Jon Stroud - Little Book of The TT.

and the TT

My father was my inspiration and when he retired he edited a motor biking magazine. As a result of that, and being very eloquent, he became the BBC radio motorcycle commentator. I suppose subconsciously I was trying to be like him. When my own attempt at being a bike racer didnt meet my expectations I turned my hand to commentating. Murray Walker OBE

The TT has been an enormous part of my life because my father rode on the Isle of Man from 1920 to 1935. I was born in 1923 and I first went to the Isle of Man in my mothers arms when I was two years old. I know I am biased, but it really, really is an incredible event. You couldnt do it anywhere else in Britain.

Graham Walker astride his Rudge after 2nd place in the Lightweight TT with his nine year old son Murray, 1932

A very special Island and a very, very special event.

Murray Walker OBE in the TT Centenary Celebration DVD

Murray Walker with Geoff Duke (left) and Carl Fogarty (right) chatting at the Grandstand

A Brief History

E llan Vannin , the Isle of Man, stands proud as the jewel of the Irish Sea almost equidistant between the shores of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Dissected by a central range of mountains with its rocky cliffs and long sand-covered beaches the island has born witness to countless years of change but has always adapted to survive.

Tynwald ceremony on Tynwald Hill, 1909

The Isle can trace its history back to the introduction of farming in the fourth millennium BC and then the inhabitation of the Celts from 500BC. During the Roman occupation of Britain the island remained largely undisturbed before taking on Christian ideals in the fifth century AD. From the end of the eighth century Viking occupation gripped the island and saw the formation of the Tynwald, the oldest continuous parliament in the world in 979AD. A century later in 1079, under the decree of Norwegian King Harald Hardrada, the island was pronounced the Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles with Godred White Hand Crovan as sovereign. Turbulent years followed as the English, Scots and Vikings battled for control of Man.

However, times change and empires fall and in 1266 the Isle was relinquished to the Scots by Magnus VI of Norway under the terms of the Treaty of Perth which heralded a cessation of hostilities between the Nordic nations and Scotland. Following centuries saw sovereignty pass frequently between Scotland and England until, in 1405, England finally gained the control it had been seeking. Henry IV granted Kingship of Mann to his loyal General, Sir John Stanley. Despite the familys Royalist sympathies during the English Civil War, the Stanley dynasty controlled Man until 1736.

By this time smuggling was rife on the island to a point that the Royal Treasury was losing upwards of 100,000 per annum, a fortune at that time. It was felt that something had to be done and in 1765 the British Government invoked the Re-Vestment act, purchasing the island in its entirety for 70,000 in the name of the Crown.

The modern Isle of Man with its population of 80,000 is a bustling place that capitalises upon its unique identity seamlessly blending traditional and modern. Tourism is now one of the islands greatest forms of income and smuggling has been replaced by a burgeoning movie industry that in recent years has seen over seventy feature films and TV dramas produced since 1995 including Waking Ned, Revolver and Severance.

However, by far the Isle of Mans most famous export is its tradition of motorcycle racing that sees thousands of bike enthusiasts descend on the island each year for the annual TT Races. After all, they dont call it the Road Racing Capital of the World for nothing!

Laying Foundations
Gordon Bennett!

A lthough the traditions of the greatest motorcycle race in the world are firmly entrenched in the soil of the Isle of Man its origins can be traced much further afield: across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City.

Born in 1841, James Gordon Bennett was the son of James Gordon Bennett Snr, a wealthy American publisher and founder of the New York Herald. Brought up in a world of opulence and extravagance the young Bennett served in the US Navy during the Civil War before taking over his fathers business interests aged just 26 years. Keen to raise the profile of the Herald, Bennett funded the British explorer Henry Stanleys successful expedition into central Africa to search for Dr David Livingstone.

As the toast of New York, it seemed as if Bennett could do no wrong. However, in 1877 excessive alcohol, a party at the May mansion, and an incident involving a piano resulted in embarrassment, social scandal and the calling off of his engagement to socialite Caroline May. Seeking a new life he left the United States behind him to settle in France, dividing his time between his 100-metre yacht, the Lysistrata, and an impressive villa at Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the Cote dAzur.

James Gordon Bennet who established the Gordon Bennett Challenge Cup

Bennett continued to manage his publishing empire from afar adding to it in 1887 with the establishment of a new English language publication, the Paris Herald (now known as the International Herald Tribune). Taking well to the European way of life he soon developed a love and enthusiasm for a new and exciting invention announcing in 1899 an international race and the creation of the Gordon Bennett Challenge Cup for motor-cars.

Charles Rolls in a Peugeot with a man walking in front with a red flag as the law of the time required, 1896

The basic rules of the competition were simple. Contested over a minimum distance of 352 miles, each nation was permitted to enter a team of three cars each wholly constructed within the entrants own country and weighing no more than one tonne. Drivers were to be members of the relevant national club. The inaugural Gordon Bennett race took place on 14 June 1900 between Paris and Lyon with teams entered from France, Belgium and Germany, however poor organisation resulted in many competitors getting lost enroute.