The startline for the 1911 TT races was originally situated on a level section of the A2 Quarterbridge Road between Selborne Drive and Woodlands Lodge in Douglas.
The startline and refuelling area was moved to the top of Bray Hill for the 1914 TT races, and then moved in 1920 to the Nobles Park area of the A2 Glencrutchery Road at the junction of Greenfield Road in Douglas.
For the 1926 Isle of Man TT races the startline section at Glencrutchery Road was improved by road widening and building of a new grandstand complex at a cost of £2,000.[5]
The 1920s wooden structure was demolished and replaced with a modern purpose-built brick design on newly acquired land for the 1986 TT Races. The new development incorporated a race control and communications tower, a wider pit-lane and seating placed 30 ft (9.1 m) further away from the refuellers due to FIM requirements for enhanced competitor and spectator safety concerning fire-risk.
Proposals to re-locate the facility to the other side of the Glencrutchery Road were rejected as being more costly than the projection of £GB450,000.[6][7]
Concourse facilities
The official TT regulations paddock diagram shows many public, technical and administrative areas developed into the Grandstand,[8] including:
TT rider John McGuinness awaiting a press interview at a picnic bench in the public catering area at the rear of the TT Grandstand during 2013 TT races, with Mrs McGuinness standing to left
View from the Grandstand seating area showing pit-boxes with refuelling stands, then-used for visitor bike-parking on a non-race day, with scoreboard to far side across the Glencrutchery Road
Pre-race assembly area[2] adjacent to startline showing machines with tyre warmers plugged into wall-mounted electrical outlets
Deceleration lane starts after footbridge leading to turnaround
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2017)
The acceleration lane leads from the pit lane to re-join the main road. The deceleration lane provides a braking area, terminating in a hairpin turn-around loop in Nobles Park before connecting to the return road, leading back to the winners enclosure and parc fermé, situated as part of the paddock complex, for all race finishers.[2]
Temporary accommodation
Temporary holiday accommodation in the paddock for TT time was established from 2012 until 2017.[11][12][13] The complex was provided by Snoozebox, a business having former Formula 1 racing driver David Coulthard as a principle.
^ abcdIoM TT race regulations 2014 with concourse diagram p.23 "At the conclusion of all races the finishers will be required to return their machines to the Parc Ferme. This will be located in the Assembly Area." Retrieved 28 November 2016
^Map and access instructions Paddock, Passes, Grandstand tickets and Welfare, Section 12, 2020 Regulations, Isle of Man TT races. Retrieved 3 February 2021
^The Tourist Trophy in Old Photographs Collected by Bill Snelling. Bill Snelling pp14 Sutton Publishing ISBN1-84015-059-9
^Centenary of the Borough of Douglas 1896–1996 by Gordon N.Kniverton pp112 (1st Edition)(1996) Manx Experience
^Manx Grand Prix, 1985 Official programme, p.11 "Grandstands", Peter Kneale. Accessed 26 March 2017
^Grandstand Re-Development. Motorcycle Sport, April 1985, p.151