SOUTHERN 100 RACE CONTROL

The creation of the Southern 100 Club’s new race control headquarters has moved a step closer with help from its long-time sponsor, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Club officials have taken delivery of cladding for the facility, which will be situated at the start-finish area of the Colas Billown Circuit area on the Castletown Bypass. After an approach from the Southern 100 Club, haulier Manx Independent Carriers (MIC) arranged for the cladding to be collected for delivery to the island. As title sponsor of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company International Southern 100 Road Races for the past two decades, the company assisted the club by shipping it to Douglas free of charge before MIC completed the journey by delivering the specially manufactured material to Castletown. The race control is the hub of race meetings as it is home to the clerk of the course and his deputies, the chief timekeeper and his team, chief medical officer, course communications officer, start line officials and event broadcast partner Manx Radio with its ‘anchor’ commentator and team. It will be fully fitted out and ready for use by Easter 2019. Southern 100 chairman George Peach said: “It’s naturally imperative for our race meetings that we have a fully working race control and the former portable buildings served us well but had come to their end of working lives. The new set-up also has a staircase inside, which makes it more secure and was another reason why we had to invest in a new control hub. “Once again we would like to thank the Steam Packet Company and Manx Independent Carriers for helping us out and delivering the cladding to us. Their support is invaluable.” Michael Coleman, managing director of Manx Independent Carriers, added: “The Southern 100 races are a great asset to the island and we are pleased to help the committee in any way we can.” Isle of Man Steam Packet Company chief executive Mark Woodward said: “Everyone at the Southern 100 works incredibly hard to put the races on. We’re proud to have been title sponsor since 1999 and always keen to help the organisers when we can. “The new race control headquarters will allow the willing band of officials and volunteers to continue their work, which is testament to the increasing popularity of racing at Billown. It is clear the Southern 100 is growing and a real asset to the Isle of Man’s visitor economy.”