1939 Isle of Man TT. motorcycle race #28

As war clouds gathered in 1939, the German government was determined to boost national prestige by dominating every international sporting event, and the TT races were no exception. The 1939 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the last races until 1947 due to the interruption by World War II.

German team at the 1939 TT

While BMW, NSU and DKW duly despatched works machinery to the Island, Norton decided, because of their commitment to a military contract, not to compete. In the end they did send their 1938 machines for Frith and Daniell to ride, but despite heroic efforts they could do little to stem the overseas assault.

?Lightweight TT

The Lightweight was held in bad weather and produced a surprise winner, the Italian Benelli factory scoring their first-ever TT victory with Ted Mellors at the helm of their dohc single.

№1 Ted Mellors
№2 Ewald Kluge
№3 Tyrell Smith

Ted Mellors Winner 1939 Lightweight TT

E.Mellors poses aboard Benelli number 1, 1939 TT

?Junior TT

The Junior started the week off well for the British fans, with Stanley Woods claiming his tenth and, as it proved, last TT victory, riding a Velocette. Frith led until the last lap when the Norton stopped with engine problems, which left Woods to take a straightforward victory from Daniell and DKW-mounted Fleischmann.

№1 Stanley Woods
№2 Harold Daniell
№3 Heiner Fleischmann

Stanley Woods wins the Junior TT (Tourist Trophy) Race on the Isle of Man, on his Velocette motorcycle, 12th June 1939

Ewald Kluge aboard a DKW motorcycle, 1939 TT

Harold Daniell poses aboard Norton number 51, 1939 TT

?Senior TT

Everybody, both on the Island and in Germany, was waiting for the Senior and the clash of the supercharged BMW twins and the all-conquering British singles.

The BMW team of Georg Meier and Jock West decided to compete despite the death of their teammate Karl Gall in a practice crash. The BMWs had been very impressive in practice, with a top speed of 135mph, and deep down even the most patriotic British enthusiast knew the only real chances of home success were if the German machines both broke down or the weather was wet.

Unfortunately for British pride, neither occurrence took place.

In dry conditions Meier led by almost a minute at the end of the first lap, with West and Velocette-mounted Woods tying on time for second. West then pulled away from Woods and the BMWs reigned supreme, Meier leading his teammate over the line with more than two minutes to spare. Frith and Woods, in his last racing appearance on the Mountain Circuit, battled furiously for third, Frith finally taking the verdict by just six seconds.

№1 Georg Meier
№2 Jock West
№3 Freddie Frith

Georg Meier (winner) and Jock West (2nd place) after 1939 Senior TT (Tourist Trophy)

Georg Meier’s Type 255 will be completing a lap of honour

Georg Meier his supercharged BMW at the 1939 Isle of Man TT.

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Credit: imuseum, wikipedia, iomtt, vintagenorton.