1920 Isle of Man TT

Annual motorcycle racing event October 2020 February 2018 1920 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Date 15 & 17 June 1920 Location Douglas, Isle of Man Course Isle of Man TT Mountain Course 37.75 miles (60.75 km) Organiser Auto-Cycle Union Secretary T.W. LoughboroughJunior TT First Cyril Williams, AJS Second J. A. Watson-Bourne, Blackburne Third J. Holroyd, BlackburneFastest lap Eric Williams 44min. 6sec. 51.36 mph New recordLightweight class First R. O. Clark, Levis Second Gus Kuhn, Levis Third Frank W. Applebee, LevisSenior TT First Tommy de la Hay, Sunbeam Second Duggie Brown, Norton Third R. Brown, SunbeamFastest lap George Dance 40min. 43sec. 55.62 mph New record The 1920 Isle of Man TT races was the first races to take place following the end of World War I. Official practice sessions started on 31 May with the races taking place on 15 and 17 June 1920.Isle of Man Examiner page 2 & 3 "The Motor Cycle Races" Saturday 12 June 1920 The 350cc Junior TT race was won by Cyril Williams riding an AJS motor-cycle and the 250cc Lightweight class by R. O. Clark with a Levis machine.Manchester Guardian page 16 Wednesday 16 June 1920 The first post-war Senior TT was won by Tommy de la Hay with a 500cc Sunbeam bike.Daily Express page 2 Saturday 19 June 1920 Races Junior TT 350cc race The Junior TT race was initially led by Eric Williams, the winner of the 1914 Junior TT race riding an AJS and set a new Junior 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 an AJS to build up an impressive lead of 20 minutes. However, Cyril Williams hit gear-box problems at the Creg-ny-Baa corner on the last lap and free-wheeled and pushed to the finish-line located at the Nobles Park playing fields in the town of Douglas.Motor Cycling page 181 THE JUNIOR RACE PROVIDES MANY SURPRISES 23 June 1920 The winning margin for Williams was 9 minutes and 50 seconds from Jack Watson-Bourne, riding for Blackburne motorcycles in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds, at an average race speed of 40.74 mph. Lightweight TT 250cc race The Lightweight class within Junior TT race was won by R. O. Clark riding a Levis and he may have won the event overall but was thrown from his Levis motor-cycle at the Creg-ny-Baa after a puncture on the last lap. After completing the race on a bent front wheel-rim he was detained in Nobles Hospital after the race with physical exhaustion.Isle of Man Examiner page 2 "Interesting Race Pairs" Saturday 19 June 1920 Senior TT 500 race The Senior TT race was won by Tommy de la Hay riding a Sunbeam at an average race speed of 51.79 mph from local Isle of Man competitor Duggie Brown riding a Norton. A new lap record was set by George Dance riding a Sunbeam of 40 minutes and 43 seconds, an average speed of 55.62 mph. AJS thought they could repeat the success of the 1914 Junior TT with a newly developed 2.75 hp on ohv-engined machine.http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/ajs4.htm A. J. Stevens & Co. (1914) Ltd 28 May 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090520013755/http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/ajs4.htm 20 May 2009 LocalHistory History of A. J. Stevens & Company (retrieved 13 August 2006)April 2017 While Cyril Williams won the Junior race for AJS, H. R. Davies, also on the AJS team, retired from both races with engine trouble.Birmingham Daily Gazette page 3 Wednesday 23 June 1920 Race awards and classes The 1920 Junior TT race included for the first time a new Lightweight TT class for motorcycles of 250 cc engine capacity. R. O. Clark riding for the Levis marque finished in 4th place overall and was within the 30 minute limit for The Motor Cycle Cup Trophy for the smaller 250cc motor-cycles.Isle of Man Times page 3 T.T. RACES Saturday 19 June 1920 Race results Junior TT 350cc October 2020 Held on 15 June 1920, at 9:30 am over a distance of 188.75  miles (5 laps of 37.75 miles each)October 2020, limited to machines of cylinder capacity not exceeding 350cc., with a class for 250 cc. engines run concurrently for The Motor Cycle cup.The Motor Cycle page 701 THE JUNIOR TOURIST TROPHY RACE 24 June 1920 Out of 32 entries, comprising 8 two-strokes, 16 four-stroke Singles, 7 Flat Twins and 1 V Twin, twenty-four started the race and only eleven finished. Race results Junior TT 350cc Held on June 15, at 9:31 am over a distance of 188.75  miles (5 laps of 37.75 miles each), limited to machines of cylinder capacity not exceeding 350cc., with a class for 250 cc. engines run concurrently for The Motor Cycle cup.The Motor Cycle page 701 THE JUNIOR TOURIST TROPHY RACE 24 June 1920 Out of 32 entries, comprising 8 two-strokes, 16 four-stroke Singles, 7 Flat Twins and 1 V Twin, twenty-four started the race and only eleven finished. IOM The 9th International Isle of Man Tourist TrophyThe Motor Cycle page 638, 10 June 1920 Pos # Rider Bike Cyl. Junior TT and Lightweight class race classification Laps Time Speed Prizes & Remarks 1 4GB Cyril Williams 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 54:37.5740.74 mph1st Prize - Winner of Junior Trophy, £40 and a gold medal. 2 15GB Jack Watson-Bourne 2¾ hp Blackburne 348cc 1 54:47.0739.44 mph2nd Prize - £20 and a gold medal.3 17GB Jack Holroyd 2¾ hp Blackburne 348cc 1 54:47.3739.37 mph2nd Prize - £10 and a gold medal.4 25GB Ronald Clark 2¼ hp Levis 247cc 1 54:55.3738.31 mph1st in Lightweight class - Winner of The Motor Cycle Trophy and a gold medal.5 32GB Eric Longden 2¾ hp DOT (348cc JAP) 2 55:11.0236.41 mphFirst twin-cylinder.6 27GB R.W. Loughton 2¾ hp Douglas 348cc 2 55:15.5236.34 mph7 14GB Gus Kuhn 2¼ hp Levis 247cc 1 55:19.3535.43 mph2nd in Lightweight class and a gold medal8 20GB Harry Prescott 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 55:55.4631.83 mph9 13GB Frank W. Applebee 2¼ hp Levis 247cc 1 56:05.2130.99 mph3rd in Lightweight class. The Nesbit trophy for pluck and endurance.10 1GB Sidney Haden 2½ hp New Comet (293cc Climax) 1 56:11.3130.48 mph11 9GB Percy Dallison 3 hp Ivy 349cc 1 56:17.3229.99 mph DNF 12GB A.E. Wills 2¾ hp Douglas 348cc 2 3 Crashed on lap 4 at Creg-ny-Baa without doing himself any damage. DNF 3GB Harry Harris 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 2 Retired on lap 3 at Ramsey Hairpin. DNF 6GB Howard R. Davies 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 2 Retired on lap 3 due to broken exhaust valve just below the Bungalow. DNF 7GB Eric Williams 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 2 Retired on lap 3, while leading the race, due to broken mainshaft 500 yards from the Bungalow.The Motor Cycle page 704 Saturday 24 June 1920 DNF 11GB A.F. Houlberg 2¾ hp Wooler 350cc 2 2 Retired on lap 3 near Ballacraine due to broken connecting rod.The Motor Cycle page 705 Saturday 24 June 1920 DNF 23GB Phil Pike 2¼ hp Diamond 249cc 1 2 Retired on lap 3 at Creg-ny-Baa due to broken exhaust valve. DNF 19GB Stan Marks 2¾ hp Diamond 349cc 1 1 Retired on lap 2 between Braddan and Union Mills, bearings gave out. DNF 2GB Ossie Wade 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 0 Retired on first lap at Ballaugh due to engine trouble. DNF 5IOM Tom Sheard 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 0 Retired on first lap at Sulby with valve trouble. DNF16GB P.J. Enticknapp 2¾ hp Blackburne 348cc 1 0 Retired on first lap due to sheared key on the flywheel.The Motor Cycle page 703 Saturday 24 June 1920 DNF18GB Norman Sclater, jun. 3 hp Aurora (331cc Dalm)The Motor Cycle page 636 Saturday 10 June 1920 1 0 Retired on first lap at Hillberry due to broken release valve. DNF 21GB Albert Milner 2¾ hp Diamond 349cc 1 0 Retired on first lap at Kirkmichael due to a broken valve cup. DNF 28Scotland Alfie Alexander 2¾ hp Douglas 348cc 2 0 Retired on first lap due to engine trouble near Glen Helen DNS 1GB L.W. Clement 2½ hp New Comet (293cc Climax) 1 Was replaced by Sidney Haden. DNS 4GB N.C. Heath 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 Collided with marshals during practice, as taken to a hospital and was replaced by the eventual race winner Cyril Williams. DNS 5GB T.H. Haddock 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 Crashed during practice at Keppel Gate was taken to hospital. Suffered head injuries. DNS 8GB George Cowley, Senr. 2¾ hp AJS 349cc 1 Skidded at Governor's Bridge during practicing. DNS 10GB J.H. Dowell 2¾ hp Wooler 350cc 2 DNS 22GB Bert Houlding 2¾ hp Diamond 349cc 1 DNS 24GB F.J. Price 2¾ hp Diamond 349cc 1 DNS 26IOM Jimmy Oates 3 hp Aurora (331cc Dalm) 1 DNS 29GB E. Greenwood 2¾ hp Douglas 348cc 2 DNS 30GB J.S. Clayton 2¾ hp Wooler 350cc 2 DNS 31GB T.P. Lewis 2¼ hp Levis 247cc 1 Fastest lap: Eric Williams, 44min. 6sec. 51.36 mph (New record)The Motor Cycle page 706 Saturday 24 June 1920 Senior TT 500cc final standings Held on June 17, at 9:30 am over a distance of 226.50  miles (6 laps of 37.75 miles each), limited to machines of cylinder capacity not exceeding 500cc.The Motor Cycle page 721 THE SENIOR TOURIST TROPHY RACE 24 June 1920 Out of 29 entries, comprising 21 four-stroke singles, 5 V Twins, 3 Flat Twins and no two-strokes. Twenty-seven riders started the race and fourteen finished. {| class="wikitable" style="width:125%; font-size:85%;" ! style="border: 0;" | IOM The 9th International Isle of Man Tourist TrophyThe Motor Cycle page 721, 24 June 1920 |- | style="background: #f2f2f2; border: 0; text-align: center;" | {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;" |- !rowspan="2"| Pos !rowspan="2"| # !rowspan="2"| Rider !rowspan="2"| Bike !rowspan="2"| Cyl. !colspan="4"| Senior TT race classification |- ! Laps ! Time ! Speed ! Prizes & Remarks |- ! align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 66 | align="left"|GB Tommy de la Hay | align="left"| 3½ hp Sunbeam 499cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:22.23 |51.79 mph |align="left"|1st Prize - Winner of Senior Trophy, £50 and a gold medal. |- ! align="center"| 2 | align="center"| 56 | align="left"|IOM Douglas Brown | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:26.13 |51.05 mph |align="left"|2nd Prize - £25 and a medal from Manx Motor-Cycle Club. |- ! align="center"| 3 | align="center"| 70 | align="left"|GB Reg Brown | align="left"| 3½ hp Sunbeam 499cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:32.27 |49.88 mph |align="left"|3rd Prize - £15 and a medal from Manx Motor-Cycle Club. 1st Private entry.'|- ! align="center"| 4 | align="center"| 67| align="left"|GB Norman Sclater. jun. | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:39.47 |48.57 mph |align="left"|Gold medal. |- ! align="center"| 5 | align="center"| 53| align="left"|GB Reuben Harveyson | align="left"| 3½ hp Indian Scout 496.8cc | align="center"| 2 | align="center"| 6 |4:40.25 |48.46 mph |align="left"|Gold medal. 1st Twin-cylinder machine. |- ! align="center"| 6 | align="center"| 51| align="left"|Scotland Douglas Alexander | align="left"| 3½ hp Indian Scout 496.8cc | align="center"| 2 | align="center"| 6 |4:41.25 |48.30 mph |align="left"|Gold medal. 2nd twin-cylinder machine. |- ! align="center"| 7 | align="center"| 57| align="left"|NIR Jimmy Shaw | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:51.46 |46.57 mph |align="left"|Gold medal. |- ! align="center"| 8 | align="center"| 58| align="left"|GB Noel H. Brown | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:54.24 |46.16 mph |align="left"| |- ! align="center"| 9 | align="center"| 64| align="left"|GB Frank Townshend | align="left"| 3½ hp Sunbeam 499cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |4:54.29 |46.148 mph |align="left"| |- ! align="center"| 10 | align="center"| 63| align="left"|GB Lieut. Charlie North | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |5:01.05 |45.13 mph |align="left"| Broken saddle delayed him in the first lap. |- ! align="center"| 11 | align="center"| 79| align="left"|GB Norman Black | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |5:08.26 |44.06 mph |align="left"|Suffered multiple punctured and belt-stops. Rode last 30 miles with no bearings in the back hub. |- ! align="center"| 12 | align="center"| 52| align="left"|GB Freddie Dixon | align="left"| 3½ hp Indian Scout 496.8cc | align="center"| 2 | align="center"| 6 |5:17.12 |42.84 mph |align="left"| |- ! align="center"| 13 | align="center"| 59| align="left"|GB Graham Walker | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |5:24.50 |41.83 mph |align="left"| |- ! align="center"| 14 | align="center"| 76| align="left"|Wales Jack Thomas | align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 6 |5:53.21 |38.463 mph |align="left"| |- ! align="center"| DNF || 75| align="left"|Wales Capt. Alexander Lindsay, M.B. |align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 4 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on lap 5 near Ballaugh. Engine trouble. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 69| align="left"|GB Bert le Vack |align="left"| 3½ hp Duzmo 496cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 4 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Fell on lap 5 near Bungalow. Escaped unhurt. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 61| align="left"|GB Harold Petty |align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 3 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Dry-skidded on lap 4 at Ramsey. Damaged front fork. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 74| align="left"|Scotland Alfred Alexander |align="left"| 3½ hp Douglas 494cc |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| 3 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired at the end of lap 4 in pits, with belt fastener trouble, after taking 1½ hours for lap 3. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 54| align="left"|GB Bert Houlding |align="left"| 3½ hp Indian Scout 496.8cc |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| 3 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on lap 4. Tyre trouble at Union Mills. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 65| align="left"|GB George Dance |align="left"| 3½ hp Sunbeam 499cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 2 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on lap 3 near Creg-ny-Baa due to broken inlet valve. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 62| align="left"|GB Victor Horsman |align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 2 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Toured in at the end lap 3 due to partial engine seizure at Bungalow |- ! align="center"| DNF || 55| align="left"|GB Vivian Olsson |align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 2 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Crashed on lap 3 at Windy Corner, brake gear fouled chain. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 68| align="left"|GB Tom Simister |align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 2 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on lap 3 at Hillberry due to broken piston. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 68| align="left"|GB Eric Williams |align="left"| 3½ hp Sunbeam 499cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 2 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Dry-skidded on lap 3 into a wooden gate at Quarterbridge due to jammed brake. Escaped unhurt. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 72| align="left"|GB E.S. Abram |align="left"| 3 hp ABC 400cc |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| 1 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on lap 2. Valve trouble at Crosby. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 60| align="left"|GB Howard R. Davies |align="left"| 2¾ hp AJS 349cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 1 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on lap 2. Engine trouble at Kirkmichael. |- ! align="center"| DNF || 78| align="left"|GB Reg. Lucas |align="left"| 3 hp ABC 400cc |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| 0 |colspan="4"; align="left" | Retired on first lap at Ramsey with broken valve |- ! align="center"| DNS || 77| align="left"|GB S.J. Redmond |align="left"| 3½ hp Indian Scout 496.8cc |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| |colspan="4"; align="left" | Withdraw during preliminary stages. |- ! align="center"| DNS || 73| align="left"|GB A.J. Moffat |align="left"| 3½ hp Norton 490cc |align="center"| 1 |align="center"| |colspan="4"; align="left" | Damaged his machine in practice and was unable to find another. |- |colspan=14| Fastest lap''': George Dance, 40min. 43sec. 53.62 mph (New record)Isle of Man Times page 3 "TT RACES The Junior and Senior. Splendid Wins for AJS and Sunbeam." Saturday 19 June 1920 |- |} |} Notes During the first practice session, T.H. Haddock riding an AJS in the Junior race crashed at Keppel Gate.Ramsey Couier page 3 ACCIDENTS ON THE COURSE Friday 4 June 1920 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.Peel City Guardian page 7 Saturday 5 June 1920 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! Prize Money awarded for the Junior race was: 1st place £40, 2nd place £20 and 3rd place £10. A gold finisher's award was made for each competitor completing the race within 30 minutes of the winner. The Motor Cycle'' magazine Gold Cup was awarded to Eric Williams for setting the fastest lap of 44 minutes and 6 seconds. Prize Money awarded for the Senior race was: 1st place £50, 2nd place £25 and 3rd place £15. Isle of Man Examiner page 2 "Motor Cycle Races" Saturday 19 June 1920 References External links Detailed race results Isle of Man TT winners Sources Category:1920 in British motorsport 1920 Isle