 Short Circuit (1947–1952) | |
| Location | County Antrim,Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°39′51″N6°06′23″W / 54.66417°N 6.10639°W /54.66417; -6.10639 |
| Opened | 1922 (re-opened 1947) |
| Closed | 1952 (firstly closed 1939) |
| Major events | Grand Prix motorcycle racingUlster Grand Prix (1949–1952) |
| Short Circuit (1947–1952) | |
| Length | 26.501 km (16.467 mi) |
| Turns | 8+ |
| Race lap record | 9:21.000, 105.94 mph ( Les Graham,MV Agusta 4C,1952,500cc) |
| Original Circuit (1922–1939) | |
| Length | 32.992 km (20.500 mi) |
| Turns | 8+ |
| Race lap record | 12:17.800, 100.03 mph ( Dorino Serafini,Gilera,1939,500cc) |
Clady Circuit situated inCounty Antrim,Northern Ireland describes a motor-cycleroad racingstreet circuit used for theUlster Grand Prix. The Clady Circuit was used between 1922 and 1939 and an amended shorter circuit between 1947 and 1952.[1]
The Clady Circuit, (Irish:Clóidigh; i.e.Washing river) first used in 1922 for the Ulster Grand Prix was 20.500 mi (32.992 km) in length in County Antrim. The original course start line was situated nearLoanends Primary School on the secondary B39 Antrim toBelfast Road. The event held on public roads closed for racing including the secondary B39Seven Mile Straight betweenAntrim and Clady Corner includingChristy's Brae, the primary A52 Belfast toCrumlin Road between Clady Corner and Thorn Cottage, a tertiary road north from Thorn Cottage to Greenmount near the town of Antrim (including a section ofRAF Aldergrove) and from Greenmount to Muckamore Corner with the road junction of the B39 'Seven Mile Straight.'
The Clady Circuit was shortened in 1947 to a length of 16.467 mi (26.501 km) with the omission of the Aldergrove section from Thorn Cottage to Greenmount. Theshort Clady Circuit now ran from Clady Corner toNutts Corner on the primary A52 Belfast to Crumlin Road and used a section of the primaryA 26Banbridge toColeraine Road from Nutts Corner to Muckamore House near Antrim. For the1953 racing season the Clady Circuit was abandoned for motor-cycle racing and theUlster Grand Prix as part of theFIMMotorcycle Grand Prix World Championship was moved to the nearbyDundrod Circuit in Co Antrim.
The lap record for theshort Clady Circuit is 9 Minutes and 21 seconds at an average speed of 105.94 mph (170.49 km/h) set byLes Graham riding a 500ccMV Agusta 4C during the1952 Ulster Grand Prix. The lap record for the 1922–1939 Clady Circuit is 12 minutes and 17.8 seconds at an average speed of 100.03 mph (160.98 km/h) byDorino Serafini riding a 500ccGilera motor-cycle during the1939 Ulster Grand Prix. The race record for theshort Clady Circuit is an average speed of 99.79 mph (160.60 km/h) set byCromie McCandless riding a 500cc Gilera also during the 1952 Ulster Grand Prix.[2]