The 1931

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 ...

was again dominated by the battle between Rudge, Sunbeam and

Norton Norton may refer to: Places Norton, meaning 'north settlement' in Old English, is a common place name. Places named Norton include: Canada * Rural Municipality of Norton No. 69, Saskatchewan *Norton Parish, New Brunswick **Norton, New Brunswick, a ...

motorcycles. The 1931

Junior TT The Junior TT 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. Between 1949 and 1976 this race was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Engine c ...

Race was run at a very fast pace by

Jimmie Simpson Jimmy H. Simpson (1898–1981) was a British motorcycle racer. Simpson spent many years as a works rider, first with AJS and later with Norton. He was one of the most successful riders before World War II. Career Beginnings Simpson ...

riding for Norton who completed the first lap in 30 minutes and 49 seconds and was 6 seconds ahead of fellow Norton teammate

Stanley Woods Stanley Woods (1903 – 28 July 1993) was an Irish motorcycle racer famous for 29 motorcycle Grand Prix wins in the 1920s and 1930s, winning the Isle of Man TT races ten times in his career, plus wins at Assen and elsewhere. He was also a ski ...

in 2nd place and 18 seconds ahead of Freddie Hicks in 3rd place riding an AJS motor-cycle.''Isle of Man Examiner'' dated 19 June 1931 Although Jimmie Simpson was able to hold on to the lead for the next 5 laps, he was slowed by having to refuel every two laps because of carburetor problems.''Island Racer'' 2006 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 and steadily moved up the leaderboard. Further, carburetor problems caused Jimmie Simpson to drop off the leaderboard; he eventually finished in 8th place. This allowed 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 , from Norton teammates Jimmie Guthrie and Ernie Nott riding a Rudge motor-cycle. The 1931

Lightweight TT The Lightweight TT is a motorcycle road race that is a part of the Isle of Man TT festival - an annual motorcycle event traditionally held over the last week of May and first week of June. History The Lightweight class was first present at th ...

was dominated by the works Rudge motorcycles 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. By lap 6, Ernie Nott had a lead of 4 minutes over the rest of the field, until on the last lap he slid off just below the Mountain Mile and finished in 4th place steadying a damaged push-rod with his hand. This provided a first and only TT Race win for Graham Walker riding a Rudge at an average race speed of . The highly anticipated 1931 Senior TT Race which was again set to be dominated by Rudge and Norton motorcycles. However, it proved to be 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. On lap 3, the 1931 Senior TT Race produced the first lap by Jimmie Simpson on a Norton motor-cycle in 28 minutes and 1 seconds an average speed of . Despite taking over the lead from Guthrie, Jimmie Simpson crashed on lap 4 at Ballaugh Bridge and the bike, ending up in the river. Despite re-taking the lead, Jimmie Guthrie slipped off at the Governor's Bridge on lap 5, but continued to finish in 2nd place at an average speed of . Fellow Norton teammate Stanley Woods finished in 3rd place with a glove in the petrol-tank filler. 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 . The winner of the 1929 Junior Race, Freddie Hicks, crashed on lap 5 at Union Mills and was killed.

Senior TT (500cc)

Junior TT (350cc)

Lightweight TT (250cc)

Notes

* At Sulby during practice, Jack Williams riding a Raleigh motorcycle was timed at and Percy Hunt riding for Norton was timed at .''Isle of Man Eaxminer'' dated 12 June 1931 * During practice, Wal Handley slipped off his F.N. motorcycle at the Gooseneck. * 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 motorcycle and F.A. Renier both crashed at Glen Helen. Both continued; Ted Mellors finished in 10th place and Renier in 16th place.''Isle of Man Eaxminer'' dated 19 June 1931 * On the first lap of the 1931 Senior TT Race,

Wal Handley Walter Leslie Handley (5 April 1902 – 15 November 1941) born in Aston, Birmingham,
Kolumbus.fi Walter Leslie Han ...

riding for the Belgium motorcycle firm of F.N. slipped off at the Quarterbride and retired. At Keppel Gate on lap 3 of the 1931 Senior TT Race, R.F. Parkinson riding a NSU Motorenwerke AG, NSU motorcycle hit a bank and three spectators were slightly injured.

Sources

External links

IoM TT Races Database

Detailed race results

Mountain Course map
{{Isle of Man TT

Isle of Man TT 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 ...

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

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