Artie Bell - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Arthur James Bell was an Irish motorcycle

Motorcycle

A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

road racer

Road racing

Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...

became known for his short, yet brilliant, post-World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

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...

career that came to notice with his second place finish in the 1947 Isle of Man TT

1947 Isle of Man TT

After an eight year absence the 1947 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the first race festival since 1939 due to the interruption of World War II. With the restart of racing the ACU decided to add three Clubman class races for production machines and introduced these races for Lightweight, Junior and...

on a second-hand 500cc 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...

he bought himself on which he led for three of the seven laps.

Early career

Bell began motorcycling as a teenager despite the opposition of his father, who at one time forced him to get rid of his 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...

motorcycle, but by 1938 Bell prevailed and rode in minor events progressing to a second-place finish in the North West 200

North West 200

The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...

an event that still takes place in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

Active years

Riding his 1939 Norton, he participated in several races in the immediate post-World War II period including the 1946 Cookstown

Cookstown

Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...

100 event where he recorded the fastest lap time of 76.60 mph and winning the 1947 500cc Ulster Grand Prix

Ulster Grand Prix

The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle road race that takes place on the Dundrod Circuit near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe...

race with an average speed of 91.25 mph (146 km/h) in a time of 2 hours 43 minutes 1 second, while setting a new lap record of 94.79 mph (151.17 km/h). Bell also won the 1947 North West 200.

Following his 1947 Isle of Man performance, Norton picked him up as a works rider for the following season. He did not finish in his TT Junior 350cc race, however, the next season he claimed first place in the 500cc Senior TT

Senior TT

The Senior Tourist Trophy is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June. The Senior TT is the Blue Riband event of the festival and takes place on the Friday of race week. The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars...

race and third place in the 350cc Junior event. In 1949

1949 Isle of Man TT

The 1949 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy or I British Motorcyle Grand Prix festival were the first races of Grand Prix World Championship that were held in the Isle of Man....

he placed third and fourth in the TT as well as taking the North West 200 again. Norton introduced the Featherbed frame in 1950

1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

The 1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 2nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc...

contributing to his 1950

1950 Isle of Man TT

The 1950 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy festival was the second year the Isle of Man TT races were part of the Grand Prix World Championship.After his win in the 1949 Isle of Man Clubman event, Geoff Duke entered the 1950 Isle of Man TT only to find himself racing against formidable opposition in his...

first place in the 350cc Junior race and second place in the 500cc Senior race. Further placings in the 1950 Dutch TT

Dutch TT

The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP...

and Swiss Grand Prix

Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix

The Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1954.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:...

ensured his position in the 1950 Grand Prix season

1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

with seventh and fourth place respectively in the 500cc and 350cc championship standings. Bell also claimed the North West 200 for a third time.

Unfortunately, his promising racing career came to an end following a high speed crash during the 1950

1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

season at La Source Hairpin during the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix at the extremely fast Spa-Francorchamps

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its...

circuit. The accident occurred during the 500cc race when the leader Carlos Bandirola

Carlos Bandirola

Carlos Bandirola was an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He had his best years in 1950 then again in 1955 when he finished fifth in the 500cc world championship.- References :...

was being followed by Les Graham

Leslie Graham

For the English footballer and manager see Leslie Graham Robert Leslie Graham DFC was a British motorcycle road racer who competed in the 1930s and 1940s...

and Bell. When Bandirola braked early for the La Source Hairpin, a collision occurred when the AJS Porcupine

AJS Porcupine

-Racing history:The motorcycle was originally designed by AJS to be supercharged, as were a number of pre-war racing bikes, but the FICM banned supercharging in 1946. The motor was then worked on to allow it to perform without a supercharger...

motorcycle ridden by Graham hit the rear-wheel of motorcycle ridden by Bandirola. Although, Graham was thrown clear, Bell hit the AJS Porcupine and machines collided at high speed with a timing-post at La Source Hairpin. Bell was unable to race again even though he survived serious injury.

He died on August 7, 1972 at his home in County Down

County Down

-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

, and in 1996 the Irish Post Office

An Post

An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...

issued a set postage stamp

Postage stamp

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...

s of notable Irish motorcyclists that included a stamp depicting Artie Bell.

External links

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Early career

Active years

See also

External links