Welcome to Jurby Sport & Leisure Ltd
Driver training for recently-qualified motorists, new off-road driving and riding facilities and vastly improved amenities are among the ambitious plans for the future of Jurby Airfield following the appointment of a new management team.
Jurby Sports & Leisure Ltd has been appointed by the Department of Transport to operate sporting events at the airfield. The three-year licence entrusts JSL with keeping the airfield safe, secure and suitable for leisure and other users.
JSL is a consortium of existing Jurby Airfield users who have come together to ensure the future of the under-utilised site. The consortium includes Andreas Racing Association, Duke Track Days, the Isle of Man Kart Racing Association, Manx Kite Flyers and Manx Model Flyers.
In addition to those activities, JSL will continue to support the interests of other Jurby Airfield users, including the Manx Auto Sport, Manx Motor Cycle Club, Druidale Motor Club, Manx Motor Racing Club, Fire and Police Services and various Government Departments.
Under this new arrangement, the airfield will become more accessible for all users during the week and at weekends. Improved management of the site and better facilities will allow expanded use by a wide range of sporting and other interest groups from within the Island and beyond.
For instance, Duke Track Days, a subsidiary of Duke Marketing, will use its contacts to encourage the use of any spare dates for events such as product launches, UK car and bike club days and other new activities.
All users will have to pay fees to cover operating costs and assist with maintenance work. The fees charged to existing users will be discounted while other users will be charged a commercial rate. JSL will co-coordinate all activities and, where possible, the sharing of equipment and facilities.
Among the proposed improvements are upgrades for the toilets, parking, camping, pathways and provision of an on-site office and reception centre.
Work will shortly start on a completely new kart track for the IoMKRA. It will be built to international standards and will provide a greatly improved venue for kart racing. This will also allow beneficial changes to the ARA motorcycle circuit.
Off-road riding and driving is also expected to receive a boost with plans for new training facilities in the pipeline.
However, one of JSL’s major projects will be to play its part in helping the Island’s new drivers improve their skills through tuition and experience in a safe environment. As the Young Drivers Day held in May as part of Motorfest08 shows, Jurby Airfield is uniquely suited to this type of training.
Every year more than 800 people pass their driving test and earn their R plates. They are then free to travel off-Island, where they will encounter driving conditions, such as motorways, which they have received no training for. Considerable support has already been expressed by organisations involved in promoting road safety and driving schools for the setting up of such a new facility.
A leading local insurer has already promised discounts to drivers who take a course similar to the UK’s ‘Pass Plus’. Training for driving on motorways, at night or at ‘open road’ speeds is not currently available to local ‘R’ plate drivers.
JSL Chairman Brett Hammonds said the new partnership of users is "one of the most positive developments at Jurby for years".
He added:
"The IoMKRA kart track will hopefully be the first of many improvements to the facilities at Jurby. JSL’s corporate objective is to reinvest any profit from circuit rentals to, hopefully, enable us to make steady improvements to toilets, parking and other basic facilities."
"However, we don’t have a pile of cash to spend, so it will either take a very long time before Jurby becomes a proper sports and leisure venue – with a strong emphasis on powered sports – or we’ll need some outside investment."
"We look forward to all enquiries for new events and for increased support to enhance this Island-wide facility for everyone’s benefit."