ONE HELL OF A RACE – ULSTER GRAND PRIX

The north of Ireland – most might think: green meadows, light to constant fog, sheeps and even more sheeps, but that’s about it. Prejudices! We think about something else: the Ulster Grand Prix on the Dundrod Circuit near Belfast is one of the wildest motorcycle races ever seen (we are out of it ourselves when we look at the pictures, thanks for providing them David Maginnis).

Since 1922 race and hobby drivers match each other on the track. While the first edition of the race held 75 participants in four categories (250, 300, 600, >600ccm), 170 drivers compete in eight categories today. We don’t know exactly how fast, but on one of the pictures: the back tire doesn’t lubricate, he sticks and contorts out of the curve.

Top speeds of up to 200 miles per hour (~320 kmh) are totaly possible in every round. The lap record by the way: 11.911 kilometers in 3:18:870 (Bruce Anstey, 2010), which makes it 215.615 kmh IN AVERAGE, driven on ordinary highways, where usually only prejudice-sheeps walk around. By the way, sheeps can run up to 65 kmh, impressive, that was just of interest for us right now.

In the almost centennial racing history it was the “Grand Prix of Europe” (1935 and 1938), part of the motorcycle world championships (1949-1971) and the “Tourist Trophy” (1979-1990). Unfortunately, as in many of the races in this league, there are accidents, also deadly ones, also in this year. The record winner, Joey Dunlop (24 wins!), is one of them, he was killed in an accident in 2000 in Estonia.

But to bode well at the end: Bruce Anstey, the fastest one ever, has been standing on the pedestal every year since 2003.

All Photos ©David Maginnis. All rights reserved.

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