1921 Isle of Man TT
Encyclopedia
The 1921 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
Junior 350 cc race took place on Tuesday 14 June and the Senior 500 cc was on Thursday 16 June.
This year AJS
redeemed themselves by completing a hat trick, taking the first four places for a total of six of the top ten places in the Junior 350 cc race. Works teams boosted the entries to 133 riders and machines and amongst the thousands of spectators this year was the first visit to the island
for a young man, Stanley Woods
, who would make TT history by winning 10 times.
The Junior race speeds also rose considerably over the previous year with a lap speed of more than 50 mi/h. It had been suggested that sidecar
racing start in 1921 but this idea was not well received and not implemented until 1923. It was announced there was a possibility of moving the TT races to Belgium
for 1922 but the AutoCycle Union
never made the switch.
Despite AJS motor-cycle filling the first five places of the 1921 Junior TT Races it was punctures that had decided the race outcome. Eventual winner of the 1921 Junior TT Race was Eric Williams riding an AJS motor-cycle in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 23 seconds an average race speed of 52.1 mi/h. The race was initially led by Howard R Davies also riding for AJS and set a new lap record for the 1921 Junior TT Race of 41 minutes and 4 seconds an average speed of 55.15 mi/h. Time lost mending a puncture at the Windy Corner
by Howard Davies gave the lead to Jim Whalley riding a Massey-Arran motor-cycle. On the last lap Jim Whalley also punctured at the Windy Corner and finished the 1921 Junior TT Race in fifth place. New Imperial
made sales boosting news with a win in the Lightweight 250 cc class by rider Doug Prentice, coming tenth overall in the 350 cc Junior TT.
More drama was to follow in the 1921 Senior TT Race as the race lead changed every lap between Alec Bennett
riding a Sunbeam, Freddie W.Dixon
riding an Indian
and Freddie Edmond riding a Triumph motor-cycle who set a new lap record of 40 minutes and 8 seconds an average speed of 56.4 mi/h. The 1921 Senior TT race was eventually won by Howard Davies riding a 350 cc Junior TT Race motor-cycle by a margin of 2 minutes and 3 seconds from Freddie Dixon and Hubert Le Vack in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 22 seconds at an average race speed of 54.49 mi/h.
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...
Junior 350 cc race took place on Tuesday 14 June and the Senior 500 cc was on Thursday 16 June.
This year 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...
redeemed themselves by completing a hat trick, taking the first four places for a total of six of the top ten places in the Junior 350 cc race. Works teams boosted the entries to 133 riders and machines and amongst the thousands of spectators this year was the first visit to the island
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
for a young man, Stanley Woods
Stanley Woods
Stanley Woods Dublin, an Irish motorcycle racer famous for 29 motorcycle Grand Prix wins and winning the Isle of Man TT races 10 times in his career. He was a past pupil of The High School, Dublin. Stanley started racing in 1921 on a Harley Davidson...
, who would make TT history by winning 10 times.
The Junior race speeds also rose considerably over the previous year with a lap speed of more than 50 mi/h. It had been suggested that sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
racing start in 1921 but this idea was not well received and not implemented until 1923. It was announced there was a possibility of moving the TT races to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for 1922 but the AutoCycle Union
AutoCycle Union
The Auto-Cycle Union is governing body of motorcycle sport in Great Britain . Founded in 1903 and acquiring its current name in 1907 its aim was to develop motor sport through clubs and arrange touring facilities for members...
never made the switch.
Despite AJS motor-cycle filling the first five places of the 1921 Junior TT Races it was punctures that had decided the race outcome. Eventual winner of the 1921 Junior TT Race was Eric Williams riding an AJS motor-cycle in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 23 seconds an average race speed of 52.1 mi/h. The race was initially led by Howard R Davies also riding for AJS and set a new lap record for the 1921 Junior TT Race of 41 minutes and 4 seconds an average speed of 55.15 mi/h. Time lost mending a puncture 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...
by Howard Davies gave the lead to Jim Whalley riding a Massey-Arran motor-cycle. On the last lap Jim Whalley also punctured at the Windy Corner and finished the 1921 Junior TT Race in fifth place. New Imperial
New Imperial Motors Ltd
New Imperial was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by Norman Downes in Birmingham, between 1887 and 1901, and became New Imperial Motors Ltd in 1912, when serious production commenced. New Imperial made innovative motorcycles that employed unit construction and sprung heel frames long...
made sales boosting news with a win in the Lightweight 250 cc class by rider Doug Prentice, coming tenth overall in the 350 cc Junior TT.
More drama was to follow in the 1921 Senior TT Race as the race lead changed every lap between Alec Bennett
Alec Bennett
Alec Bennett was an Irish-Canadian motorcycle racer famous for motorcycle Grand Prix wins and five career wins at the Isle of Man TT Races.-Biography:...
riding a Sunbeam, Freddie W.Dixon
Freddie Dixon
Frederick William Dixon was an English motorcycle racer and racing car driver. He was the designer of the motorcycle and banking sidecar system. He was also one of the few motorsport competitors to have been successful on two, three and four wheels. He was twice awarded the BRDC Gold Star...
riding an Indian
Indian (motorcycle)
Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
and Freddie Edmond riding a Triumph motor-cycle who set a new lap record of 40 minutes and 8 seconds an average speed of 56.4 mi/h. The 1921 Senior TT race was eventually won by Howard Davies riding a 350 cc Junior TT Race motor-cycle by a margin of 2 minutes and 3 seconds from Freddie Dixon and Hubert Le Vack in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 22 seconds at an average race speed of 54.49 mi/h.
Junior 350 cc Race
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Time | Speed | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United Kingdom Eric 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... |
3.37.23 | 52.21 mi/h | 5 |
| 2 | United Kingdom Howard R Davies |
AJS | 3.41.10 | 52.2 mi/h | 5 |
| 3 |  Isle of Man Tom SheardTom Sheard Thomas Mylchreest Sheard Jnr was a motorcycle racer with 2 victories at the Isle of Man TT races and great nephew to Joseph Mylchreest the 'Diamond King'.... |
AJS | 3.49.09 | 49.52 mi/h | 5 |
Senior 500 cc Race
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Time | Speed | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Kingdom Howard R Davies |
AJS | 4.09.22 | 54.49 mi/h | 6 |
| 2 | United Kingdom Freddie W Dixon Freddie Dixon Frederick William Dixon was an English motorcycle racer and racing car driver. He was the designer of the motorcycle and banking sidecar system. He was also one of the few motorsport competitors to have been successful on two, three and four wheels. He was twice awarded the BRDC Gold Star... |
Indian Indian (motorcycle) Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the... |
4.11.25 | 54.02 mi/h | 6 |
| 3 | United Kingdom Bert le Vack Bert le Vack Herbert 'Bert' le Vack was a motorcycle world speed record holder throughout the 1920s and earned the nickname the 'Wizard of Brooklands' for his exploits at the Brooklands Track. An expert racing engine tuner, le Vack worked for some of the great marques and in the late 1920s joined Motosacoche... |
Indian | 4.12.06 | 53.91 mi/h | 6 |