Mannin Beg & Mannin Moar | |
Location: | Douglas Circuit Douglas, Isle of Man United Kingdom |
Coordinates: | 54.154°N -4.479°W |
Time: | GMT |
Events: | Grand Prix |
Layout: | Douglas Circuit (1933 layout) |
Surface: | Asphalt |
Length Km: | 7.40 |
Length Mi: | 4.6 |
Turns: | 16 |
Record Time: | 4:10.0 |
Record Driver: | Brian Lewis |
Record Team: | Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza |
Record Year: | 1933 |
Record Class: | Grand Prix |
Layout2: | Douglas Circuit (1934 layout) |
Surface2: | Asphalt |
Length Km2: | 5.88 |
Length Mi2: | 3.65 |
Turns2: | 8 |
Record Time2: | 2:50 |
Record Driver2: | Brian Lewis |
Record Team2: | Alfa Romeo Tipo B |
Record Year2: | 1934 |
Record Class2: | Grand Prix |
Layout3: | Douglas Circuit (1935 layout) |
Surface3: | Asphalt |
Length Km3: | 6.50 |
Length Mi3: | 4.04 |
Turns3: | 9 |
Record Time3: | 3:06 |
Record Driver3: | Brian Lewis |
Record Team3: | Bugatti Type 59 |
Record Year3: | 1935 |
Record Class3: | Grand Prix |
The Mannin Moar was a non-championship Grand Prix held in Douglas, Isle of Man, Great Britain in 1933, 1934 and 1935. The most successful driver was Brian Lewis, having won all three races.
When the R.A.C. wanted to organise a race on a street circuit, because of the popular Monaco Grand Prix, they found that it was illegal to close public roads for racing in the British mainland. However, the Isle of Man had its own laws, so a racing circuit was designed on the streets of Douglas. Two races were organised, Mannin Beg (English: Small Man) for non-supercharged voiturettes with engines smaller than 1500cc on 12 July 1933 [1] and Mannin Moar (English: Great Man) for cars with engines over 1500cc and supercharged voiturettes on 14 July 1933.[2]
Riding mechanics were mandatory for all cars. This was possibly the last time this rule was used in Grand Prix motor racing. The purpose of this rule was that the mechanics could signal to the flag marshals that their drivers wanted to pass a car in front, so that the marshals could flag that car to get out of the way. On behalf of the drivers, Earl Howe wrote a letter to The Motor complaining that the rules were considered an embarrassment and would turn races from international events into second rate affairs. The R.A.C. however stuck to their ideas. As said, after this race the rule that mandated mechanics was never again applied.[3]
The Douglas street circuit of the 1933 race was 7.4 km (4.6 mi) long. The 1934 course had been shortened to 5.889 km (3.659 mi) and the 1935 course was altered to a length of 6.494 km (4.035 mi). The start line of the original track was near the Villa Marina on the Douglas Promenade. The first series of corners included Greensills Corner, a sharp right hander that led onto Church Road, followed by an equally sharp left hander that led into Finch Road. Then the course turned right around the House of Keys onto a fast section over Prospect Hill, Bucks Road and Laurieston Road. Next, six sharp bends followed a zigzag pattern over Ballaquale Road, St. Ninians Road, Dukes Road and Falcon Ter before ending up on Victoria Road that led to Governor's Bridge in a fast left hander. A right hand turn onto Governor's Road and Onchan was the most Northern corner of the circuit. From there the course followed a fast steep downwards section on Summer Hill Road between a wall on one side and houses on the other before coming back onto the promenade and ending up via Castle Mona Road at Villa Marina.
The Douglas circuit had a faster average speed than Circuit de Monaco, namely 105 km/h (65 mph), compared to Monaco's 96 km/h (60 mph).
Year | Date | COLSPAN=3 | Winner! | COLSPAN=3 | Second place! | COLSPAN=3 | Third place! | Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Driver | Car | No. | Driver | Car | No. | Driver | Car | ||||
1933 | July 14 | 6 | Brian Lewis | Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza | 9 | Tim Rose-Richards | Bugatti T51 | 11 | George Eyston | Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza | Report | |
1934 | June 1 | 4 | Brian Lewis | Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 9 | Charles Dodson | Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza | 8 | Cyril Paul | Riley 2000/6 | Report | |
1935 | May 31 | 7 | Brian Lewis | Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza | 10 | Charles Martin | Bugatti T59 | 5 | Luis Fontés | Bugatti T 51 | Report | |
sources:[4] [5] [6] |