1911 Isle of Man TT

The 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races took place for the first time over the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. The whole organisation of the races was given over to the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU), which announced the use of the longer mountain course with a four lap (150 mile) Junior race on Friday 30 June, and five laps (189 mile) for the Senior race on Monday 3 July.^[1] In only five years the TT races had matured and commercialism had set-in. Grandstands were built by the Douglas Corporation in what had been popular and free vantage points in Douglas, to the displeasure of the public.^{[citation needed]}

1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
Oliver Godfrey on winning Indian racer.
Date	June 30, July 3, 1911
Location	Douglas, Isle of Man
Course	Mountain Course,(Four Inch Course) 37.5 mi (60.39 km)
Organiser	Auto-Cycle Union
Clerk	J.R. Nisbet
Junior TT
First	Percy Evans, Humber
Second	Harry Collier, Matchless
Third	Harold Cox, Forward
Fastest lap
	Percy Evans 53min. 24sec. 42.13 mph (New record)
Senior TT
First	Oliver Godfrey, Indian
Second	Charles Franklin, Indian
Third	Arthur Moorhouse, Indian
Fastest lap
	Frank Philipp, Scott 44min. 52sec. 50.11 mph (New record)

2¾ hp Zenith-Gradua 297cc.

Preparations for this new, challenging course that meant an eight-mile (13 km) uphill climb from Ramsey to Brandywell prompted the manufacturers to devise methods of modifying their mainly single-gear machines to cope with the Snaefell mountain road not once, but several times. Harry Collier, on the single-cylinder Matchless, and Percy J. Evans fought for first place in the Junior event. In the Senior event, British pride and prestige was dented when the Indians took the first three places. Charlie Collier crossed the finish line second on his Matchless, but was disqualified for refuelling outside of the designated area.^[2]

On Friday, June 27, 1911, the first fatal accident in connection with the Tourist Trophy races happened. While practicing for the forthcoming race, Victor Surridge was taking a difficult corner on Cregwilly’s Hill near Glen Helen section of the course, dashing into a hedge and breaking his neck. He was nineteen years of age.^[3]

Junior TT final standings

Friday 30 June 1911 – 4 laps (150 miles) Four Inch Course/Isle of Man TT Mountain Course^[4]

The 5th International Auto-cycle Tourist Trophy[5]

Pos # Rider Bike Cyl. Junior TT race classification[6] Laps Time Speed Prizes & Remarks 1 17 Percy Evans 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 2 4 3:37.07 41.45 mph 1st Prize - Winner of Junior Trophy and £40 2 15 Harry Collier 2hp Matchless-JAP 295cc 1 4 3:46.20 39.74 mph 2nd Prize - £20. First single-cylinder 3 26 Harold Cox 2¾ hp Forward 339cc 2 4 3:55.26 38.22 mph 3rd Prize - £10 and Silver cup for First private owner. 4 24 Douglas Brown 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 1 4 3:56.24 38.07 mph Gold Medal. 5 36 H. Greaves 2¾ hp Enfield 340cc 2 4 3:56.34 38.04 mph Gold medal. 6 5 Karl Kassert 2½ hp NSU 338cc 2 4 3:57.23 37.91 mph Gold medal. 7 18 Willie Douglas 2¾ hp Douglas 340cc 2 4 4:00.11 37.47 mph Gold medal. 8 24 Arthur Fenn 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 2 4 4:01.19 37.29 mph Gold medal. 9 10 Percy Johnson 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 2 4 4:04.10 36.86 mph Gold medal and Silver cup for Second private owner 10 2 Jack Haslam 2¾ hp Zenith-Gradua 297cc 1 4 4:04.11 35.85 mph Gold medal. 11 21 Peter Weatherilt 2¾ hp Zenith-Gradua 297cc 1 4 4:05.37 36.64 mph Gold medal. 12 31 Gordon L Fletcher 2¾ hp Douglas 340cc 2 4 4:10.33 35.92 mph Gold medal. 13 14 Graham Dixon 2¾ hp New Hudson 297cc 1 4 4:14.09 35.92 mph Gold medal. 14 12 Sam Wright 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 2 4 4:19.27 34.68 mph Gold medal. 15 28 J.D. Corke 2½ hp AJS 298cc 1 4 4:23.14 34.19 mph 16 33 Albert J Stevens 2½ hp AJS 298cc 1 4 4:26.37 33.75 mph 17 20 Norman Slatter 2 hp Alcyon 299cc 1 4 4:29.18 33.41 mph First single geared machine. 18 34 W.E. Grange 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 2 4 4:44.30 31.63 mph 19 29 Alwin Boldt 2½ hp NSU 338cc 2 4 4:53.21 30.68 mph 20 9 Rem Fowler 2¾ hp New Hudson 297cc 1 4 4:53.22 30.67 mph 21 16 Alfie Alexander 2¾ hp Rex 339cc 2 4 5:00.27 29.95 mph DNF 25 Eddie Kickham 2¾ hp Douglas 340cc 2 3 Retired on last lap at Ballaugh due to magneto trouble. DNF 27 R. Dreschler 2½ hp NSU 299cc 1 3 Retired on last lap due punctures. DNF 30 Victor Wilberforce 2¾ hp Douglas 340cc 2 3 Retired on last lap due to seized gear at Snaefell. DNF 32 Charlie Collier 2hp Matchless-JAP 295cc 1 3 Retired on last lap due to punctures, plug and belt problems. DNF 1 Hugh Gibson 2¾ hp New Hudson 297cc 1 1 Retired on lap 2 at Glen Helen due to seized big end. DNF 7 Bert Colver 2¾ hp Enfield 340cc 2 1 Retired on lap 2 at Keppel Gate due to sheared sprocket. DNF 38 Jack Sirett 2½ hp NSU 338cc 1 1 Retired on lap 2 due multiple punctures. DNF 6 Francois Sain 2 hp Alcyon 299cc 1 0 Retired on first lap due to jammed chain shortening device. DNF 8 Michel Canale 2 hp Alcyon 299cc 1 0 Retired on first lap due to jammed chain shortening device. DNF 11 David C. Bolton 2 hp Martin 297cc 1 0 Retired on first lap at Ginger Hall (Sulby) due to broken frame. DNF 19 Harry Martin 2 hp Martin 297cc 1 0 Retired on first lap at Ballaugh due to broken valve lifter and throttle. DNF 35 Bob Bell 2 hp Moto-Reve 299cc 1 0 Retired on first lap due blown engine. DNF 37 Gordon Griffith 2¾ hp Moto-Reve 340cc 2 0 Retired on first lap at Ramsey due broken inlet pipe. DNS 22 Sydney T. Tessier 2¾ hp BAT 297cc 1 DNS 3 Billy Heaton 2½ hp NSU 338cc 1 Smashed up his machine at the last moment. DNS 4 George E. Stanley 2½ hp Singer 1 Arrived too late to practice. DNS 20 J. Garbero 2 hp Alcyon 299cc 1 Norman Slatter replaced him. DNS 34 George Ware 2¾ hp Humber 339cc 2 W.E. Grange replaced him. Fastest lap: Percy Evans, 53min. 24sec. 42.13 mph (New record)

Senior TT final standings

Monday 3 July 1911 – 5 laps (187 miles 4 furlongs) Four Inch Course/Isle of Man TT Mountain Course^[7]

The 5th International Auto-cycle Tourist Trophy[8]

Pos # Rider Bike Cyl. Senior TT race classification[9] Laps Time Speed Prizes & Remarks 1 26 Oliver Godfrey 3¾ hp Indian 584cc 2 5 3:56.10 47.63 mph 1st Prize - Winner of Senior Trophy and £40 2 17 Charles Franklin 3¾ hp Indian 584cc 2 5 3:59.52 46.90 mph 2nd Prize - £20. 3 31 Arthur Moorhouse 3¾ hp Indian 584cc 2 5 4:05.34 45.81 mph 3rd Prize - £10. First private owner 4 7 Harry Collier 4 hp Matchless-JAP 580cc 2 5 4:09.42 Gold Medal. 5 54 Hugh Mason 4 hp Matchless-JAP 580cc 2 5 4:15.35 45.05 mph Gold Medal. 6 21 Joe Carvill 3½ hp Triumph 499cc 1 5 4:16.49 43.80 mph First single-cylinder. Second private owner. 7 46 Harry Bashall 4 hp BAT-JAP 580cc 2 5 4:17.57 43.61 mph Gold medal. 8 3 Quentin Smith 3½ hp Triumph 499cc 1 5 4:18.40 43.49 mph Gold medal. 9 63 Howard Lister-Cooper 3½ hp Triumph 499cc 1 5 4:22.21 Gold medal. 10 49 John Bashall 4 hp BAT-JAP 580cc 2 5 4:24.56 42.88 mph Gold medal. 11 14 Harry Reed 4 hp DOT-JAP 580cc 2 5 4:32.45 41.24 mph Gold medal. 12 15 Billy Newsome 3½ hp Triumph 499cc 1 5 4:35.06 40.89 mph Gold medal. 13 45 Charlie North 3½ hp Ariel 498cc 1 5 4:43.45 39.64 mph 14 66 Percy Johnson 4 hp Matchless-JAP 580cc 2 5 4:44.37 39.52 mph 15 4 Basil V Jones 3½ hp Premier 499cc 1 5 4:46.09 39.31 mph 16 33 Peter Weatherilt 3½ hp Zenith-Gradua 499cc 1 5 4:46.37 39.21 mph 17 58 Jack Haswell 3½ hp Triumph 499cc 1 5 4:51.46 38.55 mph 18 55 Jimmy Alexander 3¾ hp Indian 584cc 2 5 4:58.01 37.74 mph 19 61 Fred Mackay 3½ hp Singer 499cc 1 5 5:05.00 36.88 mph 20 62 Norman F. Holder 4 hp Blumfield 583cc 2 5 5:05.26 21 52 W. Stanhope Spencer 3½ hp Rudge 499cc 1 5 5:12.47 36.83 mph 22 28 John Gibson 3½ hp Rudge 499cc 1 5 5:16.37 23 32 Alwin Boldt 3½ hp NSU 499cc 1 5 5:21.58 35.53 mph 24 11 Howard Smith 3½ hp Triumph 499cc 1 5 5:24.30 25 51 Albert Berlie 4 hp Moto-Reve 499cc 2 5 5:36.51 33.39 mph 26 12 Frank A Applebee jun. 4 hp Scott (2-stroke) 534cc 2 5 5:42.58 32.80 mph DQ 1 Charlie Collier 4 hp Matchless-JAP 580cc 2 5 3:57.13 Finished 2nd. Disqualified for taking petrol outside of depot.[10] DQ 43 Jake DeRosier 3¾ hp Indian 584cc 2 5 4:29.41 Finished 11th. Disqualified for receiving assistance in repairing at Ramsey.[11] Fastest lap: Frank Phillip, 44min. 52sec. 50.14 mph (New record)

References

1. The Guardian page 14 Tuesday 4 July 1911
2. Ward, James J. (November 2007). "The Flying "M" on the IOM: The Matchless Name and the Tourist Trophy Races". International Journal of Motorcycle Studies. International Journal of Motorcycle Studies. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
3. Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday 30 June 1911
4. Isle of Man Weekly Times page 2 Isle of Man Times and General Advertiser 1 July 1911
5. The Motor Cycle page 586, 6 July 1911
6. The Motor Cycle page 614, 22 June 1911
7. Isle of Man Weekly Times page 2 Isle of Man Times and General Advertiser 8 July 1911
8. The Motor Cycle page 586, 6 July 1911
9. The Motor Cycle page 693, 6 July 1911
10. Isle of Man Examiner page 6, 8 July 1911
11. Isle of Man Examiner page 6, 8 July 1911

External links

• 1911 Isle of Man TT results