Trip to the TT
The Classic MotorCycle|November 2020
Riding factory Nortons, Ray Ammwon the 1953 Senior and Junior IoM TT races, Fergus Anderson (Moto-Guzzi) took the Lightweight 250cc and Les Graham (MVAgusta) was the 125cc victor. A chance buy of an enthusiast’s small archive allows us to glance behind the scenes.
RICHARD ROSENTHAL
Trip to the TT

The period press took their photographs at the IoM TT races which, along with additional material sourced from recognised professional freelancers, were published in the Blue ‘Un, Green ‘Un, monthlies and interested local newspapers. Many are similar and were often taken from the same favoured vantage points.

This chance acquisition of an unknown enthusiast’s collection of pictures, both captured by this unknown TT fan and bought from course professionals, allows us to look over his/her shoulder. The collection covers the period 1952-57 and here we publish images from the 1953 TT practice and race weeks.

1 The long shadows suggest Alfredo Milani (70) is about to start an evening practice session with his factory 500cc, four-cylinder Gilera. Nearby, Les Graham (350cc MV Agusta four) and Reg Armstrong (500cc Gilera four) appear more interested in something happening just behind Alfredo than setting off for their next practice session.

Later, after a slow first lap on Senior race day, Milani moved up the leaderboard, chasing teammate Geoff Duke until Quarter Bridge on the fourth lap, when Duke spilled on molten tar. On lap five, Alfredo moved ahead of The Motor Cycle staffman Vic Willoughby (500cc Norton) to occupy seventh spot as he powered past the grandstand for what was to be the final time in his only IoM outing. As well as Milani’s retirement on the sixth lap, Willoughby’s Norton broke a suspension leg, spilling him without injury on Creg Willys Hill.

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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2020-Ausgabe von The Classic MotorCycle.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

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