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 Jimmie Simpson riding for Norton who completed the first lap in 30 minutes and 49 seconds and was 6 second ahead of fellow Norton teammate Stanley Woods in 2nd place and 18 seconds ahead of Freddie Hicks in 3rd place riding an AJS motor-cycle.[1] Although, Jimmie 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.[2] Fellow, Norton teammate, 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 (121.14 km/h) and steadily moves-up the leaderboard.[1] Further, carburetor problems causes Jimmie Simpson to drops off the leaderboard and eventually finishes in 8th place.[1] 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 (118.99 km/h), from Norton teammates 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 teammates, H. G. Tyrell Smith and Graham Walker in 3rd place.[1] 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.[2] This provided a first and only TT Race win for Graham Walker riding a Rudge at an average race speed of 68.98 mph (111.01 km/h).
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 Jimmie Simpson and Jimmie Guthrie, this time Guthrie led on lap 1 by 1 second from Jimmie Simpson and Norton teammate Stanley Woods by 17 seconds in 3rd place.[1] On lap 3, the 1931 Senior TT Race produced the first 80 mph (130 km/h) lap by Jimmie Simpson on a Norton motor-cycle in 28 minutes and 1 seconds an average speed of 80.82 mph (130.07 km/h). Despite taking over the lead from Guthrie, Jimmie Simpson crashed on lap 4 at Ballaugh Bridge and the bike ending-up in the river.[2] Despite re-taking the lead, Jimmie Guthrie slips-off at the Governor's Bridge on lap 5, but continues to finish in 2nd place at an average speed of 77.34 mph (124.47 km/h). Fellow Norton teammate Stanley Woods finishes in 3rd place with a glove in the petrol-tank filler.[2] 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 (125.37 km/h). The winner of the 1929 Junior Race, Freddie Hicks crashed on lap 5 at Union Mills and was killed.
Senior TT (500cc)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Norton | 77.9 mph (125.4 km/h) | 3.23.28.0 |
| 2 |  | Norton | 77.34 | 3.24.57.0 |
| 3 |  | Norton | 76.35 | 3.27.36.0 |
| 4 | | Rudge | 76.32 | 3.27.41.0 |
| 5 | | Rudge | 73.08 | 3.24.14.0 |
| 6 | | NSU | 73.18 | 3.36.36.0 |
| 7 | | Raleigh | 72.61 | 3.38.18.0 |
| 8 | .svg.png){kind=small} | OK-Supreme | 72.48 | 3.38.40.0 |
| 9 | .svg.png){kind=small} | Velocette | 71.64 | 3.41.14.0 |
| 10 | | SGS | 71.16 | 3.42.45.0 |
Junior TT (350cc)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Norton | 73.94 mph (118.99 km/h) | 3.34.21.0 |
| 2 | | Norton | 72.90 | 3:37.26.0 |
| 3 | | Rudge | 72.37 | 3:39.01.0 |
| 4 | | Norton | 71.39 | 3:42.01.0 |
| 5 | | Rudge | 70.98 | 3:43.19.0 |
| 6 | | Excelsior | 69.58 | 3:47.47.0 |
| 7 | | Velocette | 69.46 | 3:48.11.0 |
| 8 | | Norton | 69.06 | 3:49.30.0 |
| 9 | | AJS | 69.05 | 3:49.32.0 |
| 10 | | New Imperial | 69.02 | 3:49.38.0 |
Lightweight TT (250cc)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Rudge | 68.98 mph (111.01 km/h) | 3.49.47.0 |
| 2 | | Rudge | 68.26 | 3.52.13.0 |
| 3 | | New Imperial | 66.84 | 3.57.08.0 |
| 4 | | Rudge | 66.72 | 3.57.34.0 |
| 5 | | OK-Supreme | 65.99 | 4.00.11.0 |
| 6 | .svg.png){kind=small} | New Imperial | 65.62 | 4.01.33.0 |
| 7 | | New Imperial | 65.49 | 4.02.01.0 |
| 8 | | Moto Guzzi | 64.6 | 4.05.24.0 |
| 9 | | OK-Supreme | 63.32 | 4.10.19.0 |
| 10 | | OK-Supreme | 63.27 | 4.10.39.0 |
Notes
- At Sulby during practice, Jack Williams riding a Raleigh motor-cycle is timed at 100 mph (160 km/h) and Percy Hunt riding for Norton is timed at 101 mph (163 km/h).[4]
- During practice, Wal Handley slips off his F.N. motor-cycle at the Gooseneck.[4]
- 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.[5]
- 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 Quarterbride 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.[1]
Sources
- Isle of Man Examiner dated 19 June 1931
- Island Racer 2006
- The TT Special edited by G.S.Davison dated 10 June 1931
- Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 12 June 1931
- Isle of Man Eaxminer dated 19 June 1931