Meetings 1907 - 1930

TT 1927

Norton arrived in the Island for the 1927 races with a powerful line-up: Stanley Woods, Alec Bennett and Joe Craig, all armed with the brand new overhead-camshaft, single-cylinder engine that was to prove the backbone of racing for many years to come.

Woods was a favourite to repeat his Senior success of the previous year and looked well set after four laps. He led, establishing a new lap record of 70.90 mph, but then slowed with a slipping clutch, allowing his teammate Bennett to move ahead after being four minutes adrift. He went on to win from Jimmy Guthrie, riding the New Hudson. The Scotsman had made his debut four years earlier and later became one of the most popular riders of all time.

Wal Handley suffered his usual share of cruel luck in the Junior, but made up for his disappointments by taking the Lightweight.

In the Junior it was a familiar story as he was leading until halfway round the last lap, when his Blackburne-engined Rex-Acme broke down. Freddie Dixon grabbed his chance, winning on an HRD from Harold Willis (Velocette) and the AJS of Jimmy Simpson.

Handley had a great scrap with Alec Bennett and his OK-Supreme in the Lightweight. On the fourth lap Bennett established a new record, but he then slowed with mechanical problems and L Archangeli became the first Italian to figure in the TT results, finishing second on his horizontal-engined Moto Guzzi single.