Post Description

The History of the North West 200

What?s in a name?

Many people ask why the North West 200 is called the North West 200. The answer lies in the spawning of the event. History reveals that although the Club?s original choice of name for the race remained, their original choice of venue did not. The name has continued to generate some confusion amongst those who are unaware of the event?s origins. The inclusion of ?200? simply indicates that the event was originally run over a distance of 200 miles. ?North West?, reflects the original intended, location of the race, i.e. on a public roads course in the North West of Ireland.

The North West 200s first organisers could not have imagined how the event would grow over the years. In 1964, the North West 200 event was handed over to the Coleraine & District Motor Club which continues to run the event today. In 2007, around two million people logged on from nearly every part of the world to watch what has become Ireland?s largest sporting event and one of the world?s fastest road races.