John McGuinness having been first used in 1911.

The races are organised by the Auto Cycle Union, the governing body of British Motorcycle Sport. Financial support is provided by the Isle of Man Government, through the Department of Tourism.

The T. T. Races will be run over the Snaefell Mountain Course, which is 37.73 miles in length (60.66 km), and the Pre T.T. Classic Races will be held on the Billown Circuit, near Castletown which is 4.25 miles in length on Tuesday 1st June. The popular Steam Packet National Road Races, with races for 125cc/400cc - 250/350cc and 750cc will be held on the Billown Circuit on Saturday June 12th.

There are ten races in the 1999 Meeting:- T.T. Formula 1, Senior, Junior, Lightweight 250 c.c. Lightweight 400 c.c., Ultra-Lightweight 125 c.c., Single Cylinder T.T., Production T.T. and two Sidecars Races. There are six Classic Races again this year, to be held on June 1st - 250 cc, 350 cc, 500 cc, Unlimited, Sidecar and 250cc/350cc.

The T.T. Races started in 1907 over the Short Course, starting at St. Johns and travelling via Ballacraine, Kirk Michael and Peel. The Mountain Course was first used in 1911, and the Cronk-ny-Mona, Signpost and Governors Bridge sections were introduced in 1920. From 1954 to 1959 the 10 mile Clypse Course was used for the Lightweight and Sidecar events.

The outright lap record for the Mountain Course was set in 1992 in the Senior Race when Carl Fogarty (750 Yamaha) lapped in 18m. 18.8s. - a speed of 123.61mph. Twenty-three other riders have lapped at over 120 mph - Steve Hislop, Ian Simpson, Michael Rutter,Phillip McCallen, Simon Beck,Bob Jackson, Joey Dunlop, James Courtney, Jim Moodie, Steve Ward, Brian Morrison, Robert Dunlop, Nick Jefferies, Derek Young, Iain Duffus, Ian Lougher, Marc Flynn, Mark Farmer, Lee Pullen, Robert Holden, Jason Griffiths, Trevor Nation and David Jefferies. Steve Hislop set the fastest ever average speed for a race on the Norton in the 1992 Senior when he recorded 1h. 51m. 59.6s. - a speed of 121.28 mph. The absolute Sidecar Lap and Race records were set in 1996 by Dave Molyneux and Pete Hill - they lapped in 20m 23.4s - 111.02 mph and completed the 3 lap race in 1h 01m.34.8s - 110.28mph. Last year Jim Moodie became the first rider to lap at over 120mph on a Production bike, on his way to giving Honda their 100th T.T. win.

This year there are 18 T.T. winners with 80 wins between them competing:- Joey Dunlop (23), Phillip McCallen (11), Dave Molyneux (6)/Jim Moodie (6), Rob Fisher (5)/Robert Dunlop (5), Bill Smith (4), Ian Lougher (3), Ian Simpson (3), Geoff Bell (2)/ Iain Duffus (2)/Nigel Piercy (2)/David Morris (2)/ Marc Flynn (2), Nick Jefferies, Roy Hanks, Michael Rutter & Paul Williams with one each.

There are 26 Manx Grand Prix winners with 41 wins between them riding:- Bill Swallow (6), Alan 'Bud' Jackson (4), James Courtney (3)/Ricky Mitchell (3), Phillip McCallen (2)/Darran Lindsay (2) and Nick Jefferies, Simon Beck, Jason Griffiths, Nigel Davies, Paul Hunt, Allan McDonald, Marc Flynn, Paul Orritt, Gavin Lee, Decca Kelly, Alan Bennallick, Steve Richardson, Emlyn Hughes, Roy Richardson, Richard Britton, Garry Linham, Garry Carswell , Chris Moore, Russell Henley, Ian Jones and Andy Jackson with one each.

There are 20 countries represented:- Australia, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.A., Vietnam and Wales.

There are seven lady competitors:- Anita Buxton (Forumla 1 and Production), Jane Parrett (Ultra Lightweight), Maria Costello (Production), Wendy Davis (Sidecar) and Side car Pasengers, Cellene Cain, Kate Harrington & Bernadette Bosman.

1 Chris Heath 8 Jim Hodson
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