Carrowdore 100
Carrowdore was once renowned for the now extinct
Carrowdore 100 motorcycle Road Race which was started in 1927. It
consisted of a 5½ mile road circuit which started on the Greyabbey
to Millisle Road and continued down the coast road. After World War
II, the Tourist Trophy race moved to Dundrod, but after a couple of
years the race moved back to Carrowdore, with the start in the
village and the course running to just outside Greyabbey and back
to Carrowdore.
Motorcycle racing has always been a dangerous
sport, with many competitors losing their lives in pursuit of their
sport. Sam McClements, from Bangor died after crashing into trees
just 100 metres from the final corner on the course in September
1989. The danger in the sport was further highlighted in Summer
2000 when over a short period several top riders were killed or
seriously injured. At the Carrowdore 100 on 2 September 2000, Eddie
Sinton, from Tandragee died as a result of injuries sustained in a
crash as Farmhouse Corner on the circuit. With horrible irony,
Eddies Mum, Sheila was the first member of St Johns Ambulance on
the scene, but nothing could be done to save him.
Immense public pressure grew to do something to
deal with the loss of life in the sport. A Task Force was
established to introduce what safety measures could be practically
applied. One of their recommendations was that there should be a
practice session on the day prior to the race. Since the main
street in the village was used as part of the actual circuit, it
would be impossible to get the extra Road Closure Order to
accommodate the practice session.
There was no race in 2001, but a plan was made to
develop a new road circuit, 3 miles in length and avoiding the
village by using the Ballydoonan Road for September 2002. Making
the necessary changes would have left the Belfast and District
Motor Club with a financial loss of £55,000 and with a
non-refundable deposit for insurance cover of £3000 to be paid by
February of 2002, the plan to revive the race disappeared for
ever.
The
Cache
The cache is a magnetic
nano.