#snaefells

[pearlofgodess]

[paolo-streito-1264]

Leigh Woolford. Route 54 (Útnesvegur) between Budir and Arnarstapi on the Snaefells Peninsular. Iceland, 2013.

[concerningwolves]

I love you moss I love you lichen I love you patterns worn into stone by aeons of weathering I love you banks of cloud I love you teeny tiny rivulets that will one day grow up to be waterfalls I love you world <3

(photos taken at the summit of Snaefell and along the Miner's Trail in the Glen Mooar Valley, Isle of Man)

[folyxfanart]

A gift for @blackfisssh who wanted to recreate that spaghetti scene from The Lady and the Tramp Disney movie, with his Tav Snaefel and Shadowheart. Loved the idea :p

[mybeingthere]

Björk Haraldsdóttir Ceramics

Born in Reykjavík, Iceland, Haraldsdóttir’s works are inspired by Nordic pattern and folklore. Her family was originally from a small village on the Snaefellness Peninsular called Olafsvík in the shadow of the celebrated twin peaked glacial mountain that inspired Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

The patterns on her ceramics echo the distinctive black and white designs of Icelandic woollen garments, rugs and tapestries, inspired by snow, nets and other crystalline and geometric forms.

Having graduated with a Masters degree and the Silver Medal for Architecture from Glasgow School of Art she studied at the Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin before practising professionally as an architect in Reykjavik, Edinburgh and London.

[scotianostra]

On July 30th 2003 Multi race winning Motorcyclist, Robert Steven ‘Hizzy’ Hislop died.

Hizzy, as he was affectionately known once said “If I’d never thrown my leg over a bike, I’d never have lived.”

Robert Steven Hislop grew up in the village of Chesters, near Hawick in the borders. His father started the interest of both he and his brother Garry in motorcycle racing. This was short lived at the time as he lost his father and a few years later his brother was killed at Silloth circuit. He ended up with a serious alcohol problem which led into depression.

Hizzy thankfully recovered and began his Isle of Man road racing career in 1983 by finishing second in the newcomers’ race at the Manx Grand Prix.

On short circuits, his first championship success came when he won the 250cc British Championship in 1990. Superbike victory followed with the British Superbike Championship in 1995. Some attributed his success to James Whitham leaving the series mid-season to deal with cancer.

Although he did not take a BSB victory in 1996 or 1997, Hislop was hired by Rob McElnea’s dominant Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha team for 1998. The nature of the fight for the championship between Hislop & team mate, fellow Scot. Niall Mackenzie, was illustrated by a near-collision on the last lap at Snetterton which cost the team a 1-2 finish. Hislop generally matched his countryman before a serious crash took him out of title contention.

His last championship success came in 2002 when he won the British Superbike Championship riding a Ducati. A notable feature of his season resulted from Hislop lapping Donington Park circuit more quickly on a superbike than the fastest Moto GP machine: Hislop’s modified production Ducati was heavier and less powerful than the bespoke Grand Prix bikes.

The 1992 Senior TT was described as an absolute classic. It is often described as one of the best races in TT history.

After their successful 1991 TT on all conquering Honda RVF machines, Hislop and Carl Fogarty had not planned to return in 1992. However, they both lined up on the Glencrutchery Road that year on unfancied machinery: Hislop was ona Norton with Fogarty on a Yamaha. The Norton Hizzy rode had been developed on a shoe string budget when compared with the Japanese competition. John Player had no intention of backing Steve’s TT campaign but after scratching around for some support and with minimal testing time, the team headed for the Isle of Man.

Hislop’s Norton took to the circuit in the unconventional white livery of Steve’s long term sponsor Abus. Hislop and the team defied the bike’s detractors by taking a fine 2nd place in the opening TT F1 race. The bike proved it could complete 6 laps of the gruelling Snaefell Mountain Course in hot weather so the team looked forward to Friday’s Senior TT.

Hislop’s main rival was Foggarty, who started at number 4. Steve started at 19. Not only did this give Hizzy more traffic to contend with but it also gave the crowd an anxious wait as the officials calculated the time difference between them. As the race progressed, the two riders smashed records they set the previous year with Hislop taking a narrow advantage into the final lap. In a last-ditch attempt to catch Hislop, Fogarty recorded a record lap time of more than 123 mph on his Yamaha. It was all in vain however as Hislop guided the fly splattered Norton home to an historic win. This was one of Hislop’s greatest achievements and one of the most popular TT wins. Carl Fogarty’s lap record stood for 7 years.

Hislop and Fogarty went on to become two of Britain’s most successful motorcycle racers, winning many races and championships. It was the 1992 Senior TT that saw them battle together for the last time.

Described by some as a flawed sporting genius, success in the world championships never materialised for Hislop. This was possibly because of a self-destructive aspect to his character. The flaw may have led to a number of well-publicised clashes with other riders and teams in the British championships which hindered progress into international series.

Having lost his brother and many friends in motorcycle accidents, he made a point of never going to the funerals of fellow racers, saying:

“Some people might find that a bit callous. I only ever attend family ones and people find it a bit strange that I won’t go to a friend’s funeral, but it’s just my little way of shutting off.”

Steve Hislop died in a helicopter accident in July 2003, near Teviothead, Roxburghshire and was interred in the village of Chesters near his birthplace of Hawick, Scotland. He had two children.

There is a bronze statue in memory of Hizzy in the grounds of Hawick Museum. at Wilton park and another at Onchan Head, Isle of Man, as seen in order in the pics. The last pic is a cairn near Teviothead, the scene of the helicopter crash, it reads……

‘Hizzy’ This cairn was built by a few friends of Steve Hislop, British Superbike Champion, who was tragically killed in a helicopter accident near this site, on July 30th 2003.

Kind permission was granted by His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch.

[quohotos]

So about the Serpents in the Prophecy of Bane...

I'm almost certain this is an allusion to Jules Verne's seminal piece of speculative fiction about going underground Journey to the Center of the Earth. Exerpt from the Wikipedia page:

The story begins in May 1863, at the home of Professor Otto Lidenbrock in Hamburg, Germany. While leafing through an original runic manuscript of an Icelandic saga, Lidenbrock and his nephew Axel find a coded note written in runic script along with the name of a 16th-century Icelandic alchemist, Arne Saknussemm. When translated into English, the note reads:

Go down into the crater of Snaefells Jökull, which Scartaris's shadow caresses just before the calends of July, O daring traveler, and you'll make it to the center of the earth. I've done so. Arne Saknussemm

Lidenbrock departs for Iceland immediately, taking the reluctant Axel with him. After a swift trip via Kiel and Copenhagen, they arrive in Reykjavík. There they hire as their guide Icelander Hans Bjelke, a Danish-speaking eiderduck hunter, then travel overland to the base of Snæfellsjökull.

In late June they reach the volcano and set off into the bowels of the earth, encountering many dangers and strange phenomena. After taking a wrong turn, they run short of water and Axel nearly perishes, but Hans saves them all by tapping into a subterranean river, which shoots out a stream of water that Lidenbrock and Axel name the "Hansbach" in the guide's honor.Édouard Riou's illustration of an ichthyosaurus (which is actually more like a mosasaurus) battling a plesiosaurus.

Following the course of the Hansbach, the explorers descend many miles and reach an underground world, with an ocean and a vast ceiling with clouds, as well as a permanent Aurora giving light. The travelers build a raft out of semipetrified wood and set sail. While at sea, they encounter prehistoric fish such as Pterichthyodes (here called "Pterichthys") Dipterus (referred to as "Dipterides") and giant marine reptiles from the Age of the Dinosaurs, namely an Ichthyosaurus and a Plesiosaurus. A lightning storm threatens to destroy the raft and its passengers, but instead throws them onto the site of an enormous fossil graveyard, including bones from the Pterodactylus, Megatherium, Deinotherium, Glyptodon, a mastodon and the preserved body of a prehistoric man.

So that's our culprit. That basically fits the description of the Serpents. Thought that was just a cool detail and reference.

The underground jungle is an element that you could potentially say is also an allusion to Verne, though I think the version in the underland chronicles is significantly different since the depiction in Journey to the center of the earth has light from above whereas all the plants in the underland are basically carnivores and/or feed off of volcanic heat.

It's also possible that this allusion is not deliberate, as much like War of the Worlds, Journey to the Center of the Earth has basically been subsumed into pop culture cannon and referenced so many times that a lot of it's unique elements have just become tropes. Dinotopia also used dinosaurs in a cave surviving the asteroid, Minecraft, Terraria, Spelunky, Noita, and basically any other video game that involves digging will at some point put a Verne styled underground jungle in there.

One YA series that leans really hard into the Journey to the Center of the Earth inspirations is the Tunnels series. I actually read them in 6th grade to attempt to scratch my TUC itch. Let me tell you, they're not as good and don't even come close. Whereas TUC has some tasteful allusions, Tunnels goes all in. The underground people are more evil (if that's possible) and are intent on wiping out all life on the surface. Worst of all, it's set in England!!! There's cool world building, but no giant talking bats so I have no choice but to award it zero stars. It was supposed to be turned into a movie in 2009 and all the books got stickers for that... said movie appears to have never materialized.

Idk, something I thought about while listening to today's @returntoregalia episode

Okay bonus details about how I made this connection: As a kid, wishbone would come on once a week at like 4 pm or something, I didn't get to see it often, but I vividly remember one of the episodes. For anyone who doesn't know, wishbone was PBS show that followed a dog and his human family as they go through some struggle that wishbone (the dog) finds allegorical to a piece of classic, public domain literature. The episodes are split in half with the parts in the present, and the reenactments within the dog's imagination of the classic piece of literature. In one of the few episodes I caught was about Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. I do not recall how this novel was relevant to the characters lives, all I know is that it's way to long to fit into half of a 20 minute episode, so they had to really rush through a lot of parts. In one shot the characters are in this jungle and they run away from a Plesiosaurus puppet.

[eyssant]

Isle of Man: A Historical Odyssey from Celts to Vikings

The Isle of Man, a small island situated in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, is renowned for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. With its unique blend of Celtic, Viking, and Norse heritage, the island offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, alongside a plethora of attractions for modern explorers. From ancient monuments to picturesque coastal paths, the Isle of Man is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.

Historical Significance

The history of the Isle of Man is a tapestry woven from the influences of various civilizations over thousands of years. Evidence of human habitation dates back to the Mesolithic period, around 8,000 years ago, with Neolithic and Bronze Age sites scattered across the island, such as the Meayll Hill Stone Circle and the Balladoole Viking Burial.

During the Iron Age, the Celts established their presence on the island, leaving behind a legacy of hill forts and roundhouses. The Celtic influence is still evident today in the island's language, Manx Gaelic, which has seen a revival in recent years.

The arrival of the Vikings in the 9th century marked a significant chapter in the island's history. The Isle of Man became a vital part of the Norse kingdom of Mann and the Isles, with Viking rulers exerting control over the island for several centuries. This period left an indelible mark on the island's culture and heritage, with remnants such as the Viking ship burial at Balladoole and the ancient Tynwald Hill, where the island's parliament, Tynwald, has met for over a thousand years, making it the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world.

The medieval era saw the construction of impressive castles, such as Castle Rushen in Castletown and Peel Castle on St Patrick's Isle. These fortifications played crucial roles in the island's defense and governance. The island eventually came under the control of the Scottish and then the English crowns, yet it maintained a significant degree of autonomy, which continues today as a self-governing British Crown Dependency.

Places to Explore

The Isle of Man offers a diverse array of attractions that cater to a wide range of interests:

Castletown and Castle Rushen: Once the island’s capital, Castletown is home to Castle Rushen, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. The castle's towering limestone walls and intricate interiors offer a glimpse into the island's feudal past.

Peel and Peel Castle: This picturesque fishing port is dominated by the ruins of Peel Castle, which sits on St Patrick's Isle. The castle, originally a place of worship before becoming a fortress, provides panoramic views of the surrounding sea.

Douglas and the Manx Museum: The island's modern capital, Douglas, is a vibrant hub of activity. The Manx Museum in Douglas provides an excellent overview of the island's history, culture, and natural heritage.

The Great Laxey Wheel: Also known as Lady Isabella, this is the largest working waterwheel in the world. Located in the village of Laxey, it was built in the 19th century to pump water from the local lead mines.

Snaefell Mountain Railway: This charming electric railway takes visitors to the summit of Snaefell, the island's highest peak. On a clear day, you can see the seven kingdoms: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Heaven, and the Sea.

The Calf of Man: A small island off the southern tip of the Isle of Man, it is a nature reserve teeming with birdlife and seals. It's an ideal spot for nature enthusiasts and hikers.

Heritage Railways: The island is home to several heritage railways, including the Steam Railway and the Manx Electric Railway, offering scenic journeys through the countryside and along the coast.

Isle of Man TT Races: Held annually in late May and early June, this world-famous motorcycle race attracts enthusiasts from around the globe. The Snaefell Mountain Course, with its challenging twists and turns, is a legendary circuit in the racing world.

Conclusion

The Isle of Man is a destination that seamlessly blends historical significance with natural beauty. Whether you are a history enthusiast, nature lover, or adventure seeker, the island offers a rich array of experiences. The Isle of Man experiences a temperate maritime climate, characterized by mild temperatures and relatively high humidity. The weather can be quite changeable due to the island's location in the Irish Sea. The weather and climate of the Isle of Man make it a year-round destination, ensuring that there is always something to explore and enjoy on this captivating island.

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics:

1 & 2. Photos of Jules Verne, himself.

3 & 4. Covers to various editions of the story under investigation. #3 includes Mysterious Island as well. And #4 has a great painting of the battling sea leviathans!

1906: The Earth (is) Not Hollow.

In 1864, polymath, dreamer & sci-fi writer Jules Verne published his huge hit "Journey to the Center of the Earth."

Plot: This journey starts with a German geologist examining a runic manuscript with a backwards coded Latin inscription.

An alchemist secreted instructions to reach the center of the world! And the way in is thru Mt. Snaefell, a dormant volcano...

Once finding the entrance, our heroes get lost in the roots of the mountain. Following an underground river, they reach a vast shoreline. Which is all covered in giant mushrooms - growing from mastodon bones!

They make a raft out of petrified wood & sail for the far shore...

They barely survive a battle between giant sea dinosaurs & a long lasting electrical storm.

Reaching the shore, they explore the beach, finding a human skull &, a fossilized human body!

Suddenly, they see a giant - who's busy shepherding a herd of living mastodons!!

Fleeing, they follow a marked path to a blocked way. This they blow aside with gunpowder.

Back on their craft, they're carried away in a torrent. Hours later, they're suddenly pushed upwards...

Two months after they entered this underworld, they're disgorged - via a volcanic eruption (!!) - on the surface of Stromboli Island, Italy!

Pics:

1. The explorers in a Cave of Giant Diamonds - much too large to carry off!!

2. Our heroes find the Fields of Giant Mushrooms!

3. The rocky shore from where the wide sea will be crossed.

4. I love the attention that the artist spent on the underground ecology.

Author: Jules Verne was a French writer that helped (H.G. Wells) to lay the foundations of modern sci-fi.

His father wanted Jules to become a lawyer. But, Verne fell in love with literature.

Jules worked as a secretary - while writing plays & short stories. Verne dreamt of a genre where he could mix scientific facts with adventure tales.

In 1862, Jules published his 1st novel "Five Weeks in a Balloon" - an international bestseller!

For this, Verne was offered a long term contract, to write more scientific adventures...

This would lead to a 40+ year career & 60+ successful works.

But, after 1886, Jules became more pessimistic. With stories exploring the dangers of "high tech" made by hubris filled scientists...

Personal problems with Verne's own son & financial difficulties forced him to sell off his priced yacht.

Then, the deaths of his mother & mentor left Jules emotionally bereft...

Verne even got shot (in the leg!) - by his own nephew!! This left him partly crippled.

Jules fell sick weeks after his 78th birthday. Burdened by diabetes & a stroke, Verne died quietly - with his family around him.

Pic: The beautiful headstone/monument for another dreamer gone on to the Underworld...

Criticism: This classic adventure novel is not a long book. But, it holds an amazing amount of fast paced action & a well constructed plot.

Its main theme is the quite common 1 of perseverance in the face of any hardship - even to ignoring all reason!

Though it takes it's time setting every thing up, once it gets going, 1 can't put it down.

Legacy:

1. When Jules Verne died, he left behind a drawerful of almost finished manuscripts. When finally published, it was found out that his son had rewritten them!

He had changed the stories' style & added characters to make these last tales more melodramatic.

Most critics condemned these works - for being 'contaminated'...

2. "Journey to the Center of the Earth" has been adapted into film several times: 1910, 1959, 1988 & 2008.

3. It's also been turned into a late 1960s Filmation/20th Century Fox cartoon & a TV series in 1977.

4. At the Tokyo/Disney theme park, there's a "Journey" slot car 'dark' ride based on Jules' story - visit today...

[ginsterphotography]

Snaefell Mountain Railway , Laxey on the Isle of Man.

[pearlofgodess]

[supertrainstationh]

L2024_4011 Car 4 at Summit Station - Snaefell Mountain Railway by John Luxton Via Flickr: Car 4 at Summit Station shortly after arriving with the 10:15 from Laxey, the first service of the day. Click Here for more photographs of the Snaefell Mountain Railway: www.jhluxton.com/Railways-and-Tramways/Isle-of-Man-Railwa...

[celtfather]

17 Things to Do on the Isle of Man #290

So you want to go to the Isle of Man? Can you spend a full week there and find enough to do? I’ll share with you 17 things you will enjoy on the Isle of Man. Plus, you’ll get some music from Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair.

This is Pub Songs & Stories #290

0:14 - Marc Gunn “By Amazing Grace” from Come Adventure With Me

4:22 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES

I am Marc Gunn. I’m a Celtic folk musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. This podcast is primarily for fans of my music in particular and Celtic music, in general. That’s because I highlight some of the artists I feature on my other podcast the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

But today, we’re doing a little bit of traveling to the Isle of Man. I traveled to the Isle of Man this summer as part of my Celtic Invasion Vacations. I learned a LOT about the island, its Celtic and Norse history, and I came up with a list of 17 things you can do on your own trip to this delightful Celtic nation.

If you’re new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com , over on my Patreon, or just send me an email to follow@celtfather.

If you know someone interested in visiting the Isle of Man, please share this episode.

5:15 - UPCOMING SHOWS

NOV 9: IrishFest Atlanta, Roswell, GA with Inara

NOV 15-17: CONjuration, Duluth, GA

NOV 23: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling, Fairborn, GA from 2-9 PM

NOV 30: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling, Fairborn, GA from 2-9 PM

6:12 - SOME STUFF TO KNOW

News strategy to share photos on Social and Patreon

Advertising on the podcast

Poll: What's Your Favorite Track on Dancing With Hobbits?

Merch: Buy Dancing With Hobbits

Kickstarter for Another Faire to Remember

Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast

Hope at last #HARRIS2024

13:08 - Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair "Arraneyn Cadlee" from LOSSAN

17:49 - THINGS TO DO ON THE ISLE OF MAN

A long recap of Celtic Invasion of Isle of Man coming to Travel Ireland & Scotland podcast. See the Itinerary for CIV Isle of Man

Electric rail

Snaefell

Laxey Wheel

Boat trip around

Music at Black Dog Oven

Guided Tour with Jill Quirk

Culture Vannin

Fynoderee Distillery

Peel Castle

Castle Rushen

Niarbyl

Balladoole Viking Boat

Cregneash Folk Village

Maeyll Circle

Douglas Manx Museum

Weekly folk sessions

Manx cat cafe

Food

Black Dog Oven

The Boatyard

14 North

30:05 - FEEDBACK

Mary Deal emailed photos from Central Coast Ren Faire and wrote: “San Luis Obispo, CA

Been here all day. Loving every minute. Wish you and some of your folks were playing. We need more good music.”

30:19 -  SUPPORT THE CLUB

The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you’ll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather !

If you can’t support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons:

30:50 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure, usually to one of the Celtic nations, but not always.

31:31 - Dancing With Hobbits “Big Feet, Big Heart” from Dancing With Hobbits

32:58 - CREDITS

Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen.

You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I’m performing.

Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment.

Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com!

#pubstories #isleofman #thingstodo

  Check out this episode!

[gavin-gry4]

A battle against the wind to reach the summit of Snaefell

[mariolopsblog]

Chaos down the tunnels.

The story proceeds as Axel, Professor Lidenbrock and Hans prepare themselves to dive into the crater. It is when the real journey starts.

They begin to assemble their packages, luggages and all items needed to survive in the expedition. Each one of the guys would carry a thing and others are just tied up and dragged along for its excessive weight. Hans and Lidenbrock prepare ropes for the descent while Axel stares at the inside of the volcano with shock and fear. When everything was ready they went inside in a certain order. During their trip downwards the Professor, as a geologist is supposed to do, confirms a theory about the chemical reaction of metals by seeing the volcanic formations. Later on, after some hours on the go they finally arrive at the bottom of the Snaefells, it was already late so they served themselves something to eat before they got to sleep.

The next day they prepare themselves to plunge inside the earth´s bowels. Axel is scared again when he has not even started the move. As they go further they realize that the slope is not necessarily perpendicular but, it was actually just 45 degrees, which allowed them to walk peacefully. Professor Lidenbrock makes observations about the surroundings. Deeper inside the pressure would not allow them to breathe properly, however it was at slow pace so their lungs had time to get used to it. Also there was a strange phenomena with the temperature, which considering the depth they are in was intriguingly low. Axel, again concerned but this time about water, he thinks there might not be streams in the caverns but his uncle trusts they will get to it. At the end of the day they realized that they surpassed the record as the longest trip of a person inside the earth.

They depart again and in their way they find now to different tunnels, they need to figure out which way to go. As they already decided, now start their walk in this new path with uncertainty. It was still horizontal and maybe even more. The tunnel seemed really interesting for the Professor and his nephew since both of them are geologists; they analyze the surface and the surroundings and find evidence of different types of strata and stones. Axel is still worried about water and provisions because they had left for some more days. And so they walk unstoppably for the next few days expecting to find a shaft which could lead them downwards but instead they find a wall in front of them, which means that their track ends right there. Involved in an unpleasant situation they will now have to head back to try luck in the other entry they found in the intersection.

With great disappointment the three adventurers are heading now to the other tunnel, hoping to come across a better scenario. When they are already inside, the Professor discovered that they are surrounded now by a type of strata that has benefits, which is called the primitive formation. Axel, distressed by tiredness and thirst, could not resist any longer and blacked out. The hunter was concerned about this situation, so he decided without previously informing his peers, on going in search of water. He found a stream inside the walls, in order for them to get access to the liquid he needed to break down the rocks, so he did and they finally got to refresh themselves with the water. After walking a long way inside the tubes they find out they have already been 200 miles away from Iceland.

[scotianostra]

Steve Hislop the Scottish motorcycle racer was born on  11th January 1962.

Hizzy, as he was affectionately known once said “If I’d never thrown my leg over a bike, I’d never have lived.”

Robert Steven Hislop grew up in the village of Chesters, near Hawick in the borders. His father started the interest of both he and his brother Garry in motorcycle racing. This was short lived at the time as he lost his father and a few years later his brother was killed at Silloth circuit. He ended up with a serious alcohol problem which led into depression.

Hizzy thankfully recovered and began his Isle of Man road racing career in 1983 by finishing second in the newcomers’ race at the Manx Grand Prix.

On short circuits, his first championship success came when he won the 250cc British Championship in 1990. Superbike victory followed with the British Superbike Championship in 1995. Some attributed his success to James Whitham leaving the series mid-season to deal with cancer.

Although he did not take a BSB victory in 1996 or 1997, Hislop was hired by Rob McElnea’s dominant Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha team for 1998. The nature of the fight for the championship between Hislop & team mate, fellow Scot. Niall Mackenzie, was illustrated by a near-collision on the last lap at Snetterton which cost the team a 1-2 finish. Hislop generally matched his countryman before a serious crash took him out of title contention.

His last championship success came in 2002 when he won the British Superbike Championship riding a Ducati. A notable feature of his season resulted from Hislop lapping Donington Park circuit more quickly on a superbike than the fastest Moto GP machine: Hislop’s modified production Ducati was heavier and less powerful than the bespoke Grand Prix bikes.

The 1992 Senior TT was described as an absolute classic. It is often described as one of the best races in TT history.

After their successful 1991 TT on all conquering Honda RVF machines, Hislop and Carl Fogarty had not planned to return in 1992. However, they both lined up on the Glencrutchery Road that year on unfancied machinery: Hislop was ona Norton with Fogarty on a Yamaha. The Norton Hizzy rode had been developed on a shoe string budget when compared with the Japanese competition. John Player had no intention of backing Steve’s TT campaign but after scratching around for some support and with minimal testing time, the team headed for the Isle of Man.

Hislop’s Norton took to the circuit in the unconventional white livery of Steve’s long term sponsor Abus. Hislop and the team defied the bike’s detractors by taking a fine 2nd place in the opening TT F1 race. The bike proved it could complete 6 laps of the gruelling Snaefell Mountain Course in hot weather so the team looked forward to Friday’s Senior TT.

Hislop’s main rival was Foggarty, who started at number 4. Steve started at 19. Not only did this give Hizzy more traffic to contend with but it also gave the crowd an anxious wait as the officials calculated the time difference between them. As the race progressed, the two riders smashed records they set the previous year with Hislop taking a narrow advantage into the final lap. In a last-ditch attempt to catch Hislop, Fogarty recorded a record lap time of more than 123 mph on his Yamaha. It was all in vain however as Hislop guided the fly splattered Norton home to an historic win. This was one of Hislop’s greatest achievements and one of the most popular TT wins. Carl Fogarty’s lap record stood for 7 years.

Hislop and Fogarty went on to become two of Britain’s most successful motorcycle racers, winning many races and championships. It was the 1992 Senior TT that saw them battle together for the last time.

Described by some as a flawed sporting genius, success in the world championships never materialised for Hislop. This was possibly because of a self-destructive aspect to his character. The flaw may have led to a number of well-publicised clashes with other riders and teams in the British championships which hindered progress into international series.

Having lost his brother and many friends in motorcycle accidents, he made a point of never going to the funerals of fellow racers, saying:

“Some people might find that a bit callous. I only ever attend family ones and people find it a bit strange that I won’t go to a friend’s funeral, but it’s just my little way of shutting off.”

Steve Hislop died in a helicopter accident in July 2003, near Teviothead, Roxburghshire and was interred in the village of Chesters near his birthplace of Hawick, Scotland. He had two children.

There is a bronze statue in memory of Hizzy  in the grounds of Hawick Museum. at Wilton park and another at Onchan Head, Isle of Man, zas seen in order in the pics. The last pic is a cairn near Teviothead, the scene of the helicopter crash, it reads……

‘Hizzy’ This cairn was built by a few friends of Steve Hislop, British Superbike Champion, who was tragically killed in a helicopter accident near this site, on July 30th 2003.

Kind permission was granted by His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch.