Here at Cruickshank’s Corner racers face a tricky off-camber right-hand bend. Cruickshank’s Corner in Ramsey is more than just a junction. It is a testament to history and racing thrills on the Isle of Man.
Cruickshank’s Corner owes its name to James Murray Cruickshank. He was the High Bailiff of Ramsey from 1898 to 1911. From 1911 until his death in 1916, he served as High Bailiff of Ramsey and Peel.
This five-way intersection is just 130 meters from the Ramsey Tram Station. Cruickshank’s Corner has evolved over the years. Graham Walker described Cruickshank’s Corner in 1935. He called it a first-gear corner with a maximum speed of 70 km/h. A few years later, the road was widened. Harold Daniell navigated the corner in second gear.
Geoff Duke said this in the early 1950s. “Enter late, in second gear. Stay to the left from the gutter. The corner keeps going. Don’t go to the apex too early. You’ll end up too far outside. The camber will push you further left.”
Over 25 years later, Charlie Williams agreed. “The late turn-in point is characteristic. Many accidents happen. Riders turn in too early. They have trouble at the exit with the high wall. If the engine rolls too far out, you’ll hit the wall.”
John McGuinness said this about May Hill. “Ridiculously bumpy. You feel the front suspension bottoming out. Grin and hold on.”
At Cruickshank’s Corner, racers turn right from Queen’s Pier Road onto May Hill. They pass under a permanent pedestrian bridge on Queen’s Pier Road. The turn onto May Hill is fast. Racers are hindered by the bad road and threatening walls.
Once on May Hill, racers want to open the throttle. The road surface is too poor. In the 1930s, Cruickshank’s Corner and May Hill were narrower. May Hill marks the start of the circuit’s ascent. The very bad road runs straight up to the left turn at Whitegates. Racers pass the 24th milestone of the Mountain Course.
Whitegates is at a Y-junction. Racers follow the A18 main road to the left. From Whitegates, the road is called “Mountain Road”. Like the rest of the circuit, the road surface at Whitegates is affected by daily traffic. Sometimes the corner is very fast. This changes each year.
The name “Whitegates” comes from the white gate. It stood at the entrance to Claughbane Road near Claughbane Farm now “Poyll Vaaish”.
The corner is about 120 degrees. It is taken fairly quickly. There is a 350-meter straight between Parliament Square and Cruickshank’s Corner.
A walled house with trees stands at the Queen’s Pier Road/May Hill Y-junction. Several accidents have happened there during races.
In 1995, Rob Fisher crashed his sidecar during practice at 160 km/h due to bumps. He was hospitalized for a while. His Proton-Yamaha was badly damaged. His rival Dave Molyneux worked on Fisher’s machine. Fisher competed and won both races.
Today, Cruickshank’s Corner remains a focal point. It is known for its unique challenges. It demands respect from every racer. Remember James Murray Cruickshank. Remember the racers who braved this corner. Feel the speed and the history that converge right here at Cruickshank’s Corner.