The 1911

Isle of Man Tourist Trophy The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event is often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world ...

races took place for the first time over the ''

Isle of Man TT Mountain Course The Isle of Man TT Mountain Course or ''TT Course'' is a street and public rural road circuit located in the Isle of Man, used for motorcycle racing. The motorcycle ''TT Course'' is used principally for the Isle of Man TT Races and also the sep ...

''. The whole organisation of the races was given over to the

Auto-Cycle Union The Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) is the governing body of motorcycle sport in Great Britain, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, but excluding Northern Ireland.

(ACU), which announced the use of the longer mountain course with a four lap (150 mile) Junior race on Friday 30 June, and five laps (189 mile) for the Senior race on Monday 3 July. In only five years the TT races had matured and commercialism had set-in.

Grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap a ...

s were built by the

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking *Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civi ...

Corporation in what had been popular and free vantage points in Douglas, to the displeasure of the public. Preparations for this new, challenging course that meant an eight-mile (13 km) uphill climb from

Ramsey Ramsey may refer to: Geography British Isles * Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, a small market town in England * Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England ** Ramsey and Parkeston, a civil parish formerly called just "Ramsey" * Ramsey, Isle of Man, t ...

Brandywell The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium ( ga, Tobar an Fhíoruisce ) is a municipal football stadium with an adjoining greyhound racing track in Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of League of Ireland team Derry City F.C. and (temporari ...

prompted the manufacturers to devise methods of modifying their mainly single-gear machines to cope with the

Snaefell mountain road The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road or ''Mountain Road'' ( gv, Giat y Clieau) is a primary main A-road of in length which connects the towns of Douglas and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. Description The Mountain Road is part of Isle of Man TT Mounta ...

not once, but several times. Harry Collier, on the single-cylinder

Matchless Matchless is one of the oldest marques of British motorcycles, manufactured in Plumstead, London, between 1899 and 1966. A wide range of models were produced under the Matchless name, ranging from small two-strokes to 750 cc Four-stroke cy ...

, and Percy J. Evans fought for first place in the Junior event. In the Senior event, British pride and prestige was dented when the Indians took the first three places.

Charlie Collier Charles Richard Collier (1885–1954) of Plumstead, London, was a British motorcycle racer famous for winning Isle of Man TT races twice in his career. After competing in the 1906 International Cup Races on the European continent, Charlie Col ...

crossed the finish line second on his Matchless, but was disqualified for refuelling outside of the designated area. On Friday, June 27, 1911, the first fatal accident in connection with the Tourist Trophy races happened. While practicing for the forthcoming race,

Victor Surridge Victor John Surridge (1892 Chipping Ongar, Essex, UK – 27 June 1911 Glen Helen, Isle of Man) was an English motor-cycle racer who raced for the Rudge team. After the works Rudge factory team visited the Isle of Man TT Races for the first ...

was taking a difficult corner on Cregwilly’s Hill near Glen Helen section of the course, dashing into a hedge and breaking his neck. He was nineteen years of age.

Junior TT final standings

Friday 30 June 1911 – 4 laps (150 miles)

Four Inch Course The Four Inch Course was a road-racing circuit first used for the 1908 Tourist Trophy Race for cars, held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man). The name of the course derives from the regu ...

Senior TT final standings

Monday 3 July 1911 – 5 laps (187 miles 4 furlongs)

''Isle of Man Weekly Times'' page 2 Isle of Man Times and General Advertiser 8 July 1911

References

External links

1911 Isle of Man TT results
Isle 1911 in motorsport #1911 {{motorcycle-racing-stub