Motorcycling monument to commemorate Temple 100

Motorcycling monument to commemorate Temple 100

2 October 2024

IN January 2017, when the new Temple roundabout opened, Sam McBride and his son Joe saw an opportunity to erect a motorcycle monument and commemorate the legendary Temple 100 Road Races which ran between 1921 and 1999. 

The plan was to erect a motorcycle monument on the roundabout and a commemorative plaque in the adjacent car park, explaining for those who weren’t lucky enough to have attended one of the spectacular Temple 100 race meetings, a little bit of history about the races, the riders and the Temple Club's impressive long history. 

As it happens, the monument is now located within metres from where the very first Temple 100 Road Race set off. 

On September 3, 1921, 10 gallant riders took part in the very first race with a host of spectators keen to egg them on around 12 laps covering 25 miles of the Temple roads. 

It wasn’t until 1922 that the Road Race Act was passed but, by then, the Temple locals had already formed a club and established they would race annually, making the Temple Road Race one of the oldest in the world. 

But Sam and Joe knew it could not be left to the history books alone to remind future generations of those courageous riders who once graced the roads. 

In the adjacent car park to the roundabout, there is a map of the five circuits the Temple 100 was raced on, a deion of the motorcycle monument on the roundabout itself and a tribute to the fallen riders and brief history of the Temple 100.

When the McBrides set the ball rolling and submitted their plan to Lisburn and Castlereagh Council seven years ago, they could not have known that Sam would pass away suddenly in December of that year. 

In his father's absence, Joe vowed to complete the project they had taken on together. He formed the Sam McBride Temple Motorcycle Club charitable trust with some family, friends and members and they set about fundraising for the monument. 

With the support of local businesses and the community, the money was raised and it was decided that the motorcycle monument was to be modelled on that of double world champion Brian Reid. 

The Dromara rider was a great supporter of Temple Club and after recording 15 wins at the Temple, he was fondly nicknamed ‘The Temple Prince’ — Brian seemed the perfect fit for the Temple monument. 

He was delighted with the honour and chose the specific bike to be replicated — his 1992 TZ250cc Yamaha which he rode to victory on at the Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix and at the Temple.

The charitable trust commissioned a piece of solid granite to be carved into an exact replica of the machine, with the five tonne sculpture now proudly sitting in its forever home at the roundabout for people to enjoy.

Last Saturday, Brian and Lynn Reid, along with the families and friends of the fallen riders, veteran Temple 100 racers and Temple Club members were present for the official unveiling of the commemorative sign after the recent motorcycle monument was formally unveiled.

The unveiling of the plaque was moving and poignant and it was the appropriate time to commemorate and remember the eight men who died racing at the Temple 100. 

Each of those lives lost touched so many and it was clear that the respect felt for the riders was immense.

The Temple Road races and all involved will be remembered and immortalised at the Temple roundabout forever and the reaction to the motorcycle monument has been incredibly positive, with neighbours describing it as “first class, monumental, respectful, and impressive”.

Joe McBride and Temple Motorcycle Club trustees worked hard to achieve their goal of preserving and celebrating the glorious Temple 100 Road Races, the riders and the sport of motorcycle racing in Northern Ireland. 

Councillor Uel Mackin and the team at Lisburn and Castlereagh Council were also instrumental in completing the project. 

Without the council's approval, the Sam McBride Trust’s goal could never have been achieved, with the monument and the sign erected in the adjacent car park now in place for all to admire.

Those behind the project are grateful for all the support to bring a piece of local history back to life in the community, with the full history of the Temple 100 available on the Temple Motorcycle Club website and its centenary book.  

Temple Motorcycle and Athletic Club chairman Mark McBride and Joe McBride, chairman of the Sam McBride Temple Club Charitable Trust, were the men who facilitated the completion and delivery and placement of the monument and commemorative plaque and deserve credit for all their hard work. 

The charitable trust now plans to raise funds for the NI Air Ambulance Service and its stellar work in the community and thank everyone who helped realise the original vision of Sam and Joe and hope it brings a touch of respect and nostalgia to the Temple and its epic road racing history.