1920 Isle of Man TT

Races

Junior TT 350cc race

The Junior TT race was initially led by Eric Williams, the winner of the 1914 Junior TT race riding an AJS and set a new Junior 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 gear-box problems at the Creg-ny-Baa corner on the last lap and free-wheeled and pushed to the finish-line located at the Nobles Park playing fields in the town of Douglas. The winning margin for Williams was 9 minutes and 50 seconds from Jack Watson-Bourne, riding for Blackburne motorcycles in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds, at an average race speed of 40.74 mph.

Lightweight TT 250cc race

The Lightweight class within Junior TT race was won by R. O. Clark riding a Levis and he may have won the event overall but was thrown from his Levis motor-cycle at the Creg-ny-Baa after a puncture on the last lap. After completing the race on a bent front wheel-rim he was detained in Nobles Hospital after the race with physical exhaustion.

Senior TT 500 race

The Senior TT race was won by Tommy de la Hay riding a Sunbeam at an average race speed of 51.79 mph from local Isle of Man competitor Duggie 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. 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, H. R. Davies, also on the AJS team, retired from both races with engine trouble.

Race awards and classes

The 1920 Junior TT race included for the first time a new Lightweight TT class for motorcycles of 250 cc engine capacity. R. O. Clark riding for the Levis marque finished in 4th place overall and was within the 30 minute limit for The Motor Cycle Cup Trophy for the smaller 250cc motor-cycles.

Race results

Junior TT 350cc

Held on 15 June 1920, at 9:30 am over a distance of 188.75 miles (5 laps of 37.75 miles each), limited to machines of cylinder capacity not exceeding 350cc., with a class for 250 cc. engines run concurrently for The Motor Cycle cup. Out of 32 entries, comprising 8 two-strokes, 16 four-stroke Singles, 7 Flat Twins and 1 V Twin, twenty-four started the race and only eleven finished.

Race results

Junior TT 350cc

Held on June 15, at 9:31 am over a distance of 188.75 miles (5 laps of 37.75 miles each), limited to machines of cylinder capacity not exceeding 350cc., with a class for 250 cc. engines run concurrently for The Motor Cycle cup. Out of 32 entries, comprising 8 two-strokes, 16 four-stroke Singles, 7 Flat Twins and 1 V Twin, twenty-four started the race and only eleven finished.

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Senior TT 500cc final standings

Held on June 17, at 9:30 am over a distance of 226.50 miles (6 laps of 37.75 miles each), limited to machines of cylinder capacity not exceeding 500cc. Out of 29 entries, comprising 21 four-stroke singles, 5 V Twins, 3 Flat Twins and no two-strokes. Twenty-seven riders started the race and fourteen finished.

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Notes

• During the first practice session, T.H. Haddock riding an AJS in the Junior race crashed at Keppel Gate. George Cowley crashed at Governor's Bridge and Graham Walker, riding for Norton in the Senior class, hit sheep in the mist on the Snaefell Mountain section.
• During the Saturday practice D.S. Alexander riding an Indian Scout at number 51 in the Senior turned off the course at Braddan Bridge and rejoined at Hillberry and set a time of 39 minutes and 10 seconds!
• Prize Money awarded for the Junior race was: 1st place £40, 2nd place £20 and 3rd place £10. A gold finisher's award was made for each competitor completing the race within 30 minutes of the winner. The Motor Cycle magazine Gold Cup was awarded to Eric Williams for setting the fastest lap of 44 minutes and 6 seconds.
• Prize Money awarded for the Senior race was: 1st place £50, 2nd place £25 and 3rd place £15.

References

Sources

References

1. ''Isle of Man Examiner'' page 2 & 3 "The Motor Cycle Races" Saturday 12 June 1920
2. ''Manchester Guardian'' page 16 Wednesday 16 June 1920
3. ''Daily Express'' page 2 Saturday 19 June 1920
4. ''Motor Cycling'' page 181 THE JUNIOR RACE PROVIDES MANY SURPRISES 23 June 1920
5. ''Isle of Man Examiner'' page 2 "Interesting Race Pairs" Saturday 19 June 1920
6. (April 2017). "A. J. Stevens & Co. (1914) Ltd".
7. ''Birmingham Daily Gazette'' page 3 Wednesday 23 June 1920
8. ''Isle of Man Times'' page 3 T.T. RACES Saturday 19 June 1920
9. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 701 THE JUNIOR TOURIST TROPHY RACE 24 June 1920
10. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 701 THE JUNIOR TOURIST TROPHY RACE 24 June 1920
11. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 638, 10 June 1920
12. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 704 Saturday 24 June 1920
13. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 705 Saturday 24 June 1920
14. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 703 Saturday 24 June 1920
15. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 636 Saturday 10 June 1920
16. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 706 Saturday 24 June 1920
17. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 721 THE SENIOR TOURIST TROPHY RACE 24 June 1920
18. ''The Motor Cycle'' page 721, 24 June 1920
19. ''Isle of Man Times'' page 3 "TT RACES The Junior and Senior. Splendid Wins for AJS and Sunbeam." Saturday 19 June 1920
20. ''Ramsey Couier'' page 3 ACCIDENTS ON THE COURSE Friday 4 June 1920
21. Peel City Guardian page 7 Saturday 5 June 1920
22. ''Isle of Man Examiner'' page 2 "Motor Cycle Races" Saturday 19 June 1920