The famous Laxey photograph exhibition of racing pictures through the ages opened its doors for the 10th year running on Saturday.

Organised and put together by former Manx Grand Prix and trials rider Bill Snelling, the exhibition features a range of shots from his photograph archive (FoTTofinders) comprising in total around a quarter of a million images.

’The aim, as ever, is to inform, entertain and amuse,’ said Bill who does not charge an entry fee but donates any money contributed to racing charities.

In addition to the photographs, which try to reflect some of the quirkier side of the racing scene, one corner of the gallery is taken up by the Royal Enfield ridden to a land speed record last year at Bonneville by Maughold resident Ralf Mitchell.

In addition to the photographs, which in many cases are accompanied by an anecdote or some archive information, there pictures on canvas by artist John Hancox and an enormous framed jigsaw to be auctioned off.

Playing at regular intervals during the day on a large screen television in the gallery is fascinating archive film footage of the 1923 TT races.

One of the photographs features the Italian successes at the races in the 1957 TT event with pictures of the winners of the lightweight, ultra-lightweight, junior and senior TT races with the Gilera and Mondial bikes. The same year, Scottish rider Bob McIntyre took the first official racing 100mph lap of the TT course riding the famous Gilera with the dustbin style fairing popular in the period.

The exhibition is open daily, including Mad Sunday, at Laxey Woollen Mills on the first floor in the Hodgson Loom gallery. Parking is plentiful at the back of the mill building but disabled access is limited as the gallery is reached via a staircase.

To find the Woollen Mill head into the village on the Laxey New Road and turn right opposite the petrol station by the Co-op. Go down the hill, over the bridge and the mill is straight ahead. For further information contact Bill at [email protected]