1931 Isle of Man TT

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. ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 19th June 1931] 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. ["Island Racer" 2006] 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. ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 19th June 1931] Further, carburetor problems causes Jimmy Simpson to drops off the leaderboard and eventually finishes in 8th place. ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 19th June 1931] 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. ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 19th June 1931] 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. ["Island Racer" 2006] 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. ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 19th June 1931] 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. ["Island Racer" 2006] 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. ["Island Racer" 2006] 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.

enior TT (500cc)

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. ["Isle of Man Eaxminer" dated 12th June 1931]
* During practice, Wal Handley slips off his F.N. motor-cycle at the Gooseneck. ["Isle of Man Eaxminer" dated 12th June 1931]
* 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. ["Isle of Man Eaxminer" dated 19th June 1931]
* 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. ["Isle of Man Examiner" dated 19th June 1931]

ources

External links

* [http://www.iomtt.com/Home/TTDatabase/races.aspx?meet_code=TT31 Detailed race results]
* [http://www.mcb.net/ttraces/tt/ttwin.html Isle of Man TT winners]
* [http://www.iommgp.com/tour/map.shtml Mountain Course map]