From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1931 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was again dominated by the battle between Rudge, Sunbeam and Norton motor-cycles.
The 1931 Junior TT Race was run at a very fast pace by Jimmy Simpson riding for Norton who completed the first lap in 30 minutes and 49 seconds and was 6 second ahead of fellow Norton team-mate Stanley Woods in 2nd place and 18 seconds ahead of Freddie Hicks in 3rd place riding an AJS motor-cycle.[1] Although, Jimmy Simpson was able to hold on to the lead for the next 5 lap, he was slowed by having to refuel every two laps because of carburetor problems.[2] Fellow, Norton team-mate, Tim Hunt recovered from a slow first lap with a loose plug-lead to set the fastest lap on lap 4 of 30 minutes and 5 seconds an average race speed of 75.27 mph and steadlly moves-up the leaderboard.[3] Further, carburetor problems causes Jimmy Simpson to drops off the leaderboard and eventually finishes in 8th place.[4] This allows the 1931 Junior TT Race to be 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 was dominated by the works Rudge motor-cycles and the race was lap 1 by Ernie Nott by 45 seconds from Rudge team-mates, H G Tyrell Smith and Graham Walker in 3rd place.[5] By lap 6, Ernie Nott had a lead of 4 minutes over the rest of the field, until on the last lap he slid of just below the Mountain Mile and finished in 4th place steadying a damaged push-rod with his hand.[6] This provided a first and only TT Race win for Graham Walker riding a Rudge at an average race speed of 68.98 mph.
The highly anticipated 1931 Senior TT Race which was again set to be dominated by Rudge and Norton motor-cycles. However, it proved to dominated again by Norton and Jimmy Simpson and Jimmie Guthrie, this time Guthrie led on lap 1 by 1 second from Jimmy Simpson and Norton team-mate Stanley Woods by 17 seconds in 3rd place.[7] On lap 3, the 1931 Senior TT Race 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. Despite taking over the lead from Guthrie, Jimmy Simpson crashed on lap 4 at Ballaugh Bridge and the bike ending-up in the river.[8] Despite re-taking the lead, Jimmie Guthrie slips-off at the Governor's Bridge on lap 5, but contuines to finish in 2nd place at an average speed of 77.34 mph. Fellow Norton team-mate Stanley Woods finishes in 3rd place with a glove in the petrol-tank filler.[9] The fast paced and incident packed 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.
[edit] Senior TT (500cc)
[edit] Junior TT (350cc)
| Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Speed |
Time |
| 1 |
 Percy (Tim) Hunt |
Norton |
73.94 mph |
3.34.21.0 |
| 2 |
 Jimmy Guthrie |
Norton |
72.9 |
3:27.26.0 |
| 3 |
 G Ernie Nott |
Rudge |
72.37 |
3:33.01.0 |
| 4 |
Stanley Woods |
Norton |
71.39 |
3:42.01.0 |
| 5 |
Graham W Walker |
Rudge |
70.98 |
3:43.19.0 |
| 6 |
Charlie J P Dodson |
Excelsior |
69.58 |
3:47.47.0 |
| 7 |
A G Mitchell |
Velocette |
69.46 |
3:48.11.0 |
| 8 |
Jimmy H Simpson |
Norton |
69.06 |
3:49.30.0 |
| 9 |
George Rowley |
AJS |
69.05 |
3:49.32.0 |
| 10 |
E A (Ted) Mellors |
New Imperial |
69.02 |
3:49.38.0 |
[edit] Lightweight TT (250cc)
| Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Speed |
Time |
| 1 |
Graham W Walker |
Rudge |
68.98 mph |
3.49.47.0 |
| 2 |
H G Tyrell Smith |
Rudge |
68.26 |
3.52.13.0 |
| 3 |
E A (Ted) Mellors |
New Imperial |
66.84 |
3.57.08.0 |
| 4 |
G Ernie Nott |
Rudge |
66.72 |
3.57.34.0 |
| 5 |
Frank A Longman |
OK-Supreme |
65.99 |
4.00.11.0 |
| 6 |
 Mario Ghersi |
New Imperial |
65.62 |
4.01.33.0 |
| 7 |
S M Williams |
New Imperial |
65.49 |
4.02.01.0 |
| 8 |
C W (Paddy) Johnston |
Moto Guzzi |
64.6 |
4.05.24.0 |
| 9 |
C E Needham |
OK-Supreme |
63.32 |
4.10.19.0 |
| 10 |
C B Taylor |
OK-Supreme |
63.27 |
4.10.39.0 |
- At Sulby during practice, C. J. Williams riding a Ralleigh motor-cycle is timed at 100 mph and Percy Hunt riding for Norton is timed at 101 mph.[10]
- During practice, Wal Handley slips off his F.N. motor-cycle at the Gooseneck.[11]
- During the 1931 Junior TT Race, H G Tyrell Smith riding for Rudge retired on lap 3 running-out of petrol. At Ballacraine, O. Steinfeller retired with gearbox failure. On lap 5, Ted Mellors riding a New Imperial motor-cycle and F.A.Renier both crash at Glen Helen. Both continue and Ted Mellors finishes in 10th place and Renier in 16th place.[12]
- On the first lap of the 1931 Senior TT Race, Wal Handley riding for the Belgium motor-cycle firm of F.N. slips off at the Quaterbride and retires. At Kepple Gate on lap 3 of the 1931 Senior TT Race, R. F. Parkinson riding a NSU motor-cycle hits a bank and 3 spectators are slightly injured.[13]
[edit] Sources
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
- ^ Island Racer 2006
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
- ^ Island Racer 2006
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
- ^ Island Racer 2006
- ^ Island Racer 2006
- ^ Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 12th June 1931
- ^ Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 12th June 1931
- ^ Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 19th June 1931
- ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
[edit] External links
A E Simcock
J G Lind
