Former Southern 100 Sidecar Champion driver Artie Oates has passed away at the age of 80. He won his championship in 1990 with fellow local Stu Pitts in the chair. In all he competed in 51 races at Billown. He raced with his brother Edda, Peter Cain, Paul Fargher and Greg Mahon in addition to Stu Pitts.
Artie was an accomplished TT racer and took one podium finish; that being in the 1991 Race A with Stu Pitts. He started 28 TT races; finishing 27 of those. In addition to his podium finish, he took 5 more top 6 finishes in a career that spanned 23 years. A great character; he will be much missed by his family and large circle of friends.
R.I.P. Artie.
The Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races practice, and racing follows the pattern of recent years, with Friday 24th May Evening being taken up with Practice between 6.00pm and 9.40pm at the latest.
Saturday Afternoon 25th May practising continues between 12.30pm and 4.00pm. Saturday Evening will see four races, the MSP-R Singles Race over six laps; the Foraging Vintners 1100cc Classic Race over seven laps, followed by the seven lap Geoff Duke Junior Post Classic Race. Bringing the proceedings to a close will be the four laps 3 Wheeling Media Sidecar Race One.
Sunday Afternoon, 26th May between 1.00pm and 6.00pm the final six races in this year’s event will be run, commencing with the Greystones LLC Senior (500cc) Classic Race over six laps, followed by the Quine & Cubbon 250cc Classic Race and the 125cc Post Classic Race run concurrently over six laps of the Colas Billown Course.
The seven lap Vintage MCC (IOM Section) Junior (350cc) Classic Race is followed by the six lap Blackford’s Classic Consolation Race, for non-qualifiers. The UGGLY & CO Senior Post Classic Superbikes Race is the penultimate race, with the 3 Wheeling Media Sidecar Race Two bringing the chequered flag down on the 2024 Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races.
The Prize Presentation will be held in Castletown Market Square on Sunday Evening commencing at 7.30pm, please come along and show your appreciation and support to all the competitors.
Further details can be found on the official website www.southern100.com and on various social media channels.