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When the TT was launched in 1907, the entry fell into two predetermined classes. Machines were to be as dealer supplied and therefore standard production models. Motorcycles with twin cylinders and those with single cylinders were easy to sort, but to make the regulations a little more restrictive the twins had to accomplish 75 miles per gallon and the less thirsty singles 90 miles per gallon. On that May day in 1907 the brave riders set out to cover ten laps of the First TT course, the St Johns Circuit. After five laps there was a compulsory 10 minute break. 1908 repeated the 1907 regulations In 1909 riders were allowed to fit "race exhausts" but everything else must be standard. Capacity came into the equation and consumption restrictions dropped. Singles up to 500cc and twins up to 750cc were the classes. This was changed slightly in 1910 as speeds climbed so the twins were cut down to 670cc. In 1911 the TT Races were transported onto the First Mountain Circuit, some 37.5 miles long, which was almost the circuit used today. New titles were used for the classes but they still depended upon capacity. The "Junior" was for 300cc singles and 340cc twins and the "Senior" was for 500cc singles and 585cc twins. In 1912 it was decided to make the "Junior" class for capacities up to 350cc and the "Senior" up to 500cc.This was the programme until after the First World War.(There was a gap from 1915 until 1920) When the TT returned, it ran as before until 1922 when a new class was added. This was for machines up to 250cc and would be called the "Lightweight" Class. In 1923 Sidecars were allowed to race on the Mountain circuit in a race extra to the original programme. Yet another class was added in 1924, this time for the 125cc machines and for the sake of identifying this small capacity the name "Ultra-lightweight" was used. Lack of entries in the two lightweight, and sidecar classes caused the organisers some great concern so in 1926 they went back to Lightweight, Junior and Senior Races only. This set up continued unchanged until 1939 when this was the last TT until after the Second World War. In 1947 the TT bounced back and to celebrate its return three more races were added to the progamme. These were "Clubmans" races, also called Junior, Senior and Lightweight and these races gave the "wannabee" quality mainland, club supported riders the opportunity to emulate the riders in the "big" races. These added races proved so poular at the time that in 1950 a 1000cc class was added to the Clubmans Series (dominated by HRDs). 1951 saw another change. The Clubmans Lightweight and 1000cc classes were dropped and 125cc added again to the programme, all races on the Mountain Circuit. In 1953 the Clubmans 1000cc returned---dominated by Vincent HRD !. The Sidecars returned in 1954 but they were raced on a new 10.79 mile course round the Clypse Beg (lake). The 125cc class was "relegated" to the Clypse course as well and the Mountain Circuit only had the Junior, 250cc, Senior, and two Clubmans races wearing out its surface. The 250cc class went "Clypse" in 1955 and Geoff Duke JUST missed the first 100 mph lap in the Senior. In 1957, Jubilee year the Clubmans series was dropped, and only the Junior and Senior classes raced the Mountain Circuit. Bob McIntyre managed to circulate at 101.12 mph in a still memorable EIGHT lap Senior. Until 1959 nothing changed but then there was an overwhelming desire to have British machines win something again ! We had had Mv Agusta, Gilera, BMW, Moto Guzzi, NSU and the like fill all the major result sheets for a number of consecutive years, so there was created a special Formula which only allowed homologated machines (i.e. bikes you could buy in bulk). You could buy a Manx Norton from a dealer but you could not in those days buy an MV-500-4 or a Gilera-500-4. So we now were able to cheer for the top riders on Nortons, Ajs, and Matchless just just like we did in the early days ! The same Bob McIntyre (Norton) won the 500c Formula race and his friend Alistair King (AJS) won the 350cc race. OH, how we cheered ! Then, would you believe it, the Formula races were dropped ! 1959 saw the arrival of machines from Japan--Hondas--which went on to conquer the two, and four-wheeled world. They won the Manufacturers award on their first appearance and went home determined to return. The organisers in what appeared to be spite put ALL the races on the Mountain Course in 1960 probably to confuse the japs. In 1962 a 50cc class was added to the programme. No further chages until 1967 when a Production race series for 250cc 500cc and 750cc machines was added. Again we saw Brit bikes win for a change, the very bike you could buy from your local dealer ! This programme stayed until 1968 when the sidecar class was split into 500cc and 750cc. In 1971 a class for machines up to 750cc was introduced. This was the Formula 750 which was won--by a British Triumph ! then over the next years Triumph and Norton won. 1000cc Sidecars could now be accomodated and a "Classic" TT added after putting the Junior and Senior classes TOGETHER as one race earlier in the week !! In 1977 this Classic was briefly renamed the Jubilee TT (won by Joey Dunlop on a Yamaha) and then it was "classic" again in 1978. 1977 saw the introduction of the newest interpretation of Formula TT. Three Formulae (1, 2 and 3) which were 1000cc, 500cc and 250cc were added to a busy programme. The Formula 3 was dropped in 1984 to be replaced by a "Classic Historic 350" and a "Classic Historic 500" dominated by classic historic machines. Sidecar Races by now were one class but split into Race "A" and Race"B" to confuse us as the the winner. Little changed until 1989 when Supersport classes for 600cc and 400cc machines replaced Formula 2. The TT programme more or less stabilises after that with only a few experiments such as a "Singles" class. No, not a class for unmarried riders it was for one lunged machines. The Junior Class was for 600cc machines and the Senior could take just about any capacity ! 2002 sees the return of the TT after a one year break. The Programme welcomes back the machines for which the TT was first created. SATURDAY 1 JUNE FORMULA ONE SIDECAR "A" MONDAY 3 JUNE LIGHTWEIGHT 400cc AND ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT 125cc PRODUCTION 1000cc WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE JUNIOR 600 cc and TT250cc SIDECAR "B" FRIDAY 7 JUNE PRODUCTION 600 SENIOR TT.  |
