Glenlough to Highlander

Competitor Guide with Steve Hislop

So now through Braddan out towards Union Mills, through Union Mills, and up onto the Ballahutchin which is the long climb up towards Glen Vine. At the corner at the top, on anything up to a 600cc, you can get through flat-out, but as soon as I get onto the big bikes I usually just hook back a gear and take it through in 5th, basically just to steady the bike. You come up out of the dip as you approach the top of Glen Vine and then it's just a little jab of the front brake and I hook back to 5th on a big bike and just drive it hard through and just as you exit the corner, maybe just 100 yards after the actual apex of the corner, there's a little step off in the road which lifts the front wheel as you're cranked over. So rather than doing that I usually save top gear so as soon as you just hit the rise, where it would be wanting to wheelie, just hook top gear and it just kills the wheelie. It keeps both wheels on the road and then carries the speed down through Glen Vine.

On a 250cc you can get through the top of there flat out. The 600cc and 250cc are compatible on lap times. The 600cc has got more pulling power on climbs such as up Ballahutchin and up the Mountain. That's where the 600cc gains, even though it doesn't handle as good as an out and out 250cc racing bike. They're maybe quicker through other sections, but they lose out on climbs, so it's a bit of give and take. With the 600cc you're just pulling that 5mph extra and it's just on the verge of getting to Ballagarey Park.

On a 250cc racing bike and anything up to 600cc, if you're on the right line approaching Union Mills then, from the time that you open the throttle at the Railway Inn, and short shift over the bridge, apart from changing up through the gears, you won't shut the throttle until the braking point at Greeba Castle! On a big bike through the same point you'll only be one gear back at the top of Ballagarey and then it's flat stick all the way down through Glen Vine, through the bottom flat, all the way up past the Crosby, over the top past the Wagon and Horses, past The Highlander and just as you go up round the blind right there you get yourself well across to the right hand side of the road and there's black and white markings on the kerb and use those as a braking marker. It's probably about 50 yards short of the start of the painted line you'll jab the brake and that will be the first time you shut the throttle from the Railway, even on a big bike. You'll back shift 2 gears and then nail it instantly again into the middle of Greeba Castle and then you've got to hook back another gear so you're going through the bottom there in 3rd and then it's such a funny camber over the top of the right you have to just feather the throttle in and then you're back on the gas all the way through to Appledene and it's just rolled through there in 5th gear and then as you go down past the dog kennels on the left there's 2 right handers which are just taken as one.