Wednesday 11th May 1904

The first Isle of Man speed trial was held on a half-mile hill as part of the eliminating trials for that year’s Gordon Bennett Cup Race. The following day, cars were timed over a flying kilometre on Douglas Promenade. Fastest in both was Australian-born Briton Selwyn Edge (in an 80-bhp Napier), who climbed the half-mile hill at 47 mph and averaged over 53 mph over the flying kilometre. The promenade was so unsuitable for speed events that British driver Clifford Earp’s Napier, returning from its second run, skidded and hit a wall, after which the trials were abandoned.