1931 Isle of Man TT

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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.

Contents

[edit] Senior TT (500cc)

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 Flag of the United Kingdom Percy (Tim) Hunt Norton 77.9 mph 3.23.28.0
2 Flag of Scotland Jimmy Guthrie Norton 77.34 3.24.57.0
3 Flag of Ireland Stanley Woods Norton 76.35 3.27.36.0
4 Flag of the United Kingdom G Ernie Nott Rudge 76.32 3.27.41.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom Graham W Walker Rudge 73.08 3.24.14.0
6 Flag of the United Kingdom E A (Ted) Mellors NSU 73.18 3.36.36.0
7 Flag of the United Kingdom Arthur Tyler Raleigh 72.61 3.38.18.0
8 Flag of Australia A E Simcock OK-Supreme 72.48 3.38.40.0
9 Flag of South Africa Jimmy G Lind Velocette 71.64 3.41.14.0
10 Flag of the United Kingdom Sid G Gleave SGS 71.16 3.42.45.0

[edit] Junior TT (350cc)

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 Flag of Ireland Percy (Tim) Hunt Norton 73.94 mph 3.34.21.0
2 Flag of Scotland Jimmy Guthrie Norton 72.90 3:37.26.0
3 Flag of the United Kingdom G Ernie Nott Rudge 72.37 3:39.01.0
4 Flag of Ireland Stanley Woods Norton 71.39 3:42.01.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom Graham W Walker Rudge 70.98 3:43.19.0
6 Flag of the United Kingdom Charlie J P Dodson Excelsior 69.58 3:47.47.0
7 Flag of the United Kingdom A G Mitchell Velocette 69.46 3:48.11.0
8 Flag of the United Kingdom Jimmy H Simpson Norton 69.06 3:49.30.0
9 Flag of the United Kingdom George Rowley AJS 69.05 3:49.32.0
10 Flag of the United Kingdom E A (Ted) Mellors New Imperial 69.02 3:49.38.0

[10]

[edit] Lightweight TT (250cc)

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 Flag of the United Kingdom Graham W Walker Rudge 68.98 mph 3.49.47.0
2 Flag of Ireland H G Tyrell Smith Rudge 68.26 3.52.13.0
3 Flag of the United Kingdom E A (Ted) Mellors New Imperial 66.84 3.57.08.0
4 Flag of the United Kingdom G Ernie Nott Rudge 66.72 3.57.34.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom Frank A Longman OK-Supreme 65.99 4.00.11.0
6 Flag of Italy Mario Ghersi New Imperial 65.62 4.01.33.0
7 Flag of the United Kingdom S M Williams New Imperial 65.49 4.02.01.0
8 Flag of Ireland C W (Paddy) Johnston Moto Guzzi 64.6 4.05.24.0
9 Flag of the United Kingdom C E Needham OK-Supreme 63.32 4.10.19.0
10 Flag of the United Kingdom C B Taylor OK-Supreme 63.27 4.10.39.0

[edit] Notes

  • At Sulby during practice, Jack Williams riding a Raleigh motor-cycle is timed at 100 mph and Percy Hunt riding for Norton is timed at 101 mph.[11]
  • During practice, Wal Handley slips off his F.N. motor-cycle at the Gooseneck.[12]
  • During the 1931 Junior TT Race, H G Tyrell Smith riding for Rudge retired on lap 3 running-out of petrol. At Ballacraine, Otto 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.[13]
  • 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 Keppel 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.[14]

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
  2. ^ Island Racer 2006
  3. ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
  4. ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
  5. ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
  6. ^ Island Racer 2006
  7. ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931
  8. ^ Island Racer 2006
  9. ^ Island Racer 2006
  10. ^ The TT Special edited by G.S.Davison dated 10th June 1931
  11. ^ Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 12th June 1931
  12. ^ Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 12th June 1931
  13. ^ Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 19th June 1931
  14. ^ Isle of Man Examiner dated 19th June 1931

[edit] External links


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