My 1st TT visit was in 1962. I was 17y.o. I am now 76y.o. I'll never forget Gary Hocking and Mike Hailwood coming down Bray Hill on 500cc MV Augusta bikes. The Sound, Speed and smell of Castrol R oil was incredible. 😆
I was there in 61 when Hailwood won on a Norton beating Hocking. I just missed my hero John Surtees who had moved to 4 wheels after MV wouldn't let him race both 2 and 4! He should have been knighted.
My work in the IOM gave me an opportunity to travel the TT circuit everyday for years and I knew every twist and turn of the road. My Rickman Bonneville had a top speed of around 130mph. and yet the best lap speed that I could manage was less than the TT winner in 1929 with worse tyres, suspension, and road surface. Those men were really MEN.
Between the gravel roads bad suspension heat emanating from the engine n poor quality seats n brakes I salute these men who took racing to the next level! God bless whoever kept these footage preserved! ❤️🤘
Wow! What an awesome vid. 1. Great overview of circuit. 2. Love the crowds of fans 3. Riders with no safety gear. 4. Primitive bikes with no brakes, balance or power! 5 Closing shot of Boy Scouts? in back of winner with awe on their faces. Priceless! Thanks so much for sharing 😀
My mate raced a Manx in the IOM TT in the 1950s. The first time he rode there he achieved an 84 MPH lap. But he said if you keep going there you get faster. - That was the good news.
Anyone finds this fascinating or loves the era and the TT races, i suggest you watch a movie called "No Limits" set in 35 i think, george formby, motorbikes were averaging 81mph around the course at that time, and the movie reflects on how dangerous the course is, and people with no fear or any nerve won
Brilliant video wow a real step back in time and some good viewing. Riding by the seat of your pants! Total Respect from Biking Adventures and Routes Northern Ireland BARBI
Used to know a venerable gent who rode for Norton between WW1 and WW2. His name was Reg Barber( not sure about that spelling) and his pal Jimmy Simpson lived close by. He had quite a collection of vintage bikes and would ride them locally around Polperro, until in his late 70s. Is it possible to put names to the numbers on the bikes, after all these years? Are there any records anywhere? Great video.
The max speed will be around 135kmh 85miles or litle more My BSA from 1929 had a top speed of 80miles but it is a standard motorcycle street version. And nothing prepares you for it a rigid frame with tires 3.00-19 in size at this speed it is a different dimension. the hole thing plays in a very different dimension. in a way, it's easy to handle. because the machines are light 130 kilos or 65 pounds and if you haven't set foot in it yet it is very difficult to understand how it feels these single 500cc engins are not the tuk tuk tuk pop pop pop type oldtimers that you imagine from old films short time top 6000rpm and 30-35hp was real in 1929 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qhXWYh3fqUM.html
This would be a Sunbeam Model 90 ohv 500 twin port. It was called the 90 because it reputedly did 90mph. I would expect a works bike probably did. I can't make out the gear change on this one but it was likely a hand change on the tank, although foot changes were just about making an appearance. It may have also only had three gears, no real suspension, just springs at the front and on the saddle. And definitely nothing you would think of as brakes. I have a 1931 Model 9 (the street version) which might do 80mph and if you apply both brakes you can knock 15 mph off before too long.
@@A101B202D303 Norton brought out a race-ready version of their 500cc overhead cam bike in 1932. This bike, the International was reckoned to be good for 29.5bhp and 90mph. Norton and private entrants won a lot of races riding this machine.
With the tyres as they were, the brakes as they were, the track as it was, the power as it was, the lack of springing and so on, these men were just as accomplished; as the riders of today.The bikes of those days would feel very difficult for us to master; in these days.I first raced in the I.O.M. in 1963 so I go part-way back to those heroes.It was never easy, and it never will be.
Mmm, a '70s four stroke Jap bike. Not many left. I had a GS 450s in the '80s. Marvellous flexible engine, flexible frame. Mine used to weave badly at 80mph.
