The Isle of Man is a veritable gearhead's paradise. It's located in the Irish Sea right between England and Ireland, but is its own independent island. Like Monaco (and a few other examples around the world), the Isle of Man has no speed limits. Which could explain, in part at least, why Jeremy Clarkson and Nigel Mansell chose to live there.
The Isle also plays host to the famous Tourist Trophy – commonly known as the TT – an all-out romp through the Manx countryside, covering 1,300 ft of elevation at ludicrous speeds: The first time it was run, in 1907, the race winner's average speed came in around 38 miles per hour. Today? 132 mph, hitting a top speed in excess of 200 mph.
For such a test of testicular fortitude, you're not going to hand out just any chintzy trophy, now are you? Of course not. That's why Anglo-Swiss watchmaker Graham-London – sponsor of the event for the past two years running – was charged to make a special run of timepieces to be awarded to the winners in each of the 18 categories.
The Chronofighter Oversize Tourist Trophy Bi-Compax Chronograph packs a Calibre G1734 automatic movement with built-in shock absorption into a giant 47-mm PVD-coated stainless steel case. The galvanized black face features a 30-minute stopwatch counter styled after a 30-mph speed limit road sign, with the second dial bearing the Triskelion, the Manx coat of arms. It also features a domed, double-anti-reflective sapphire crystal, date indicator, and non-slip guard over the fast-action actuator. Only 211 examples will be made, but none will be as coveted as those 18 handed to the race winners.
[Source: Graham-London]
The Isle also plays host to the famous Tourist Trophy – commonly known as the TT – an all-out romp through the Manx countryside, covering 1,300 ft of elevation at ludicrous speeds: The first time it was run, in 1907, the race winner's average speed came in around 38 miles per hour. Today? 132 mph, hitting a top speed in excess of 200 mph.
For such a test of testicular fortitude, you're not going to hand out just any chintzy trophy, now are you? Of course not. That's why Anglo-Swiss watchmaker Graham-London – sponsor of the event for the past two years running – was charged to make a special run of timepieces to be awarded to the winners in each of the 18 categories.
The Chronofighter Oversize Tourist Trophy Bi-Compax Chronograph packs a Calibre G1734 automatic movement with built-in shock absorption into a giant 47-mm PVD-coated stainless steel case. The galvanized black face features a 30-minute stopwatch counter styled after a 30-mph speed limit road sign, with the second dial bearing the Triskelion, the Manx coat of arms. It also features a domed, double-anti-reflective sapphire crystal, date indicator, and non-slip guard over the fast-action actuator. Only 211 examples will be made, but none will be as coveted as those 18 handed to the race winners.
[Source: Graham-London]
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