Ever wondered where flowers became part of a sidecar team’s race strategy? Here at Ballacraine, history and adrenaline intertwine. Ballacraine is more than just a location. It is a pivotal point on the Isle of Man TT course.
Ballacraine sits between the 7th and 8th milestones of the track. This places it at the junction where the A1 Douglas to Peel road meets the A3 Castletown to Ramsey road. Now, it marks the eastern edge of St. John’s village. Once, the Ballacraine Inn stood here. Today, it is a private residence.
Let us turn back time. Ballacraine was part of the 37.50 Mile Four Inch Course. This course was used for RAC Tourist Trophy automobile races from 1908 to 1922. Even earlier, in 1905, a section of road leading to Ballacraine hosted the International Motor-Cycle Cup Races.
Between 1907 and 1910, the A1 and A3 roads at Ballacraine formed part of the St. Johns Short Course. This was during the Isle of Man TT races. In 1911, the Four Inch Course was adopted for motorcycle TT races. This included Ballacraine. The course evolved into the 37.73 mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. Since 1911, it has been used for the Isle of Man TT Races. The Manx Grand Prix races joined in 1923.
Ballacraine was also once home to a railway station. It opened in 1876 as a stopping place for those heading to Glen Helen. However, it closed in 1879. Reopened in 1927, it mainly served spectators attending the TT Races. The station finally closed in 1929. The Douglas to Peel line itself closed in 1968. Today, the Steam Heritage Trail runs through the site. The former crossing keeper’s lodge remains as a shelter for walkers.
Today, Ballacraine is a slow right-hand bend. It is located before the approach to Ballaspur. Spectators favor this spot. It offers great views of overtaking action. Seating, beverages, and parking are available for visitors.
But there is one story that sets Ballacraine apart. Picture a neck-and-neck battle in the 1970s. A sidecar team was closely followed. In a moment of quick thinking, the passenger grabbed wildflowers. These flowers grew on the bank to the left of the right-hander. Turning, the passenger threw the flowers into the face of the team behind.
Ballacraine is more than just a bend in the road. It is a place where racing legends are made. It is a place where quick thinking can change the course of a race. Remember the story of the wildflowers when you pass through Ballacraine. It is a reminder that anything can happen on the Isle of Man TT course.