26th Milestone, Isle of Man

A serious fatal racing accident occurred at the 26th Milestone during the Centenary TT races in June, 2007 resulting in the death of a solo race competitor and two spectators during lap 5 of the Senior TT race.Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 1 dated 12 June 2007 – Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2007) Johnson Press Publishing {{ISSN|1358-4383}} Newcomer-competitor Marc Ramsbotham riding a Suzuki and spectators Dean Jackob and Gregory Kenzig died, with TT race marshals Hilary Musson and Janice Phillips suffering injuries.Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 1 – Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2007) Johnson Press Publishing 12 June 2007 {{ISSN|1358-4383}}[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jul/01/motorcycling.features 'Fatal attraction'], The Guardian, 1 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2015

Safety work was carried out before the 2007 Manx Grand Prix in late August with the removal of part of a grass bank and a new race marshal's shelter created by the Isle of Man Department of Transport. During the winter of 2007, the 26th Milestone road-side marker, the A18 Mountain Road metal 13th milestone and Mountain Course marker board were also moved from the site.

Three-times British Supersport champion Karl Harris was killed in 2014 after a collision with another competitor at the 26th MilestoneIsle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 16 – Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2015) Johnson Press Publishing – Sheffield Web   20 January 2015 during the second lap of the Superstock TT race.Manx Independent – Manninagh Seyr page 1, 3, 5 & 6 Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2014) Johnson Press Publishing – Newsprint (Knowsley) Limited 5 – 11 June 2014

The 26th Milestone curve, situated on a steep up-hill section of the primary A18 Mountain Road, was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy car races held between 1904 and 1911. The 26th Milestone is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the TT and Manx Grand Prix races.

The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road was developed in the mid-19th century from a number of pre-existing roads and bridle paths.Isle of Man Examiner page 5 dated 5 June 1969 This included the building of a number of sheep-gates including the East Mountain Gate, the Beinn-y-Phott sheep-gate and Keppel Gate. The primary A18 Mountain Road section road from Park Llewellyn (North Barrule) to Keppel Gate is a product of the Disafforesting Commission of 1860Manx Milestones by Stuart Slack pp58 (1st Edition)(2003)The Manx Experience {{ISBN|1-873120-58-3}} and it reflects typical nineteenth century highway and railway construction practices which includes many small scale cuttings, embankments and revetments which follow land contours with purpose built graded-sections intersected by right-angle bends, road junctions and sheep-gates.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Improvements including road widening and landscaping occurred at the 26th Milestone for the 1938 TT races. A small-size metal milestoneManx Milestones by Stuart Slack pages 13–17 and pages 57–58 (1st Edition)(2003) The Manx Experience {{ISBN|1-873120-58-3}} from the period of James Garrow as Isle of Man Surveyor-GeneralIsle of Man Examiner dated 3 May 1913 was situated at the 26th Milestone1870 Isle of Man Survey – Ordnance Survey Map Grid Ref 230872 as the 13th milestone marker on the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road.

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• [http://www.iomtt.com/~/media/Files/2014/Downloads/Prohibited-Areas/ProhibitedAreas2014_Part3.pdf Prohibited and Restricted Areas for the Isle of Man TT Races, Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix, 26th Milestone]

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26th Milestone