Phil Hogg started his racing career in 1985 on a road going 350 Yamaha at the Isle of Man?s Jurby airfield circuit. In 1986 he gained his National Licence and took part in his first Road Race on the Jurby Road course, finishing in the top half in all races. Near the end of the season, a GSXR 750 Suzuki was supplied by friend and long term sponsor Roy Shirlaw of Shirlaws in Aberdeen.
Phil really started to shine in 1987 including 4 out of 4 in one days racing! He also ventured out onto the Billown Southern 100 Course with some very creditable results. The 1987 Manx Grand Prix saw Phil take to the Mountain Circuit for the Newcomers 750. The race itself saw Colin Gable taking honours with Phil second in a record breaking race.
For 1988 a new GSXR 750 Suzuki and 350 Yamaha had been supplied by Roy Shirlaw and the magnificently painted 1000 Genesis supplied by Mike Smart of Smart Tyres. Phil entered the TT Production 750 and 1000 classes and by the end of practice week, he was in 3rd place on the 1000 lapping at over 111mph. In the actual race, Phil came 21st in the 750 and 17th in the 1000 class. Following on from the TT, Phil?s first major victory came at the Southern 100 when he beat close friend and rival Dave Leach to win the Open class. At the Ulster Grand Prix, he finished in the top ten in the Super Stock class and in the top half in the Open class lapping at over 110mph.
Phil?s finest hour was at the 1988 Manx Grand Prix. Wednesdays Junior turned out to be an eventful race with a spill at Governors Bridge followed by an unscheduled pit stop to check for any damage. Even after this, he came 6th with his fastest lap in excess of 106mph. Friday?s Senior saw Phil starting No. 2 which enabled him to build a good lead over Paul Hunt. At the end of the 1st lap, Phil broke the 20 minute barrier for the MGP recording a time of 19:51.2 and a speed of 114.02mph. The second lap was even quicker and Bungalow to Bungalow was in excess of 116mph. Unfortunately Phil came off at Cronk-Ny-Mona breaking his wrist.
Phil went on to the 1989 TT Races with a Genesis 1000 from Roy Shirlaw and a little 250 TZR Yamaha from Padgett?s. He was also given the opportunity to ride an OWO1 on the Thursday afternoon and completed his second lap at 114mph.
Tragically, Phil died during the Friday morning practice for the 1989 TT when he came off the TZR at Ballagarey in Glen Vine.
That year, his family and many friends provided the finance for the first Phil Hogg Motorsport Rescue Unit ? an Ambulance, converted to carry medical and rescue equipment for motorsport events, the Islands first MSA registered Rally Rescue Ambulance.
The First Hogg Rescue Motorsport Unit
The Bedford.
The Second Hogg Rescue Motorsport Unit
The First Hogg Ambulance
In 1999, Hogg Motorsport were being asked to cover many events that need just an Ambulance. This was mainly bike events. Some events required the use of the Rescue Unit but also an Ambulance. This Ambulance was a purpose built 1993 Ford Transit front line Ambulance.
The Third Hogg Rescue Motorsport Unit
Hogg Rescue was by now doing a lot of duties. It was decided to purchase a new one and with the generous help of the Microgaming Trust along with many other contributors, the new vehicle came into service on Saturday 26 February 2005.
The Second Hogg Ambulance
2006 and Hogg Ambulance was getting tired. It was being used to unload the TT and Manx Grand Prix AirMed Helicopters and the lack of a ramp on the back meant a lot of heavy lifting of stretchers by the crew. With the new Rescue Unit still in everyone's mind, it was decided to get a second, near identical, vehicle to replace the Ambulance. Based on the same design of the Rescue Unit, this vehicle has two stretchers in whereas the Rescue Unit only has one (the rest of the space being used to store the Rescue Equipment). The new vehicle came into action on Thursday 20 April 2006.
2 years ago we were given a Merceded Sprinter Ambulance by the IOM Government Ambulance Service thus increasing our compliment of vehicles to three. This was eventually given FOC to the Jurby Transport Museum as it was the only form of transport they did not have as an example.
As our three vehicles were now over 12 years old we decided to start with a rolling replacement programme over the next 2 to 3 years. In July 2017 we took delivery of a brand new purpose designed and built ambulance from VCS which is a long wheel base Peugeot. Another identical ambulance was deliverd to us in 2018.
