Isle of Man TT
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The Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man since 1907. The race is run on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald the parliament of the Isle of Man. The first race was held on the 28th May 1907 over 10 laps of the St. John's "Short Course" of 15 miles 1,470 yards for road-legal touring motor-cycles with exhaust silencers, saddles, pedals and mud-guards.
The winner of the single-cylinder class and overall winner of the first event in 1907 was Charlie Collier riding a Matchless motor-cycle in a time of 4 hours, 8 minutes and 8 seconds at an average speed of 38.21 mph. The winner of the twin-cylinder class was Rem Fowler riding a Peugeot engined Norton motorcycle in a time of 4 hours 21 minutes and 52 seconds at an average speed of 36.21 mph.
The trophy presented to Charlie Collier as the winner of the 1907 race was donated by the Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars. It featured a silver figurine of the Olympic God Hermes astride a winged wheel. The trophy was similar in design to the Montague Trophy presented to the winner of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy car race. The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars trophy is now presented annually to the winner of the Isle of Man Senior TT Motor-Cycle Race.
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[edit] Race History
Motor racing began on the Isle of Man in 1904 with the Gordon Bennett car trials and were originally restricted to touring automobiles. As the Motor Car Act of 1903 an Act of Parliament placed a speed restriction of 20 mph on automobiles the Secretary of the Automobile Car Club of Britain and Ireland approached the authorities in the Isle of Man for the permission to race automobiles on public roads. The Highways (Light Locomotive) Act 1904 gave permission in the Isle of Man for the 52.15 mile "Highlands" course for the 1904 Gordon Bennett Car Trial.
For the 1905 Gordon Bennett Car event it was decided to run a trial for motor-cycles the day after for a team to represent Great Britain in the International Motor-Cycle Cup Races. An accident at Ramsey Hairpin forced-out one of the pre-race favourites and the inability of the motor-cycle competitors to climb the steep Mountain Section of the course forced the organisers to use a 25 mile section of the Gordon Bennett Trial course. This ran from Douglas south to Castletown and then north to Ballacraine along the A3 primary road, but returned to the start at Douglas via Colby and Glen Vine along the current TT Course in the reverse direction. The event was won by J.S. Campbell in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 36 seconds.
During the 1906 International Cup for Motor-Cycles held in Austria, the event was plagued by accusations of cheating and sharp practices. During a conversation on the train journey home between the Secretary of the Auto-Cycle Club, Freddie Straight, the Collier brothers of the Matchless Motor-Cycles and the Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars lead to a suggestion for a race the following year for road touring motor-cycles based on the automobile races held in the Isle of Man on closed public roads. The new race was proposed by the Editor of "The Motor-Cycle" Magazine at the annual dinner of the Auto-Cycle Club held in London on the 17th January 1907. It was proposed that the races would run in two classes with single-cylinder machines to average 90 mpg and twin-cylinder machines to average 75 mpg fuel consumption. To emphasise the road touring nature of the motor-cycles there where regulations for saddles, pedals, mudguards and exhaust silencers.
For the 1908 race the fuel consumption was raised to 100 mpg for single-cylinder machines and 80 mpg for twin-cylinder machines and the use of pedals was banned. The race was won by Jack Marshall on a Triumph Motorcycles at an average speed of 40.49 mph. For the 1909 event the fuel consumption regulations was abandoned along with the use of exhaust silencers. The single-cylinder machines where limited to a capacity of 500cc and the twin-cylinder machines to a 750cc engine capacity. Due to the concern over increasing lap-speed, the 1910 event saw the capacity of the twin-cylinder machines reduced to 670cc. However, Harry Bowen riding a BAT twin-cylinder motor-cycle increased the lap record to an average speed of 53.15 mph, later crashing-out of the 1910 event on the wooden banking at Ballacraine.
[edit] Mountain Course
The first TT race over the Snaefell mountain course took place in 1911. This was followed in 1923 with the introduction of the Manx Amateur Motorcycle Road Races - a race originally reserved for amateurs and raced on the same Mountain Course. In 1930 it changed its name to the Manx Grand Prix.
For the 1911 event two separate races where introduced. A four lap Junior TT Race for 300cc single-cylinder and 340cc twin cylinder motor-cycles. The 1911 Senior TT Race was open for 500cc single-cylinder and 585cc twin-cylinder motor-cycles and was contested over 5 laps of the new 37.5 mile Mountain Course. The first event on the new course was the Junior TT Race and was contested by 35 entrants. It was won by Percy J. Evans riding a Humber motor-cycle in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 7 seconds at an average speed of 41.45 mph.
The new technical challenges of the Mountain Course forced changes on entrants and motor-cycle manufacturers alike. The American Indian Motor-Cycle factory fitted a two-speed gearbox and chain-drive. This proved to be the winning combination when Oliver Godfrey won the 1911 Isle of Man Senior TT riding an Indian in 3 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds at an average speed of 47.63 mph. In contrast the Matchless motor-cycles where fitted with a six-speed belt drive and Charlie Collier riding a Matchless motor-cycle finished second in the 1911 Senior TT race but was later disqualified for illegal refuelling. During practice for the 1911 race Victor Surridge died after crashing his Rudge motor-cycle at Glen Helen.
For the 1912 event the single and twin cylinder classes where combined with a 350cc capacity limit for the Junior TT and a 500cc capacity for motor-cycles for the Senior TT race. In 1913 Major Tommy Loughborough replaced Freddie Straight as secretary of the Auto-Cycle Club and promptly decided to make the races more difficult. The Junior and Senior races where to be run in sections. The Junior TT race was divided into two races of two and four laps and the Senior TT race consisted of a three lap race followed by a four lap race combined with the Junior TT event. In 1914 the Junior TT was reduced to 5 laps and the start-line moved to the top of Bray Hill to increase paddock space of the competitors. The use of crash-helmets was made compulsory. The 1914 Junior TT was held in heavy rain and mist on the Mountain Section of the course and was won by Eric Williams riding an AJS motor-cycle in 4 hours, 6 minutes and 50 seconds at an average speed of 45.58 mph. The race was marred by the death of Frank Walker riding a Rudge motor-cycle who had been leading until a puncture on the third-lap. In the following pursuit of the leaders he fell twice and on the last-lap over-shot the finish line in Ballanard Road and crashed into a wooden barrier placed across the road.
[edit] The 1920's
Motor-Cycle racing in the Isle of Man did not restart after the end of the First World War until 1920. Changes where made to the Snaefell mountain course and competitors now turned left at Cronk-ny-Mona and followed the primary A18 road to Governors Bridge with a new start/finish line on Glencrutchery Road which lengthened the course to 37 ¾ miles.
The 1920 Junior TT Race included for the first time a new Lightweight class for motor-cycles of 250cc engine capacity. The 1920 Junior TT Race was intially led by Eric Williams the winner of the 1914 Junior TT Race riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle and set a new Junior TT lap record of 44 minutes and 6 seconds an average speed of 51.36 mph. A mechanical retirement for Eric Williams allowed Cyril Williams also riding a Sunbeam to build up an impressive lead of 20 minutes. However, Cyril Williams hit transmission problems at Keppel Gate and free-wheeled and pushed the last few miles to win by a margin of 9 minutes and 50 seconds from J.A.Watson-Bourne riding for Blackburne motor-cycles in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds at an average race speed of 40.74 minutes. The lighweight class of the 1920 Junior TT race was won by R.O Clarke riding a Levis and he may have won the event overall but crashed at the 33rd Milestone on the last lap, finishing fourth overall. The 6 lap (226.38 mile) 1920 Senior TT Race was won by Tommy de la Hay riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle at an average race speed of 51.79 mph from local Isle of Man competitor Doug Brown riding a Norton. A new lap record was set by George Dance riding a Sunbeam of 40 mintues and 43 seconds an average speed of 55.62 mph in the 1920 Senior TT Race.
Despite AJS motor-cycle filling the first five places of the 1921 Junior TT Races it was punctures that had decided the race outcome. Eventual winner of the 1921 Junior TT Race was Eric Willimas riding an AJS motor-cycle in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 23 seconds an average race speed of 52.10 mph. The race was intially led by Howard R.Davies also riding for AJS and set a new lap record for the 1921 Junior TT Race of 41 minutes and 4 seconds an average speed of 55.15 mph. Time lost mending a puncture at the Windy Corner by Howard Davies gave the lead to Jim Whalley riding a Massey-Arran motor-cycle. On the last lap Jim Whalley also punctured at the Windy Corner and finished the 1921 Junior TT Race in fifth place. More drama was to follow in the 1921 Senior TT Race as the race lead changed every lap between Alec Bennett riding a Sunbeam, Freddie W.Dixon riding an Indian and Freddie Edmond riding a Triumph motor-cycle who set a new lap record of 40 minutes and 8 seconds an average speed of 56.40 mph. The 1921 Senior TT race was eventually won by Howard Davies riding a 350cc Junior TT Race motor-cycle by a margin of 2 minutes and 3 seconds from Freddie Dixon and Hubert Le Vack in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 22 seconds at an average race speed of 54.49 mph.
For 1922 the ACU introduced for 250cc motor-cycle a Lightweight TT race and the first winner was Geoff S.Davison riding a Levis motor-cycle at an average race speed of 49.89 and a lap record for the Lightweight TT class by Walter Handley in 44 minutes and 24 seconds an average speed of 51.00 mph. The 1922 Junior TT Race was won by local Isle of Man competitor Tom M.Sheard riding an AJS motor-cycle at an average race speed of 54.75 mph. Despite crashing twice, a broken exhaust and a fire in the pits, Stanley Woods riding a Cotton (motorcycle) managed to finish in 5th place in the 1922 Junior TT Race. In the 1922 Senior TT Race, Alex Bennett riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle led all 6 laps from start to finish to win by a margin of 7 minutes and 22 seconds from Walter Brandish riding a Triumph in 3 hours and 53 minutes at an average race speed of 58.31 mph
More changes to the course followed in 1923 with the adoption of a private road between Parliament Square and May Hill in Ramsey. The course had previously had negotiated Albert Road and Tower Road in Ramsey and the new course length was now 37.73 miles. Part of the Snaefell mountain course was named 'Brandish' after Walter Brandish crashed at a corner between Creg-na-Baa and Hillberry and broke a leg.
The first Side-Car race was held in 1923 over 3 laps (113 miles) of the TT course and was won by Freddie Dixon and passenger Walter Perry with a special Douglas banking-sidecar in a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds at an average speed of 53.15 mph. The Senior TT Race of 1923 was held in poor weather and local course knowledge allowed local Isle of Man competitor Tom Sheard riding a Douglas motor-cycle to win his second TT Race to add to his first win in the 1922 Junior TT Race on an AJS motor-cycle. Another first-time winner of a TT race in 1923 was Stanley Woods riding to victory in the Junior TT Race on a Cotton (motorcycle). In 1924 an Ultra-Lightweight TT Race was introduced for motor-cycles of 175cc engine capacity following the introduction of a Lightweight TT Race in 1922. The 1924 Ultra-Lightweight TT was allowed to begin with a massed-start for competitors rather than pairs for the normal time-trial format of the Isle of Man TT Races. The first winner of the Ultra-Lightweight TT in 1924 was Jock Porter riding a New Gerrard motor-cycle at average speed of 51.20 mph.
In the Junior TT Race of 1924 was won by Ken Twemlow on a New Imperial motor-cycle at an average speed of 55.67 mph. In the same Junior TT Race of 1924 Jimmy Simpson set a new lap record of 35 minutes and 5 seconds at an average speed of 64.54 mph on an AJS motor-cycle the first lap above the 60 mph average speed barrier. The Lightweight TT and the Senior TT Races of 1924 where run in conjunction and Eddie Twemlow (the brother to Ken Twemlow) riding a New Imperial motor-cycle won the 6 lap race in 4 hours, 5 minutes and 3 seconds an average speed of 55.44 mph. The Senior TT Race of 1924 like the Junior TT Race of the same year was also run at record breaking pace and was the first with a race average speed over 60 mph and 6 lap race was won by Alec Bennett riding a Norton motor-cycle in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 24.6 seconds with an average speed of 61.64 mph.
After numerous retirements in 1924, Wal Handley won the 1925 Junior TT Race over 6 laps of the Mountain Course for Rex-Acme motor-cycles at an average speed of 65.02 mph. Later in the week Walter Handley became the first TT rider to win two races in a week when he won the 4 lap Ultra-Lighweight TT Race again on a Rex-Acme motor-cycle setting a race record at an average speed of 53.45 mph and a new lap-record of 41 minutes and 52 seconds an average speed of 54.12 mph. During the 1925 Lighweight TT Race, Walter Hadley led the first two laps by over two minutes from C.W. 'Paddy' Johnston riding a Cotton but a puncture caused Handley to slip-off his motor-cycle at Signpost Corner. The 1925 Lightweight TT Race was eventually won By Eddie Twemlow on a New Imperial moto-cycle at an average speed of 57.74 mph from 'Paddy' Johnstone and brother Ken Twemlow riding a New Imperial. The 1925 Senior TT Race was sensationally won by Howard Davis while competing against the works teams with a motor-cycle of his own manufacture a HRD Motorcycles in 3 hours, 25 minutes and 8 seconds at an average speed of 66.13 mph. A new lap record was again posted by Jimmy Simpson in 32 minutes and 50 seconds an average speed of 68.97 mph on an AJS motor-cycle but again retired from the 1925 Senior TT Race.
Further changes occurred in 1926 with the scrapping of the Side-Car and Ultra-Lightweight TT Races from the lack of entries. Most of the TT Course had now been tarmacked including the Snaefell Mountain Section. Another change in 1926 was the ban on alcohol based fuels forcing competitors to use road petrol. Despite these changes the prestige of the Isle of Man TT Races had encouraged the Italian motor-cycle manufacturers Bianchi, Garelli and Moto Guzzi to enter. The 7 lap (264.11 miles) 1926 Junior TT Races was won by Alec Bennett riding a 350cc overhead-camshaft Velocette motor-cycle in 3 hours, 57 minutes and 37 seconds at an average speed of 66.70 mph. The 1926 Lightweight TT Race produced one of the most notorious events in the history of the Isle of Man TT Races described by the "The Motor-Cycle" Magazine as the "Guzzi Incident." The Italian rider Pietro Ghersi was excluded from second place for using a different sparking-plug in the engine of his Moto Guzzi. Despite the competition from the Italian marques the 1926 Lighweight TT Race was won by 'Paddy' Johnston riding a Cotton motor-cycle in 4 hours, 23 minutes and 16 seconds at an average speed of 60.24 mph for the 7 lap race. The 1926 Senior TT Race was less controversial and was won by Stanley Woods riding for Norton for the first-time by 4 minutes from Wal Handley. The 1926 Senior TT Race produced the first 70 mph lap and was again set by Jimmy Simpson on an AJS motor-cycle in 32 minutes and 9 seconds an average speed of 70.43 mph.
More changes occurred in 1927 with a fatal accident during practice to Archie Birkin a brother to Tim Birkin of the Bentley Boys fame. The corner in Kirk Michael where the accident occurred was renamed Birkins Bend and from 1928 practice sessions where held on closed-roads. The 1927 Junior TT Race a retirement for Wal Handley on the last-lap handed the victory to Freddie Dixon riding a HRD motor-cycle winning at an average speed of 67.19 mph. In 1927 Lightweight TT Race, Wal Handley won the 7 lap race in 4 hours 10 minutes and 23 seconds at an average speed of 63.30 mph. A slipping clutch for Stanley Woods in the 1927 Senior TT Race riding a new over-head camshaft Norton allowed team-mate Alex Bennett to win at an average speed of 68.41 mph.
The newly developed 'positive-stop' foot gear-change by Velocette gave Alex Bennett his fifth TT Race win in the 1928 Junior TT Race in 3 hours, 50 minutes and 52 seconds at an average speed of 68.65 mph from his team-mate Harold Willis and a lap record at an average speed of 67.19 mph. The 1928 Lightweight TT Race was led from start to finish by Frank Longman on an OK-Supreme motor-cycle at an average speed of 62.87 mph. In contrast the 1928 Senior TT Race was held in heavy rain and mist. The bad race conditions produced many retirements and a slow average speed. The eventual winner of the 1928 Senior TT Race was Charlie Dodson riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle in 4 hours, 11 minutes and 40 seconds at an average speed of 62.98 mpg.
In 1929 the Velocette marque that had high expectations of another win in the Junior TT Race. Despite early leaders Alex Bennett riding a Velocette and Wal Handley riding an AJS motor-cycle it was Freddie Hicks that led from the third lap and won the 1929 Junior TT Race at a record average speed of 69.71 mph and setting a new race lap record of 31 minutes and 5 seconds an average speed of 70.95 mph. As with 1928 TT Race meeting the 1929 Lightweight TT Race produced another first-time winner with Syd Crabtree on an Excelsior motor-cycle. The 1929 Lightweight TT Race was led for 5 laps by Pietro Ghersi on a Motor Guzzi competing in his first TT race since the disqualification in the 'Guzzi Incident' of 1926. Despite Pietro Ghersi setting the fastest lap at an average speed of 66.63 mph, engine failure gave the win to Syd Crabtree. During the 1929 Senior TT Race a number of riders crashed at Greeba Castle after Wal Handley clipped the hedge and crashed. This included Jimmy Simpson, Jack Amott riding for Rudge and Doug Lamb who latter died of his injuries on the way to Nobles Hospital. The early leader of the 1929 Senior TT Race was H.G.Tyrell Smith riding a Rudge but crashed on 3 lap at Glen Helen. Despite cracked-ribs, Tyrell Smith continued but could not match the pace of the new leader Percy 'Tim' Hunt riding a Norton motor-cycle. From lap 5 Charlie Dodson riding a Sunbeam replaced Tim Hunt as the leader setting a overall lap record of 30 minutes and 47 seconds an average of 73.55 mph. In better weather conditions than 1928 Charlie Dodson completed a Senior TT double by winning the 7 lap (264.11 miles) 1929 Senior TT Race in 3 hours, 39 minutes and 59 seconds at an average speed of 72.05 mph.
[edit] The 1930's
The 1930 Junior Race TT was dominated by the Rudge marque and Tyrrel Smith winning the 7 lap race at an average speed of 71.08 mph from Rudge team-mates Ernie Nott and Graham Walker. The 1930 Lightweight TT Race provided a first-time win for Jimmie Guthrie riding an AJS motor-cycle in 4 hours, 4 minutes and 56 seconds at average race speed of 64.71 mph. Despite the poor weather conditions and heavy rain in the last two laps, the 1930 Senior TT Race was again won by Rudge with Wal Handley becoming the first TT rider to win in all three major TT Race classes at an average race speed of 74.24 mph.
The 1931 TT Race meeting was again dominated by the battle between Rudge and Norton motor-cycles. The 1931 Junior TT Race was won by Tim Hunt riding for Norton, in 3 hours 34 minutes and 21 seconds, at an average race speed of 73.94 mph, from Norton team-mates Jimmie Guthrie, and Ernie Nott riding a Rudge motor-cycle. The 1931 Lightweight TT provided a first and only win for Graham Walker riding a Rudge at an average race speed of 68.98 mph. The 1931 Senior TT Race provided Tim Hunt with a popular Junior/Senior double win in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 28 seconds for the 7 lap (264.11 mile) race at an average race speed of 77.90 mph. The winner of the 1929 Junior Race, Freddie Hicks crashed on lap 5 at Union Mills and was killed. The 1931 Senior TT Race also produced the first 80 mph lap by Jimmy Simpson on a Norton motor-cycle in 28 minutes and 1 seconds an average speed of 80.82 mph.
The 1932 TT Race meeting was watched by Prince George, Duke of Kent the first royal visitor to the Isle of Man TT Races. The 1932 Junior TT Race was won by Stanley Woods riding a Norton at an average race speed of 77.16 mph from Wal Handley and Tyrell Smith riding for the Rudge factory. Again Rudge where beaten in the 1932 Lightweight TT Race by Leo H.Davenport riding a New Imperial motor-cycle at an average race speed of 70.48 mph. The 1932 Senior TT Race provided Stanley Woods with the "Norton Habit" and another Junior/Senior double win at an average race speed of 79.38 mph. The 1932 Senior TT Race was initially led on the first lap by Norton teammate Jimmy Simpson who set a new overall lap record of 27 minutes and 47 seconds at an average speed of 81.50 mph. Also on the first lap Wal Handley riding for Rudge crashed at the 11th Milestone sustaining a back injury and retired. The place on the TT Course where the incident occured was renamed Handley's Corner.
The winning ways continued into 1933 with Stanley Woods winning the 1933 Junior TT Race at an average speed of 78.08 mph and Norton filling the first three places with Tim Hunt and Jimmie Guthrie. The 1933 Lightweight TT Race was not contested by Norton and the winner was Syd Gleave riding an Excelsior motor-cycle at an average speed of 71.59 mph. Fellow team-mate Frank Longman the winner of the 1928 Lightweight TT Race crashed at Glentrammon Corner and during the same race and died later of his injuries in hospital. The 1933 Senior TT Race gave Stanley Woods another Junior/Senior double win. The 7 lap (264.11 mile) race was completed in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 35 secongs at an average race speed of 81.04 mph and the works Norton's taking the first four places along with Jimmy Simpson, Tim Hunt and Jimmie Guthrie.
In 1934, despite the winning of four TT Races in 2 years, Stanley Woods parted with Norton motor-cycles over the issue of prize money and joined Husqvarna along with Ernie Nott. The 1934 Junior TT Race was won by Jimmie Guthrie riding for Norton at an average race speed of 79.16 mph from Jimmy Simpson and Ernie Nott a distant third riding for the Husqvarna marque. During the first lap of the 1934 Lightweight Race, Syd Crabtree, the winner of the 1929 Lightweight Race crashed at the Stonebreakers Hut on the Mountain Section and was killed. The 1934 Lightweight TT Race was won by Jimmy Simpson riding a Rudge motor-cycle in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 10 seconds at an average race speed of 70.81 mph. The 1934 Lightweight TT Race provided Rudge with another 1-2-3 win since the 1930 Junior TT Race and Jimmy Simpson's only TT Race victory winning from team-mates Ernie Nott and Graham Walker taking 2nd and 3rd places. The 1934 Senior TT Race was led by Stanley Woods riding for Husqvarna but retired on the Mountain Section on the last lap after running-out of fuel. This handed a Junior/Senior double win to Jimmie Guthrie riding the works Norton at an average speed of 78.01 mph from Jimmy Simpson riding a Norton in his last TT Race and Walter Rusk with a Velocette.
For the 1935 TT Races, Stanley Woods provided another surprise by moving to Moto Guzzi. The 1935 Junior TT Race provided a Junior TT double win for Jimmie Guthrie at an average race speed of 79.14 mph and Norton with a 1-2-3 race win for Walter Rusk and John H. "Crasher" White filling 2nd and 3rd places. The 1935 Lightweight TT Race was a debut event for the Italian Omobono Tenni. It was team-mate Stanley Woods that led the 1935 Lightweight TT Race from start-to-finish at an average race speed of 71.56 mph from the chasing Tyrell Smith and Ernie Nott both riding for Rudge motor-cycles. The 1935 Senior TT Race was postponed to the next day due to poor weather. Despite the delay, the race produced one of the most dramatic TT races. The race was led away by Jimmie Guthrie at number 1 and Stanley Woods starting at number 30 had a 15 minute wait. By the last lap of the 1935 Senior TT Race, Jimmie Guthrie had built-up a lead of 26 seconds. As the Moto Guzzi pit-attendents made preparations for Stanley Woods to refuel on the last-lap, the Norton pit-crew signalled to Guthrie to easy the pace on the last lap. Stanley Woods riding for Moto Guzzi went straight through the TT Grandstand area without stopping on the last lap and set a new overall lap record of 26 minutes and 10 seconds an average speed of 86.53 mph. Despite the Norton team telephoning the signal-station at Ramsey on the last lap to indicate to Jimmie Guthrie to speed-up the pace, Stanley Woods won the 1935 Senior TT Race by 4 seconds from Jimmie Guthrie in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 10 seconds at an average speed of 84.68 mph.
[edit] Post War
Racing did not return to the Isle of Man and the Snaefell mountain course until September 1946 with the Manx Grand Prix. In 1957 the TT races were headlined when the late Bob McIntyre recorded the first 100 mph (161 km/h) lap, riding his Italian Gilera. Two years later, a new racing team, Honda of Japan, participated in the 125 cc race.
From 1949 to 1976 the race was part of the Motorcycling World Championship and was the home of the British Grand Prix until 1976. The event came under increasing scrutiny due to safety concerns despite efforts by the ACU to retain its world championship status. When Italian rider Gilberto Parlotti was killed during the 1972 TT, his close friend and the reigning world champion Giacomo Agostini, announced that he would never again race at the Isle of Man. More riders joined Agostini's boycott and by the 1976 season, only a handful of serious Grand Prix riders were among the entrants. Shortly after the 1976 TT, the FIM made the long-anticipated announcement. The TT, once the most prestigious race on the Grand Prix calendar, was stripped of its world championship status. The Grand Prix action was moved to the mainland with the 1977 British Grand Prix being held at Silverstone.
Today, the premier TT racing bikes are streamlined, technological wonders that complete the Snaefell course at an average speed exceeding 120 mph (193 km/h). Record holders include the late David Jefferies who set a then lap record of 127.29 mph (204.81 km/h) in 2002. This was surpassed by John McGuinness during the 2004 TT on a Yamaha R1 setting a time of 17 min 43.8 s equalling an average lap speed of 127.68 mph (205.43 km/h). McGuinness lowered this even further at the 2006 TT, setting a time of 17:29.26 for an average speed of 129.451 mph (208.33 km/h). The most successful rider was the late Joey Dunlop who won 26 times in various classes from 1977 to 2000.
[edit] Description
The Oxford Companion to World Sports and Games notes, "The oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use is the Snaefell mountain course over which the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races are run. Starting at the town of Douglas on the south-east coast, the course takes a wide sweep to the west and north to enter the town of Ramsey on the north-east coast and thence return to the starting point, each lap measuring 37 3/4 miles (60.7 km) and taking in over 200 bends while climbing from sea level to an altitude of over 1,300 ft (396 m). This circuit is the epitome of the natural road course, all the roads used being ordinary public highways closed for the racing and practice sessions".
Traditionally held in the last week of May and the first week of June, the TT races create a carnival atmosphere. Picnicking crowds flanking the circuit are reminiscent of the community festivals that are part of another form of cycle racing in a different country - the Tour de France.
During the TT Festival it is difficult to travel across or around the island because of the road closures. There is a TT access road in Douglas that gives access to the centre of the mountain course during the event.
The future of the TT is always in doubt with regards to the safety, especially "Mad Sunday" when any member of the public can attempt to race on the course. The TT races are extremely dangerous because of the high speeds on very narrow, twisting streets, roads and lanes flanked by stone walls and even buildings. Between 1907 and 2006 there have been 223 deaths (this number includes the riders killed during the Manx Grand Prix).
In 2007 the TT will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
[edit] The races
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1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | World War I | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | World War II | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 Cancelled | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
[edit] Total overall race winners
| Rider | Wins |
|---|---|
| Joey Dunlop | 26 |
| Mike Hailwood | 14 |
| Steve Hislop, Dave Molyneux, Phillip McCallen, John McGuinness | 11 |
| Giacomo Agostini, Rob Fisher, Stanley Woods | 10 |
| Mick Boddice, David Jefferies, Siegfried Schauzu, Charlie Williams, Dave Saville | 9 |
| Jim Moodie, Chas Mortimer, Phil Read | 8 |
| Mick Grant, Tony Rutter, Ian Lougher | 7 |
| Geoff Duke, Jimmie Guthrie, Jim Redman, John Surtees | 6 |
| Robert Dunlop, Brian Read, Carlo Ubbiali, Alec Bennett, Bruce Anstey | 5 |
| John Williams, Tarquinio Provini, Freddie Frith, Barry Smith, Dave Leach, Ray Pickrell, Bill Smith, Walter Handley, Klaus Enders, Jock Taylor, Trevor Ireson | 4 |
| Adrian Archibald, Ian Simpson, Simon Beck, Carl Fogarty, Ray Amm, Luigi Taveri, Tom Herron, Bob McIntyre, Tony Jefferies, Alan Jackson jnr, Alex George, Dave Morris, Rob McElnea, Graeme Crosby, Harold Daniell, Phil Mellor, Barry Woodland, Barry Smith, Rolf Steinhausen, Walter Schneider, Max Deubel, Nick Crowe | 3 |
| Ryan Farquhar, Shaun Harris, Iain Duffus, Chris Palmer, Charlie R Collier, Cecil Sandford, Fergus Anderson, Hugh Anderson, Edwin Twemlow, Manliffe Barrington, Fergus Anderson, Kel Carruthers, Con Law, Eric Williams, Tom Sheard, Percy [Tim] Hunt, Malcolm Uphill, Charlie J P Dodson, Howard R Davies, Bill Lomas, Eddie Laycock, John Hartle, Artie Bell, Gary Hocking, John Hartle, Jack A Porter, Hugh Anderson, Trevor Nation, Fritz Hillebrand, Dick Greasley, Lowry Burton, Geoff Bell | 2 |
| Michael Rutter, Nick Jefferies, Harry A Collier, Harry Reed, Jack Marshall, Rem Fowler, Cromie McCandless, R Les Graham, Steve Abbott, Dario Ambrosini, F A Applebee, Ken Arber, HR [Reg] Armstrong, Georg Auerbacher, Ross Williams, Peter Williams, Paul Williams, Cyril Williams, M Lockwood, Ken T Kavanagh, Ray Knight, Ewald Kluge, F A Applebee, Georg ["Schorsch"] Meier, Brian Morrison, Johnny Rea, Oliver Godfrey, H O [Tim] Wood, Frank Whiteway, Cyril G Pullin, Tommy C de la Hay, Norman Brown, Trevor Burgess, Ralph Bryans, Roger Burnett, Jack Findlay, Phil Carpenter, Dave Croxford, Graham Penny, Ernst Degner, Mitsui Itoh, L Stuart Graham, Ron Haslam, Bill Simpson, Martyn Sharpe, Keith Martin, Tony Rogers, Omobono Tenni | 1 |
[edit] Current lap records
| Category | Rider(s) | Bike | Year | Time | Average speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OUTRIGHT | John McGuinness | Honda CBR1000 Fireblade | 2006 | 17:29.26 | 129.45 mph |
| TT Superbike | John McGuinness | Honda CBR1000 Fireblade | 2006 | 17:41.71 | 127.933 mph |
| Junior TT | John McGuinness | Honda CBR600RR | 2006 | 18:15.61 | 123.975 mph |
| Senior TT | John McGuinness | Honda CBR1000 Fireblade | 2006 | 17:29.26 | 129.45 mph |
| TT Superstock | Adrian Archibald | Suzuki GSX-R 1000 | 2005 | 17:52.54 | 126.641 mph |
| Sidecar | Dave Molyneux & Daniel Sayle | DMR Honda 600 Sidecar | 2005 | 19:30.49 | 116.044 mph |
[edit] Trivia
Currently there is a Hollywood blockbuster being developed on the TT.
Rumours have started to spread of a well-known sports car manufacturer supporting the event in the future.
The late rally driver Tony Pond drove a standard production Rover 827 Vitesse during his second bid to be the first person to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit at over 160 km/h in a four wheeled vehicle. Tony, an Isle of Man resident and one of Britain's most famous rally drivers, almost made it during his attempt in 1988.
[edit] Sources
TT Special 1929-1931 Edited by G.S.Davison
TT Special 1932-1935 Edited by G.S.Davison
Isle of Man TT by Charles Deane.
History of the Isle of Man TT Races 1907-1989 by Nick Harris.
The Magic of The TT. A Century of Racing over The Mountain. by Mac McDiarmid.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
