BRITISH RIDERS WIN SENIOR T.T.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 1

BRITISH RIDERS WIN SENIOR T.T.

ONE MOTOR-CYCLIST IS KILLED DURING RACE

(United Press Assn.— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received June 20, noon.) RUGBY, June 19.

Speeds considerably exceeding those reached in previous years were attained on the Isle of Man when the Tourists* Trophy senior motor-cycle race was contested with the keenest rivalry by fifty-six competitors, representing entries from nine countries.

Circuits of thirty-eight miles had to be covered seven times, and included mountain passes, extremely steep gradients, and sharp elbow corners. Fresh circuit records were established every few minutes, several exceeding eighty miles an hour. The foreign machines seemed unable to maintain the strain that the pace involved, and the race resolved itself into a duel between the British competitors.

It eventually was won by Percy Hunt on a Norton machine at an average speed of 77.9 miles an hour. Norton machines were ridden by Guthrie, who was second, and Woods, who was third. Two Rudges, ridden by Nott and Walker, gained fourth and fifth places.

Hunt beat last year’s winning time by over ten minutes. The event was marred by the death of F. G. Hicks, one of the most famous riders, whose machine skidded, throwing him on his head as he was making an attempt to overtake the leaders. Hicks held many world records, and took first place in the French Grand Prix two years ago, when British riders won all the prizes. There also were several minor casualties.

Tolley (New Zealand) retired in the second lap and Bray (New Zealand) retired in the fifth from engine trouble.