Home of T.T. races

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 11

Home of T.T. races

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K. W. ANTHONY

The world - famous annual Tourist Trophy motor - cycle races have been held in the Isle of Man for nearly 70 years. There is a curious reason why this premier

British motor - cycling event should take place in a small and relatively remote island location, instead of on the mainland. hostile attitude shown to “horseless carriages" in general, in the early years of this century. Approached for permission to run motorcycle races on English roads. the authorities pointed to the law which prevented the closure of public highways for such a purpose, and also firmly refused to relax the severe speed limits then in force. So the motor-cycling enthusiasts had to look elsewhere for a venue, and in the Isle of Man they found an ideal setting. Although part of the British Isles, the Manx Government then (as it is today) was quite independent of Westminster's legislation. l ull co-operation They offered their full co-operation, and even agreed to undertake much of the expense of organfor the sake of the fame and the business that they could bring to the island. races’ in 1907, the winding roads and steep hills of the Isle of Man have Coth'rrteAnd'madiine. ° f 'had 'its 'own stamps — having previously used the normal portunity has been taken to publicise both the Island and the T.T. races Famous rider* famous riders"of the’past, and also their machines; thus providing a quick guide to the history of motor-cycle design as well as a portrait gallery of winners. The example illustrated here, a 10 pence stamp issued in May, 1975, shows Geoff Duke, one of the best-known riders of Gilera machine on which T e T won ’ e nior The winner of this race, incidentally, holds ver figure of Mercury poised on a winged wheel on the occasion of the first Senior T.T. back in 1907.