isle of Man. It is at the north end of Douglas Bay. Although administratively a village, it has the second largest population on the island, after Douglas, with which it forms a conurbation....
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 course uses two short sections of the Snaefell Mountain Course
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...
which includes the primary A18 road
A18 road (Isle of Man)
The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road or Mountain Road is 15.30 miles long road in the Isle of Man and is a primary road which connects Douglas with Ramsey. The A18 Mountain Road is part of Snaefell Mountain Course or Mountain Course is a road-racing circuit used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand...
between Cronk-y-Mona and Creg-ny-Baa
Creg-ny-Baa
Creg-ny-Baa [kreg no bæ:] is situated between the 35th Milestone and 36th Milestone on the primary A18 road and the road junction with the secondary B12 'Creg-ny-Baa Back-Road' in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man...
used in the reverse direction. Also, the primary A18 Mountain Road between Signpost Corner
Signpost Corner
Signpost Corner is a 90-degree right-hand corner and road junction and is situated between the 36th Milestone and 37th Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course on the primary A18 Bemahague Road and secondary B11 Avondale Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man.The name...
and Governor's Bridge
Governor's Bridge
Governor's Bridge is a double hairpin bend and road junction on the primary A18 Mountain Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man between the 37th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course and the TT Grandstand on the primary A2 Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas.The...
. 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.
History
The Clypse Course was a new race circuit for racing in the Isle of Man was used to re-introduce the Ultra-Lightweight TTUltra-Lightweight TT
The Ultra-Lightweight 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. Between 1951 and 1974 this race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The Ultra-Lightweight TT and the Lightweight TT...
and Sidecar TT
Sidecar TT
The Sidecar TT is a motorcycle sidecar 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 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. 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
Signpost Corner
Signpost Corner is a 90-degree right-hand corner and road junction and is situated between the 36th Milestone and 37th Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course on the primary A18 Bemahague Road and secondary B11 Avondale Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man.The name...
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
Inge Stoll
Ingeborg Stoll-Laforge was a female German motorcycle racer.Inge Stoll competed as a female passenger with sidecar driver Jacques Drion and won the 1952 and 1954 French Sidecar Championship...
at an Isle of Man TT race.
The Lightweight TT
Lightweight TT
The Lightweight TT was a motorcycle road race that was part of the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual motor-cycle event at the end of May and beginning of June. Between 1949 and 1976, the Lightweight TT Race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The event was dropped from the 2005...
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
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...
for the next year. The last year for racing on the Clypse Course was the 1959 Isle of Man TT
1959 Isle of Man TT
-1959 Isle of Man Junior TT 350cc final standings:7 Laps Mountain Course.-1959 Isle of Man Lightweight TT 250cc final standings:10 Laps Clypse Course.-1959 Isle of Man Ultra-Lightweight TT 125cc final standings:...
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 ProviniTarquinio Provini
Tarquinio Provini was an Italian World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was also a four-time Isle of Man TT winner and won 13 Italian national championships....
during the 1959 Lightweight TT Race.
Total Overall Race Winners
| Rider | Wins |
|---|---|
| Carlo Ubbiali Carlo Ubbiali Carlo Ubbiali is an Italian nine-time World Champion motorcycle road racer. In the 1950s, he was a dominant force in the smaller classes of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.-Career:... , Tarquinio Provini Tarquinio Provini Tarquinio Provini was an Italian World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was also a four-time Isle of Man TT winner and won 13 Italian national championships.... |
4 |
| Walter Schneider | 3 |
| Fritz Hillebrand | 2 |
| Rupert Hollaus Rupert Hollaus Rupert Hollaus was an Austrian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who competed for the NSU factory racing team. He is the only Austrian to win a road racing World Championship.... , Cecil Sandford Cecil Sandford Cecil Charles Sandford is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was a two-time World Champion and a two-time Isle of Man TT winner.... , Bill Lomas Bill Lomas Bill Lomas was an English former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was a two-time World Champion and a two-time Isle of Man TT winner. He won the 1955 and 1956 350cc world championship as a member of the Moto Guzzi factory racing team. In the 1956 season, he rode the famous V8 Moto Guzzi Grand... , Eric Oliver Eric Oliver Eric Staines Oliver was an English motorcycle racer best remembered as four time FIM Sidecar World Champion, riding a Norton. His passenger in 1949 was Denis Jenkinson... , 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 CourseSnaefell 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...
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
Rally Isle of Man
Rally Isle of Man is a rally competition held in the Isle of Man. It was first held in 1963, and later became a well-known event in the British Open Rally Championship and the European Rally Championship...
and the Manx Rally.