Ever wondered where legends are made and sometimes broken? That place is Ballaspur. This spot is located between the 7th and 8th Milestone on the famous Snaefell Mountain Course. This course is used for the Isle of Man TT races. It sits right on the A3 road from Castletown to Ramsey.
Ballaspur is more than just a location. It is a place etched in racing history. The name means “farm of the spur” in Manx. Some call it Rock Farm.
Let’s turn back time to the early 1900s. Ballaspur was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course. These courses were used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy car races. These races occurred between 1904 and 1922. Later, it became part of the St. John’s Short Course from 1907 to 1910. Since 1911, it has been a vital section of the Snaefell Mountain Course.
Ballaspur’s surrounding landscape is mostly farmland. Nearby, you will see the summits of Beary Mountain. It stands at 1,020 feet. Greeba Mountain reaches 1,385 feet. Slieau Whallian rises to 1,093 feet.
Now, let’s talk about a moment that put Ballaspur on the map for many. In 2003, Manxman Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle had a spectacular crash here. He lost control at high speed. His crash became infamous.
Ballaspur is a challenging point on the course. Approaching Ballaspur, riders face a subtle left turn. It is notoriously difficult to see through. This leads into a sweeping right turn. Here, the road is significantly higher than the surrounding area. Riders accelerate hard. They prepare for the short dash via Ballig to Doran’s. The climb from Ballacraine is narrow. It is lined with rocks and trees.
Sidecar combinations often struggle here. Their width can cause issues. The passenger has to lean out. In 1976, George O’Dell and his passenger Alan Gosling had a misunderstanding. Gosling leaned too far. He hit the wall. A similar incident happened to Dave Hallam and Mark Day.
Richard “Milky” Quayle knew the course well. In 2007, he misjudged the left at Ballaspur. He hit the rock wall. He careened across the road into the straw bales. He was seriously injured. This ended his racing career. His accident was filmed by spectators and an on-board camera.
After his crash, changes were made. The rock wall was covered with plywood during races. Ballaspur became largely off-limits to the public.
In 1998, Adam Woodhall died in training here. In 2002, Leslie Turner and Shane Ellis also died here during training. In 2016, sidecar racer Ian Bell died at Ballaspur. His son Carl was unharmed.
Ballaspur is a place where racers push their limits. It demands respect. It offers no room for error. As we stand here at Ballaspur remember the triumphs, tragedies, and the sheer courage.