The first sidecar race. Isle of Man TT 1923. Race #12

The 1923 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy saw the introduction of the first Sidecar TT race over 3 laps and proved an instant hit with enthusiasts.

Sidecars were a popular mode of transport and the factories felt that racing them around the Mountain Circuit was not the ideal way to promote their products, but 14 outfits lined up for the start of the three-lap race. The manufacturers' worries proved to be unfounded, with the favourites, solo star Freddie Dixon and his passenger Walter Perry, comfortably winning an accident-free race with their special 'banking' outfit at an incredible average of 53.15 mph. The fastest Sidecar lap was by Harry Langman on a Scott at 54.69 mph (88.02 km/h).

1st Prize - Freddie Dixon - £40 and special gold medal.
2nd Prize - Graham Walker - £20.
3rd Prize - George Tucker - £10.

Douglas RA with banking sidecar, 1923 TT

The previous year the course had changed slightly in Ramsey, with the road connecting Parliament Square to May Hill being used instead of the town's streets. In 1923 the track was widened at Sulby Bridge, while the corner above Hillberry was named after Walter Brandish, who crashed and broke his leg there. The new course length was 37.739 miles (revised to 37.733 miles (60.725 km) in 1938).

?The Junior TT race

First-time winner was Stanley Woods, riding to his first of ten victories in the TT races, on a Cotton in the Junior TT. TT novice Jimmie Guthrie suffered a machine breakdown in the Junior 350 cc race. Jimmy Simpson had switched to AJS and set a new class lap record of 59.59 mph before retiring.

1st Prize - Stanley Woods - £40 and special gold medal.
2nd Prize - Harry Harris - £20 and replica.
3rd Prize - Alfie Alexander - £10 and replica.

?Junior Tourist Trophy -1923.

?The Lightweight TT race

In the six-lap Lightweight race Wal Handley set a cracking pace on his OK-Supreme, but, after setting a new lap record, his machine let him down for the second year in succession. Scotsman Jock Porter took over on his New Gerrard and crossed the line in front of Bert le Vack’s New Imperial.

1st Prize - Jock Porter - £30 and special gold medal.
2nd Prize - Bert le Vack - £20 and replica.
3rd Prize - Dan Hall - £10 and replica.

Jock Porter pictured in 1923 following his Isle of Man Lightweight TT win.

?The Senior TT race

The Senior race was held in poor weather and local course knowledge allowed local Isle of Man competitor Tom Sheard, also riding a Douglas, to win a second TT to add to his first win in the 1922 Junior TT.

1st Prize - Tom Sheard - £50 and special gold medal.
2nd Prize - Graeme Black - £20 and replica.
3rd Prize - Freddie Dixon - £10 and replica.

?Senior Tourist Trophy -1923.

More photos:

Harry Langman Sidecar TT 1923

F W Dixon, winner of the Tourist Trophy sidecar race on the Isle of Man, on his Douglas motorcycle.

In the Tourist Trophy lightweight race on the Isle of Man, S Baines, on a Lewis motorcycle, skids in front of competitor H C Chambers

Wade on 'Edmund', during the Junior Tourist Trophy Race at the Isle of Man.

Contestant S Woods on his motor-cycle at the Junior Tourist Trophy race on the Isle of Man.

G.W Shepherd on a Beardmore at the Junior TT, 1923.

F.W. Dixon aboard sidecar outfit number 55

F.W. Dixon aboard Indian number 46

Stanley Woods poses aboard a Cotton machine

1923. P. Cheston, left and A.E.Catt at the Amateur TT race

Isle of Man TT Programme 1923

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Photos by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images, imuseum.