History

History of the Isle of Man TT - Part 2


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 Image Loading...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 Image Loading...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 1930’s saw an almost total domination of road racing the likes of which had never been seen before or rarely since.

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