TT 1997
Phillip McCallen continued where he left off the previous year - winning.
In the Formula One TT, which he had won in 1995 and 1996, he was again favourite. Leading at the conclusion of the first of the six laps, he went on to complete a hat trick of Formula One wins. Michael Rutter was second on another Honda, with Kawasaki mounted Bob Jackson finishing third.
The Singles TT provided BMW with their second solo race win - the first being back in 1939, when George Meier won the Senior. David Morris, who had been runner-up a number of times in this class, went one better in 1997 with a start to finish victory, followed home by John Barton and Steve Linsdell.
In the concurrently run Ultra Lightweight race, Welshman Ian Lougher snatched victory almost on the line from Denis McCullough by 2.1 seconds, having set a new lap record of 109.25mph on his final lap to secure victory at what was a record speed of 107.89mph. Robert Dunlop made a great comeback from his horrific accident in 1994 by taking third place on the Patsy O'Kane Honda.
Elder brother Joey made it win number twenty-two when he took the chequered flag in the Lightweight TT. Ian Lougher had been quickest in practice, but at the end of the opening lap it was Joey who led Phillip McCallen by 2.2 seconds with Lougher third. On lap two both Joey and Phillip lapped in identical times, so the gap remained unchanged. Phillip's race ended on lap three with a big off at Quarry Bends, luckily he was OK, as Joey went on to victory. Ian Lougher stormed up to second place with John McGuinness taking the last podium position.
Just 48 hours after his spill in the Lightweight race, Phillip McCallen was back in action in the Junior TT. However, it was Ian Simpson who headed him at the end of the opening lap. Ian Simpson went on to win his first TT at record-breaking speed to win from McCallen with Michael Rutter third.
Phillip McCallen got his revenge over rival Ian Simpson when he took victory in the Production TT, which was reduced, from three to two laps because of the weather condition. The battle between the Honda man and the Ducati mounted Simpson was eagerly awaited, but they stayed in a one-two situation throughout the 75-mile race, with Simon Beck in third. Marc Flynn took the 750cc class honours.
Sidecar Race A proved to be a dramatic affair, with a different leader on each of the three laps, and the winner was only sixth on the opening lap! Rob Fisher and Rick Long led at the end of the opening circuit, only to retire at the Gooseneck on the second lap, letting Greg Lambert into the lead, only for him to go out at Barregarroo on the final lap, so Vince Biggs inherited the lead.
Roy Hanks had other ideas and lapped ten seconds faster and, after 30 years of trying, won his first sidecar race by just 2.2 seconds. Vince Biggs was second followed by Tom Hanks.
There was no drama in the second sidecar race as Rob Fisher returned to winning ways with a start to finish victory. Second and third places were taken by Tom Hanks and Ian Bell, with Race A winner taking fourth.
Not content with one hat trick of wins in the Formula One TTs, Phillip McCallen was out to complete another 'three-in-a-row' set of wins in the final race of the week, the Senior TT.
Howevere, there was some tough opposition - Jim Moodie on the Padgett Honda V-Twin, the Kawasakis of Simon Beck and Bob Jackson and the 750 Hondas of Ian Simpson, Marc Flynn and Joey Dunlop to name but a few.
For the first time ever the starting order for the Senior was decided on the overall practice leader board, so Phillip McCallen was No. 1 and Joey an unfamiliar No. 5. At the end of the opening lap it was Phillip out in front by 5.4 seconds from |Jim with Simon Beck third. The difference between the two leaders at the first pit stop was 1.8 seconds.
At half distance there were nine seconds separating Phillip and Jim, with Bob Jackson moving into third place - he had gone for three laps on a tank of fuel. By the time the fourth lap leaders were posted, the two leaders continued their scrap - separated by 18.3 seconds - with Ian Simpson back into third spot.
Jim Moodie set the fastest fifth lap and closed to within 4.9 seconds of Phillip McCallen with Simpson still third. And that was the finishing order with Phillip McCallen's total of TT wins now up to 11.