1911 Isle of Man TT. Race #5
The 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races took place for the first time over the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. The whole organisation of the races was given over to the Auto-Cycle Union (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. Grandstands were built by the Douglas 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 to Brandywell prompted the manufacturers to devise methods of modifying their mainly single-gear machines to cope with the Snaefell mountain road not once, but several times.
For the 1911 event two separate races were introduced. A four lap Junior TT Race for 300 cc single-cylinder and 340 cc twin-cylinder motorcycles and was the first event on the new course and was contested by 35 entrants. Harry Collier, on the single-cylinder Matchless, 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 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 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 race classification. Prizes & Remarks :
1. Percy Evans - 2¾ hp Humber 339cc - Winner of Junior Trophy and £40
2. Harry Collier - 2hp Matchless-JAP 295cc - £20. First single-cylinder
3. Harold Cox - 2¾ hp Forward 339cc - £10 and Silver cup for First private owner.
Senior TT race classification. Prizes & Remarks :
1. Oliver Godfrey - 3¾ hp Indian 584cc - Winner of Senior Trophy and £40
2. Charles Franklin - 3¾ hp Indian 584cc - £20.
3. Arthur Moorhouse - 3¾ hp Indian 584cc - £10. First private owner
Replica of the TT Replica Trophy awarded to Oliver Godfrey and engraved with his name, average speed, etc for winning the 1911 TT.
Oliver Godfrey hardly looks out of breath after his winning ride in the 1911 Senior TT. His tall pit attendant is W. H. Billy Wells, importer of the Indian machines that took the first three places. The start that year was on the WQuarter Bridge Road, after Ago's Leap.
Oliver Godfrey on winning Indian racer Oliver Godfrey#26 Indian 500cc 3 3/4hp winner of the 1911 IoM TT and placed the name of Indian Motorcycles from Massachusetts in the forefront of motorcycle racing in the UK
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