Author Topic: The Ards Tourist Trophy  (Read 153 times)

Moogie38 (Noel)

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The Ards Tourist Trophy
« on: 13 Sep 22, 04:28 pm »
The Ards Circuit was a motorsport street circuit in Northern Ireland used for RAC Tourist Trophy sports car races from 1928 until 1936, when eight spectators died in an accident. Industrialist and pioneer of the modern agricultural tractor, Harry Ferguson was instrumental in setting up the race. As Northern Ireland's premier sporting event, it regularly attracted crowds in excess of a quarter of a million people.

The triangular circuit 21.7 km (13.5 mi) long ran between the towns of Dundonald, Newtownards (known as Ards) and Comber in County Down, Northern Ireland. Races were run in a clockwise direction, starting at 11 am. Initially races were of 30 laps for a total distance of 652 km (405 mi); from 1933 races were of 35 laps for a total distance of 760 km (470 mi).



« Last Edit: 13 Sep 22, 04:30 pm by Moogie38 (Noel) »
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #1 on: 13 Sep 22, 04:51 pm »
The Tourist Trophy race was first ran in 1905 in the Isle of Man , it continued at intervals on the island until 1922.
No TT races were held from 1922 until 1928. As with the Isle of Man,  Northern Ireland was the only other place in the UK that allowed races to be held on public roads.

Many top car manufacturers came to race at the Ards TT , Fiat, Aston Martin, Riley, Bugatti, M.G., Lagonda, Austin, etc,.
With Austin's many successes at this event the Austin 7 was called the Ulster. Aston Martin also had a model called the Ulster.

The entries were handicapped to cater for cars of different sizes and capabilities.

Here is a programme from the 1935 Ards TT.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #2 on: 13 Sep 22, 04:52 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #3 on: 13 Sep 22, 04:54 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #4 on: 13 Sep 22, 04:57 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #5 on: 13 Sep 22, 04:59 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #6 on: 13 Sep 22, 05:04 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #7 on: 13 Sep 22, 05:21 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #8 on: 13 Sep 22, 05:31 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #9 on: 13 Sep 22, 05:35 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #10 on: 13 Sep 22, 05:38 pm »
Ards tt.
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Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #11 on: 13 Sep 22, 05:39 pm »
Ards tt.
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StefanN

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #12 on: 13 Sep 22, 06:36 pm »
That's cool.  Pretty much a who's who of racing drivers of the period.

Applejack

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #13 on: 14 Sep 22, 08:41 am »
Thanks Noel , very interesting reading covering the best of Racing times.

Moogie38 (Noel)

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Re: The Ards Tourist Trophy
« Reply #14 on: 09 May 23, 11:19 pm »
Came across a bit of film footage of the Ards TT, they must have had big trousers in those days,  brave men !

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