1920 Isle of Man TT
Encyclopedia
The 1920 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
was the first to take place following World War I
. Official practice sessions started on 31 May with the races taking place on 15 and 16 June.
The 1920 Junior TT Race included for the first time a new Lightweight class for motor-cycles of 250 cc engine capacity, but this would not be a TT until 1922. (see below)
The 1920 Junior TT Race was initially led by Eric Williams the winner of the 1914 Junior TT Race riding a AJS
motor-cycle and set a new Junior TT 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 transmission problems at Keppel Gate
and free-wheeled and pushed it for the last five miles to win by a margin of 9 minutes and 50 seconds from J.A.Watson-Bourne riding for Blackburne
motor-cycles in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds at an average race speed of 40.74 mph.
The Lighweight class of the 1920 Junior TT race was won by R.O Clarke riding a Levis
and he may have won the event overall but crashed at the Windy Corner
due to a puncture on the last lap and then completed the 1920 Junior Race on a bent wheel-rim to finish fourth overall. G. Dance on a Sunbeam
set a new lap record time of 40 mins. 30 sec.
The 1920 Senior TT Race was won by Tommy de la Hay riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle at an average race speed of 51.79 mph from local Isle of Man competitor Doug 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 in the 1920 Senior TT Race. AJS
thought they could repeat the success of the 1914
Junior TT with a newly developed 2.75 hp ohv
engined machine. While Cyril Williams won the Junior race for AJS, Howard Raymond Davies, also on the AJS team, retired from both races with engine trouble.
To explain the 250 race more fully, the first 250 cc Lightweight TT Race would not be run till 1922. The 1920 and 1921 Junior Races had a separate 250 cc class that appeared to run concurrently. In 1920 R.O Clarke was fourth in the Junior TT Race, but finished in first place in the 250 cc class. For 1921 Doug Prentice was 10th in the Junior TT Race, but finished first in the 250 cc Lightweight class.
The Isle of Man Examiner, dated 19 June 1920, quotes that Levis won the first 3 places in the Lightweight class of the 1920 Junior Race. The article also states that no prize was awarded for the Lightweight Class as the finishers times were all 30 minutes slower than the winners time. The article does not state if it refers to prize money or some other finishers award. However, R.O Clark riding for Levis finished in 4th place overall and was within the 30 minute limit for a "prize" despite a puncture at the Windy Corner on the last-lap and then completed the 1920 Junior Race on a wheel-rim.
Isle of Man Examiner dated 19 June 1920.
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
was the first to take place following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Official practice sessions started on 31 May with the races taking place on 15 and 16 June.
The 1920 Junior TT Race included for the first time a new Lightweight class for motor-cycles of 250 cc engine capacity, but this would not be a TT until 1922. (see below)
The 1920 Junior TT Race was initially led by Eric Williams the winner of the 1914 Junior TT Race riding a AJS
AJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
motor-cycle and set a new Junior TT 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 transmission problems at Keppel Gate
Keppel Gate
Keppel Gate is situated adjacent to the 34th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course on the primary A18 Mountain Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man....
and free-wheeled and pushed it for the last five miles to win by a margin of 9 minutes and 50 seconds from J.A.Watson-Bourne riding for Blackburne
Blackburne (motorcycles)
Blackburne was a trade name of Burney and Blackburne Limited a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1913 to 1922 at Tongham near Farnham, Surrey...
motor-cycles in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds at an average race speed of 40.74 mph.
The Lighweight class of the 1920 Junior TT race was won by R.O Clarke riding a Levis
Levis (motorcycle)
Levis motorcycles , manufactured by Butterfields of Birmingham, were for many years one of England's leading manufacturers of two-stroke motorcycles...
and he may have won the event overall but crashed at the Windy Corner
Windy Corner
The Windy Corner is a corner on the primary A18 road in the parish of Lonan in the Isle of Man.The Windy Corner is situated between the 32nd Milestone and 33rd Milestone on the Mountain Course on the primary A18 road. The Windy Corner is part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course used for the...
due to a puncture on the last lap and then completed the 1920 Junior Race on a bent wheel-rim to finish fourth overall. G. Dance on a Sunbeam
Sunbeam (motorcycle)
Sunbeam was a British manufacturing marque that produced bicycles and motorcycles from 1912 to 1956. Originally independent, it was ultimately owned by BSA...
set a new lap record time of 40 mins. 30 sec.
The 1920 Senior TT Race was won by Tommy de la Hay riding a Sunbeam motor-cycle at an average race speed of 51.79 mph from local Isle of Man competitor Doug 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 in the 1920 Senior TT Race. AJS
AJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
thought they could repeat the success of the 1914
1914 Isle of Man TT
The 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the last held before the outbreak of the First World War.Bad weather overshadowed the Junior race on Tuesday, 19 May, but Eric and Cyril Williams gained first and second place for AJS having passed Irish newcomer who had been leading on the second lap but...
Junior TT with a newly developed 2.75 hp ohv
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
engined machine. While Cyril Williams won the Junior race for AJS, Howard Raymond Davies, also on the AJS team, retired from both races with engine trouble.
To explain the 250 race more fully, the first 250 cc Lightweight TT Race would not be run till 1922. The 1920 and 1921 Junior Races had a separate 250 cc class that appeared to run concurrently. In 1920 R.O Clarke was fourth in the Junior TT Race, but finished in first place in the 250 cc class. For 1921 Doug Prentice was 10th in the Junior TT Race, but finished first in the 250 cc Lightweight class.
The Isle of Man Examiner, dated 19 June 1920, quotes that Levis won the first 3 places in the Lightweight class of the 1920 Junior Race. The article also states that no prize was awarded for the Lightweight Class as the finishers times were all 30 minutes slower than the winners time. The article does not state if it refers to prize money or some other finishers award. However, R.O Clark riding for Levis finished in 4th place overall and was within the 30 minute limit for a "prize" despite a puncture at the Windy Corner on the last-lap and then completed the 1920 Junior Race on a wheel-rim.
Junior 350 cc Race
15 June 1920 – 5 Laps (188.75 Miles) Mountain Course.| Pos | Rider | Machine | Time | Speed | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cyril Williams |
AJS AJS AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on... |
4.37.57 | 40.74 mph | 5 |
| 2 | J. A. Watson-Bourne |
Blackburne Blackburne (motorcycles) Blackburne was a trade name of Burney and Blackburne Limited a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1913 to 1922 at Tongham near Farnham, Surrey... |
4.47.07 | 5 | |
| 3 | J. S. Holroyd |
Blackburne | 4.47.37 | 5 |
Senior 500 cc Race
16 June 1920 – 6 Laps (226.38 Miles)| Pos | Rider | Machine | Time | Speed | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy de la Hay |
Sunbeam Sunbeam (motorcycle) Sunbeam was a British manufacturing marque that produced bicycles and motorcycles from 1912 to 1956. Originally independent, it was ultimately owned by BSA... |
4.22.23 | 51.79 mph | 6 |
| 2 | Doug M. Brown |
Norton Norton (motorcycle) Norton is a British motorcycle marque, originally from Birmingham, founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". By 1902, they had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, a Norton-built engine was added to the range... |
4.26.13 | 51.05 mph | 6 |
| 3 | W. R. Brown |
Sunbeam | 4.32.27 | 49.80 mph | 6 |
External links
Sources
Isle of Man Examiner dated 12 June 1920.Isle of Man Examiner dated 19 June 1920.