Cracking open the throttle, racers face a daunting challenge at Bray Hill. This steep downhill section is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course. It is famous for the Isle of Man TT races.
Bray Hill wasn’t always its current form. Once it was a country lane. It was known as the Great Hill. This was during the Duke of Atholl’s ownership. Later, it became Siberia. This was a triangle-shaped piece of land in the Murray Estate.
Now, Bray Hill presents a formidable test. It lies between the TT Grandstand and the 1st Milestone. This section runs from St Ninian’s Crossroads. Here, the A2 Glencrutchery Road meets side streets. These are Ballanard Road and Ballaquayle Road. The A22 continues to the base of the hill. It becomes the A2 Quarterbridge Road. This is at a junction with Tromode Road, Stoney Road, and Thorny Road.
Bray Hill has a long history. It was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course. These were used for car races between 1904 and 1922. For the 1934 and 1935 car races, the entire length of Bray Hill from its junction with Stoney Road was part of the Mannin Moar Course.
The startline and refuelling area were once at the top of Bray Hill. This was for the 1914 TT races. In 1920, they moved to Nobles Park.
Major road repairs happened in the winter of 1978/79. This followed two fatal accidents. One involved Mac Hobson and Kenny Birch on Bray Hill. The other was Swiss sidecar competitor Ernst Trachsel. He crashed on Quarterbridge Road.
In 2013, a rider lost control on the first lap of the Senior TT. His machine hit spectators near the bottom of the hill. Eleven people were injured.
Approaching Bray Hill, riders hit speeds over 165 mph. Suspension often bottoms out at the dip. It is an unforgiving descent. It demands respect and precision.
Bray Hill remains a crucial part of the Snaefell Mountain Course. It challenges racers. It captivates spectators. It holds a special place in TT history. This notorious stretch embodies the spirit of the Isle of Man TT.