Scarborough Road Race - Spectator Points

The Esses
After the machines have climbed the steep hill away from Mere Hairpin, there is a medium speed right-hander followed by a slightly quicker left hand bend. It is crucial to get the left hand part spot-on as the riders need to drive hard all the way down the back straight. Good viewing is available although for the left hand bend, the second part of the Esses, viewing is only possible on the inside. Again, there is a bridge that allows you to cross over the circuit and food and refreshments are available here.

The Back ‘Straight’
This part of the course sees the riders reach speeds of up to 140mph as the narrow ribbon of tarmac bumps and kinks its way towards the Memorial. Very fast and exhilarating, the riders are gone in a flash and viewing is slightly impaired due to the hawthorn hedges but you are able to walk all around the field to get to other vantage points.

Memorial
A second gear entry into this tight combination of left hand bends, not a lot of time can be made here but a lot can be lost. There is little margin for error and if you get a wrong, a trip down the cliff is a possibility – a number of riders have been known to crash into the café on the entry! Viewing is only possible on the inside and due to a sub station you cannot watch all the way round. For many years this section was unavailable to spectators but, on a clear day, it offers terrific views over Scarborough bay and the North Sea.

Drury’s Hairpin
The quickest of the three hairpins, riders enter the corner after a quick blast from the Memorial, braking to speeds of around 40mph before accelerating down the hill towards Mountside. Viewing is only possible on the outside of the bend and, over the years, the spectator fence has been pushed back, largely due to incidents (Wayne Gardner once went through the fence here!). Consequently, some of the quality of viewing has been removed but, again, you can move to all parts of the course from here. Food and refreshments are available here.

Mountside Hairpin
The final hairpin on the course and one of the last chances to overtake, especially for the sidecars, many a race has been won and lost here. Riders approach the hairpin after a steep drop from Drury’s and if you get it wrong, a trip down the slip road beckons. Limited viewing on the outside of the course but plenty of action is guaranteed. Walking back up the course takes you to a bridge where you can cross and head towards the jumps. Food and refreshments are available here.

Jefferies’ Jumps
Arguably the most spectacular section of the course, riders tackle a series of low to high level jumps and due to the bumpy nature of the road, both wheels are rarely touching the tarmac at the same time. Viewing is only available on the inside of the course and this section quickly fills up. However, many people tend to move around during the course of the day so, at some stage, a good view can be obtained. You can walk easily up to Mountside, down to the start and finish or up the hill to the top section of the course.

Farm Bends
The final corner before the start and finish, Farm Bends were added in 1991 to reduce the speeds through the start and finish, after a number of high speed, serious accidents. Not the greatest of vantage points, it does, nevertheless, give you an opportunity to see the race decided although the left hand corner is notoriously difficult for overtaking. Food and refreshments are available on the vast grass banking overlooking the start and finish.

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