Derek Nicholson and Richard Haddock show the new diamond jubilee logo at the Southern 100 headquarters

Southern 100 Motorcycle Racing is buying a new grandstand and has made an appeal for £15,500 to reach the final total of £70,000 required. 

The mobile, covered grandstand seats 171 in far greater comfort than before.

They previously used one, which is hired from government, seats spectators on strips of wood and is open to the elements.

Even though the events are in the summer, it can rain, confirmed S100 president Derek Nicholson!

The entirely volunteer-run Southern 100 organisation operates on a ‘shoestring’ said Derek, so they have done remarkably well to amass the £54,500 raised so far, which includes a contribution from Manx Lottery Trust. The name of major sponsors will be listed on the side of the new grandstand, along with the logo for this year, the event’s 60th diamond jubilee.

The grandstand can be used by the whole community said Derek, who added:

‘The tin bath races used to use the grandstand we had, but to take it to the harbour would cost £1,000. Now we have our own stand, [tin bath race organisers] Castletown Ale Drinkers Society, who give an awful lot to charity, if they want use of our grandstand they can have it, they just have to pay for it to be brought on a trailer. If the agricultural show want to hire it, they can. They may want to give us a donation as well. It would not just be an asset to ourselves, but to the island as a whole.’