In the years prior to the Great War, Britain was
well underway to becoming the world superpower of the motorcycle
industry. There were approximately 200 motorcycle manufacturers
in the UK alone and 200 on the continent. Britain had approximately
180,000 registered motorcycles on the road, while on the roads
of Europe there were around 90,000 registered motorcycles. During
the war, most motorcycle manufacturers ceased production altogether,
many went in to production of miscellaneous war supplies, such
as BSA who went back to their traditional manufacturing of guns.
However, some manufactureres supplied motorcycles for the war
effort, such as Douglas, which was a major supplier and produced
around 70,000 motorcycles. Triumph produced around 30,000 motorcycles
and AJS produced atleast 1100 motorcycles for the war effort.
Immidiately after World War I, the number of motorcycle manufacturers
in Britain fell to 112. Britain was desperately short on materials
as was Europe. Although motorcycles were produced for the war
effort, the industry as a whole came to a near stand still as
did research and development (R&D). Recovery was long and
slow at first but quickly picked up in the following years.
In 1920 there were 260,000 registered motorcycles in the Britain,
compared to only 200,000 cars. However, most motorcycles were
of pre-war design. By 1921, there were over 370,000 registered
motorcycles. This number would continue to grow in the years
to follow.
The 1920 TT races opened with much excitement. However, the
assumption that racing could pick up were it left of, prior
to the war, was a bit presumptive. Although the races came and
went with great fanfare, many issues and problems arose. One
such issue was over part of the Mountain course. Until matters
were solved some 2 years later, the circuit took a slight detour.
The start/finish line was moved again. A new rule was added
by the ACU which stipulated that there must be a minimium of
30 entraints in each race event, for a race to take place.
Because there was virtually no Research and Development (R&D)
done during the war. Many of the motorcycles that showed up
to race were in poor condition, being mostly pre-war models,
with some having been used in the war. The number of entries
was significantly down prior to the war. Nevertheless, for all
the trials and tribulations, the races continued.
A new class was created, the 250cc Lightweight TT, however this
was then joined with the Junior TT, because the number of entraints
in both classes failed to reach the required minimium number
of 30 entraints. The total number of entraints was 24, which
included both classes. However, the race continued irreguardless.
Among the entraints were Eric Williams and Cyril Williams, who
returned in an attempt to repeat or best their performances
of 1914. Both raced their pre-war AJS motorcycles. This time
around, the tides would be turned. Eric Williams set the lap
record, but failed to finish the race. Cyril Williams won the
race, but only by pushing his motorcycle past the finish line.
The Senior TT had only 27 entraints, but this did not stop the
race from taking place. Tommy C. de la Hay won the Senior TT
on a Sunbeam and broke the 80 kmh (50 mph) barrier.
1920 TT |
Junior TT |
|
1. |
Cyril Williams |
AJS |
4:37:57.0s |
65.55 kmh (40.74
mph) |
2. |
J.A. Watson-Bourne |
Blackburne |
4:47:07.0s |
0.00 kmh (0.00 mph) |
3. |
J.S. Holroyd |
Blackburne |
4:47:37.0s |
0.00 kmh (0.00 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1920 TT |
Senior TT |
|
1. |
Tommy C. de la Hay |
Sunbeam |
4:22:23.0s |
83.33 kmh (51.79
mph) |
2. |
Doug M. Brown |
Norton |
4:26:13.0s |
0.00 kmh (0.00 mph) |
3. |
W.R. Brown |
Sunbeam |
4:32:27.0s |
0.00 kmh (0.00 mph) |
|
The 1921 TT saw the return of near pre-war entries, numbering
114. With the war firmly behind and recovery well underway,
R&D was taking place again. From here on out, giant leaps
were made with firm goals being reached and beaten. Suddenly,
the 100 kmh (60 mph) barrier was within reach. With speed came
time, time to beat the 3 hour then 2
hour
time barrier.
For the 1922 TT, the 250cc Lightweight TT became a seperate
addition to the race event. The previous issue regarding the
Mountain Course was cleared up and the circuit was restored
back to its original course, which remains unchanged to date.
The 4 hour time barrier was beaten in all 3 classes. There were
33 entraints in the new Lightweight TT, which was won by Goeff
S. Davison on a Levis. D. Young placed 2nd on his Rex-Acme and
S.J. Jones took 3rd place on his Velocette. The Junior TT was
won by Tom Sheard on his AJS. In 5th place, on a Cotton was
first timer Stanley Woods, who in the years to come, would become
Champion of the TT, 10 times over. In the Senior TT race, Alec
Bennett led the race from start to finish on a Sunbeam and set
a new lap record of 96.52 kmh (59.99 mph).
1922
TT |
Lightweight
TT |
|
1. |
Geoff
S. Davison |
Levis |
3:46:56.8s |
80.27
kmh (49.89 mph) |
2. |
D.
Young |
Rex-Acme |
4.00.17.0s |
0.00
kmh (0.00 mph) |
3. |
S.J.
Jones |
Velocette |
4:01:31.0s |
0.00
kmh (0.00 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1922
TT |
Junior
TT |
|
1. |
Tom
Sheard |
AJS |
3:26:48.2s |
88.09
kmh (54.75 mph) |
5. |
Stanley
Woods |
Cotton |
3:50:33.0s |
0.00
kmh (0.00 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1922 TT |
Senior
TT |
|
1. |
Alec
Bennett |
Sunbeam |
3:53:00.2s |
93.82
kmh (58.31 mph) |
|
The 1923 TT introduced a new and very different class in to
the race event. Originally suggested back in 1920, the suggestion
was thrown out because the press and the manufacturers showed
little enthusiasm, infact they strongly opposed the idea. However,
as motorcycling grew amongst the general populace, so did the
idea of a sidecar attachment to the frame of a motorcycle. It
is partially a cause and effect, thus the concept of sidecar
racing came about. This new class was the 500cc Sidecar TT.
For this intitial race there were 18 entraints. Driver Freddie
W. Dixon won on a Douglas. Although driver Harry Langman retired
from the race early, he set the lap record on his Scott at 88.00
kmh (54.69 mph). Jack A. Porter won the relatively new Lightweight
TT class on his New Gerrard. The soon to become legendary Stanley
Woods took 1st place on his Cotton in the Junior TT. The popular
Jimmy Guthrie competed in his first TT, but retired early from
the race. In the Senior TT, Tom Sheard won on a Douglas in 4:04:33s
at 89.38 kmh (55.55 mph).
1923
TT |
Sidecar
TT |
|
1. |
Freddie
W. Dixon |
Douglas |
2:07:48.0s |
85.52
kmh (53.15 mph) |
2. |
Graham
W. Walker |
Norton |
2:09:26.0s |
0.00
kmh (0.00 mph) |
3. |
George
H. Tucker |
Norton |
2:10:27.0s |
0.00
kmh (0.00 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1923
TT |
Lightweight
TT |
|
1. |
Jack
A. Porter |
New
Gerrard |
4:21:37.0s |
83.56
kmh (51.93 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1923 TT |
Junior
TT |
|
1. |
Stanley
Woods |
Cotton |
4:03:47.0s |
89.69
kmh (55.74 mph) |
43. |
Jimmy
Guthrie |
Matchless |
Retired |
0.00
kmh (0.00 mph) |
|
The 1924 TT introduced yet another new class. This was the 175cc
Ultra-Lightweight TT class. There were 17 entraints in this
new class. Jack A. Porter migrated to this class with his New
Gerrard and won in 2:12:40.4s at 82.4 kmh (51.21 mph). Driver
George H. Tucker, moved up from 3rd place the previous year
to win the Sidecar TT on his Norton in 2:56:34.2s at 82.56 kmh
(51.31 mph). The Lightweight was won by Edwin Twemlow on his
New Imperial in 4:05:03.0s at 89.2 kmh (55.44 mph) and Kenneth
Twemlow won the
Junior
TT on his New Imperial in 4:04:49.0s at 89.59 kmh (55.68 mph).
For the first time ever, the 60 mph barrier had been broken
by Jimmy H. Simpson, but he retired early from the race. This
was the first of his many fastest lap records, but rarely did
he cross the finish line, retiring from more races than those
he completed. Because of his incredible feats and numerous lap
records, a trophy has been named after him. The Senior TT had
each of the top 3 riders placing over 96.54 kmh (60 mph). Alec
Bennett won this class for a second time. He won on a Norton
in 3:40:24.6s at 99.18 kmh (61.64 mph).
The 1925 TT was to be the last year for the Sidecar TT race,
do to lack of popularity by the number of entraints in to the
race. However, on the continent, Sidecar racing was fast becoming
a popular sport, both in the number of entraints and as a spectator
sport. This would climax in the 1930's and would not see such
popularity for a number of years thereafter. At the IoM TT,
the Sidecar TT race would not return until 1954. First time
Sidecar TT driver, Len Parker won on a Douglas. Driver A.E.
Taylor moved up from a retired 17th position in 1923 and a retired
9th position in 1924 to take 2nd place on his Norton.
This was also the last year for the Ultra-Lightweight TT class,
which like the Sidecar TT failed to reach the required number
of entraints, achieving only 7 entries. In the following year,
this class would be once again be combined with the Lightweight
TT. Wal L. Handley won the Ultra-Lightweight TT on a Rex-Acme
and then went on to win the Junior TT. The Lightweight TT was
won, once again by Edwin Twemlow becoming the first ever to
win the same class, back to back. He took victory again on his
New Imperial beating his previous time by almost 15 minutes.
The Senior TT was won by Howard R. Davis, his second win in
this class since his tie for 2nd back in 1914. He rode an HRD
this time around, in 3:25:25.8s with an average speed of 106.4
kmh (66.13mph).
1925
TT |
Sidecar
TT |
|
1. |
Len
Parker |
Douglas |
2:44:01.8s |
88.85
kmh (55.22 mph) |
2. |
A.E.
Taylor |
Norton |
2:45.58.0s |
87.8
kmh (54.57 mph) |
3. |
G.
Grinton |
Norton |
2:46:45.0s |
87.38
kmh (54.31 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1925
TT |
Ultra-Lightweight
TT |
|
1. |
Wal
L. Handley |
Rex-Acme |
2:49:27.0s |
86
kmh (53.45 mph) |
2. |
C.W.
Johnston |
Cotton |
2:55:54.0s |
83.4
kmh (52.08 mph) |
3. |
Jack
A. Porter |
New
Gerrard |
2:57:40.0s |
82.03
kmh (50.98 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1925
TT |
Lightweight
TT |
|
1. |
Edwin
Twemlow |
New
Imperial |
3:55:18.0s |
92.9
kmh (57.74 mph) |
|
|
|
|
|
1925
TT |
Junior
TT |
|
1. |
Wal
L. Handley |
Rex-Acme |
3:28:56.4s |
104.62
kmh (65.02 mph) |
|
The highlights of the 1926 TT witnessed Jimmy H. Simpson on
his AJS break the 70 mph barrier with the fastest lap, but he
retired early from the race. The Senior TT was won by Stanley
Woods for the second time. For the first time of many, he rode
his Norton to victory in 3:54:39.8s at 108.67 kmh (67.54 mph).
Alec Bennett won the Junior TT on a Velocette and C.W. Johnston
took 1st place in the Lightweight TT on a Cotton.
Over the next several years, the IoM TT races saw quicker lap
times and an increase in speed. In 1927, Archie Birkin was killed
during practice just outside the village of Kirk Michael at
mile 15. Now called Birkins Bend, it is a popular location for
spectators.
During these years, Britain was, by now the well established
superpower of the motorcycle industry. There were umpteen different
motorcycle manufacturers in the UK alone. Marquees such as AJS,
BSA, Matchless, Norton, Triumph and Velocette, etc., were all
very popular. On the horizon, from the continent, several marquees
such as BMW, DKW, Gilera and Moto-Guzzi were coming in to being.
With the exception of the Isle of Man TT races, road racing
for the most part had moved off the open circuit public roads
to an increasing number of dedicated closed circuit race courses.
By the mid-late '30s, asphalt was being used on many races courses
along with an increasing number of roads. Race courses such
as Monza (1921), Assen (1925), Nurburgring (1925), Brands Hatch
(1926), Automotodrom Brno (1930), Hockenheimring (1932) and
Donnington Park (1930's) opened during this time. Across the
pond, Daytona held its first race in 1937 on a beach between
sand dunes.
Behind the scenes, the research and development (R&D) of
motorcycles and the racing of, achieved great strides and had
come along way from the early years. Norton, by this time had
already made a statement within the world of racing. However,
this was about to change as Norton was about to become a force
to be reckoned with. The 1930s saw an almost total domination
of road racing the likes of which had never been seen before
or rarely since.