TT 1947
After the end of the Second World War, it was 1947 before the Isle of Man TT Races re-commenced.
The Manx Motor Cycle Club, however, had got their act together and organised the resumption of the Manx Grand Prix in September 1946.
Superchargers had been banned and competitors had to use low-octane ‘pool’ petrol, which may have kept speeds down, but did nothing to quell the excitement that greeted the return of the races after such a grim period of seven years.
The ACU also introduced a new Clubman’s category for almost standard roadsters; entrants had to fit lights and kick-starters and were not allowed to use megaphone exhausts.
The three classes, Lightweight, Junior and Senior, were included in one race, although the Lightweight competitors completed only three laps rather than four for the Junior and Senior.
Stanley Woods had retired from racing, as Harold Daniel and Norton repeated their 1938 success in winning the Junior TT.
The war over, the Italians resumed their dominance of the Lightweight class, the Moto Guzzi’s of Manliff Barrington and Maurice Cann taking first and second, with Excelsior mounted Ben Drinkwater third.
Velocette seemed to start where they had left off in 1939, with a clean sweep of the Junior. Bob Foster led from start to finish, with teammates David Whitworth and Jock Weddell second the third respectively.
The Senior was rather more dramatic. Freddie Frith was sidelined after dislocating his right shoulder when he crashed his Guzzi at Ballacraine in practice, allowing Harold Daniel and Norton to repeat their 1938 success.
E. Briggs, riding a Norton, won the Clubman’s Senior, while TV commentator and Manx Grand Prix winner Denis Parkinson won the Junior.