Isle of Man Guide - RACES, Rally History

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History

In 1962, during the Veteran Car Club Run rally enthusiast, John Hopwood, believed that the Island to be a perfect place to rallying. Speaking to the Tourist Board chief, Leonard Bond, Hopwood found himself volunteering to organise an event. He gathered a group of friends from his club the 'Ecurie Cod Fillet' and started to plan a rally. With the June Effort Committee to cover ferry cost and printing covered by the Daily Mail the event was taking form. A year later, 75 cars were winding through the closed off, rough roads of the Island. The starters included 26 locals and many well known names from the 'rally circuit'. Huge crowds turned out to see the race named the 'Manx Trophy Rally'. It was a weekend which would be repeated year after year.

Today the 'Manx Trophy Rally' and 'Conister Trust Historical Rally' are part of the 'Manx International Rally'. A high speed race around the towns, countryside and mountains of the Isle of Man. Miles of tarmaced and dirt roads are closed off for this event (and the 'Manx National Rally'). The three rallies of the 'Manx International Rally' make up part of the 'British Rally Championship', and see a far amount of well known cars, drivers and support teams.