MOTOR CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 208, 3 September 1929, Page 15

MOTOR CYCLING.

TOURIST TROPHY RACES. a WORLD'S GREATEST ROAD EVENTS. A COMPLETE HISTORY. [This is the first instalment of an article specially written for the "Star" by an exnert dealing with the famous' Tourist Trophv Races, both senior and junior, held annuallv on the Isle of Man. The article is a complete history of these races from the first event in 1007 up to a few weeks ago, when the 1029 races were decided. The second instalment will appear in next week's notes.] Acknowledged to /be the greatest road race in the world is the tourist trophy race at the Isle of Man, off the weet coast of England, over a course of 2G4 miles, which has been run annually since 1907 with the exception of the Great War period 1915-1919. The original trophy was donated in 1907 by the Marquis de Monzilby St. Mars, a very keen and enthusiastic motor cyclist, and was won by C. R. Collier on a 3i h.p. Matchless at a'speed of 35.22 miles per hour. The record lap for that year was covered at a speed of 41.81 miles per hour by the winner, which, when compared with the lap covered at 73 miles per hour this year by W. L. Eandley in a practise, seems extremely slow, proving the great advance in engine design since that time.

The following is a record kept of the race oyer a period of eighteen years and is of great interest as many machines are mentioned that are now well-nigh forgotten. In 1907 both the senior and the junior events were over a course of miles, and machines were not limited in engine capacity, providing a single cylinder machine covered 90 miles and twin cylinder machines 75 miles to one gallon of petrol.

Junior Event, 1911. The were again altered in thie year regarding engine capacity. Single cylinder machines were limited to 300 c.c. and twins to .340 c.c. P. J. Evans, I-lumber—lst, at an average speed of 41.45 miles per Lour. tl. A. Collier, Matchless—2nd, at an average speed of 40.00 miles per hour. ■H. J. Cos, Forward—3rd, at an average speed of 38.23 miles jfer hour. The fastest lap was made by the winner at a speed of 42 miles per hour. Senior Event, 1912. The course this year was extended from 15S miles ■ to 187 miles, which included a more mountainous road. Result?:— F. A. Applebee, Scott—lst at an average speed of 48.69 miles per hour. J. R. Haswell, Triumph—2nd, at an average speed of 46.41 miles per hour. H. A. Collier—Matchless, 3rd, at an average speed of 44.89 miles per hour. The fastest lap was made by F. A. Applebee, at a speed of 49.44 miles per hour. Junior Event, 1912. In this event the course was reduced to 150 miles, the times being slightly slower than 1911. W. H. Bashall, Douglas—lst, at an average speed of 39.65 miles per hour. E, luckham, Douglas—2nd, at an average speed of 37.58 miles per hour. H. J. Cox, Forward—3rd, at an average speed of 34.27 miles per hour. fastest lap was made by E. Kickam, at a speed of 41.7G miles per hour. t Senior Event, 1913. A further innovation was made this year, when each race occupied two days, the idea being to make the race more difficult, as the machines were not to be touched from finishing time on the first day to starting time on the second, day. This was abandoned afterwards, for the 1914 programme shows a one-day race. The. distance of the course for the 1913 senior was 262 miles.

H. O. Wo(jd, Scott—lst, at an average speed of 48.27 miles per liour. A. E. Abbott, Eudge—2nd, at an average speed of 48.25 miles per hour. A. 11. Alexander, Indian—3rd, at an average speed of 46.10 miles per hour. The fastest lap was made by H. 0. Wood (ScottJ at 52.12 miles per hour.

. Senior. Event, 1907. :• H. Rem. Fov/ler, 5 n.p. rcorton—lst, at an average of 36.20 miles per hour. W. H. Well, 5 h.p., Vindec—2nd, at an average of 32.21 miles per hour. W. H. lleaton, Ilex —3rd, at an average of 25.50 miles per hour. The fastest lap was to the credit of H. Rem. Fowler at 42.91 miles per hour. Junior Event, 1907. C. K. Collier, 3J Matchless-;—lst, at an average speed of 38.22 miles per hour. • I. Marshall, 3i Triumph—2nd, at an average speed of 37.11 miles per hour. F. Hulbert, 3* Triumph—3rd, at an aver- | age speed of 35.59 miles per hour. In 1908 a simifar principle was adopted except that the , petrol allowance was reduced to 100 miles and 86 miles per* gallon respectively., Senior Event, i9oB. H. Eeed, Dot —Ist, at an average speed of 38.60 miles per hour. W. H. Bashall, B.A;T. —2nd, at an average speed of 37.18 miles per hour. R. O. Olai'k, F.N.—3rd, at an average speed of 36.19 miles per hour. The fastest lap was to the credit of W. H. Bashall at 42.25 miles per hour. Junior Event, 1908. J. Marshall, Triumph—lst, at an average speed of .40.49 miles per hour. C. R. Collier, Matchless—2nd, at an average speed of 40.01 miles per Hour. Sir R. K. Arbutlinot, Triumph—-3rd, at an average speed o£ 38.22 miles per hour. The fastest lap was to the credit of J. Marshall, at 42.48 miles per hour. It will be noticed that the winning speed of the senior of : this year was only 2.40' miles per hour faster than the previous year, and that the single cylinder machine? were faster than the twin cylinder machines. Senior Event, 1909. This year a most marked change took place in the rules of the racing, for pedalling gear was absolutely barred, : and the petrol consumption limit was 1 abandoned. In the two previous years the machines were equipped with pedals for ascending the hills. It is also interesting to note that the winning speed of , this race was only 2J miles per hour , slower than the 1920 event, 11 years ■ later. Both in 1909 and the following : year the senior event was 'the only race ( run.

C. R. Collier, Matchless—lst, at an average speed of 40.01 miles per hour. G. L. Evans, Indian—2nd, at an average speed of 47.2S miles per hour. W. F. Newsome, Triumph—3rd, at an average speed of 45.88 miles per liour. The winner made the fastest lap at 52.27 miles per liour. Senior Event, 1910. This year shows very little improvement on the previous year, the results being:— C. E. Collier, Matchless —lat, at an average speed of 50.03 miles per hour. H. A. Collier, Matchless —2nd, at an average speed of 48.61 miles per hour. W. Creyton, Triumph—3rd, at an average speed of 46.28 miles per hour. ..... The fastest lap was made by H. H. Bowen, riding a Rex, at a speed of 53.15 miles per hour. Senior Event, 1911. This raec was remarkable in two ways, firstly, the speed was lower than the pv'loiis year, and secondly the race was won, for" the first and only time in history, by an American machine.

O. C. Godfrey, Indian —Ist, at an average speed of 47.03 miles per hour. C. B. Franklin —Indian—2nd, ■at an average speed of 40.81 miles per hour. A. Moorhouse, Indian —3rd, at an average speed of 45.39 miles per hour. Although not placed, F. Phillip, riding a Scott, made the fastest lap at 50.11 miles per hour.

Junior Event, 1913. "i 225 .Miles. H. Mason, N.U.T. —Ist, at an average speed of 43.75 miles per hour. W. F, Newsome, Douglas—2nd, at an average speed of 43.G9 miles per hour. H. C. Newman, Ivy-Green—3rd, at an average speed of 41.57 miles per hour. The fastest lap was mada by B. Mason (N.U.T.) at a speed of 45.42 miles per hour. (To be continued.)