1920 Isle of Man TT
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The 1920 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the first to take place following World War I. Official practice sessions started on May 31 with the races taking place on 15 and 16 June.
The 1920 Junior TT Race included for the first time a new Lightweight class for motor-cycles of 250cc engine capacity, but this would not be a TT until 1922. (see below)
The 1920 Junior TT Race was initially 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 it for the last five miles[1] 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 mph.
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 Windy Corner due to a puncture on the last lap and then completed the 1920 Junior Race on a bent wheel-rim to finish fourth overall. G. Dance on a Sunbeam set a new lap record time of 40 mins. 30 sec.[1]
The 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. AJS thought they could repeat the success of the 1914 Junior TT with a newly developed 2.75 hp ohv engined machine.[2] While Cyril Williams won the Junior race for AJS, Howard Raymond Davies, also on the AJS team, retired from both races with engine trouble.
To explain the 250 race more fully, the first 250cc Lightweight TT Race would not be run till 1922. The 1920 and 1921 Junior Races had a separate 250 cc class that appeared to run concurrently. In 1920 R.O Clarke was fourth in the Junior TT Race, but finished in first place in the 250cc class. For 1921 Doug Prentice was 10th in the Junior TT Race, but finished first in the 250cc Lightweight class.
The Isle of Man Examiner, dated 19th June 1920, quotes that Levis won the first 3 places in the Lightweight class of the 1920 Junior Race. The article also states that no prize was awarded for the Lightweight Class as the finishers times where all 30 minutes slower than the winners time. The article does not state if it refers to prize money or some other finishers award. However, R.O Clark riding for Levis finished in 4th place overall and was within the 30 minute limit for a "prize" despite a puncture at the Windy Corner on the last-lap and then completed the 1920 Junior Race on a wheel-rim.
[edit] Junior 350cc Race
15th June 1920 - 5 Laps (188.75 Miles) Mountain Course.
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Time | Speed | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cyril Williams |
AJS | 4.37.57 | 40.74 mph | 5 |
| 2 | J A Watson-Bourne |
Blackburne | 4.47.07 | 5 | |
| 3 | J S Holroyd |
Blackburne | 4.47.37 | 5 |
[edit] Senior 500cc Race
16th June 1920 - 6 Laps (226.38 Miles)
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Time | Speed | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy C de la Hay |
Sunbeam | 4.22.23 | 51.79 mph | 6 |
| 2 | Doug M Brown |
Norton | 4.26.13 | 51.05 mph | 6 |
| 3 | W R Brown |
Sunbeam | 4.32.27 | 49.80 mph | 6 |
[edit] Notes
- During the first practice sesion, T.H.Haddock riding an AJS in the Junior race crashed at Keppel Gate. Also, George Cowley crashed at Governor's Bridge and Graham Walker riding for Norton in the Senior class hit sheep in the mist on the Snaefell Mountain section.
- During the Saturday practice D.S.Alexander riding an Indian Scout at number 51 in the Senior turned off the course at Braddan Bridge and rejoined at Hillberry and set a time of 39 minutes and 10 seconds !
- Non-starters for the 1920 Junior Race included;-
8 George Cowley (AJS)
10 J.H.McDowell (AJS)
22 Bert Houlding (Wooler)
24 F.J.Price (Diamond)
26 J.W.Oates (Aurora)
29 E.Greenwood (Douglas)
- Retirements during the 1920 Junior Race;-
A.E.Williams (Douglas) at Creg-ny-Baa
R.O.Clark is thrown from his Levis motor-cycle at the Windy Corner after a puncture on the last lap. After completing the race on a bent front wheel-rim he is detained in Nobles Hospital with physical exhaustion.
- Prize Money awarded for the 1920 Junior Race is 1st place £40, 2nd place £20 and 3rd place £10. A gold finishers award for each competitor finishing the race with 30 minutes of the winner. The Motor-Cycle Magazine Gold Cup awarded to Eric Williams for setting the fastest lap of 44 minutes and 6 seconds during the 1920 Junior TT Race.
- Non-starters for the 1920 Senior Race;-
73 A.J.Moffat (Norton)
77 S.J.Redmond (Indian)
- Prize Money awarded for the 1920 Senior Race is 1st place £50, 2nd place £25 and 3rd place £15.
[edit] References
- ^ a b [1]IOM 1921 Notebook (retrieved 13 August 2006)
- ^ [2]LocalHistory History of A. J. Stevens & Company (retrieved 13 August 2006)
[edit] External links
[edit] Sources
Isle of Man Examiner dated 12th June 1920.
Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1920.
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