Charlie Collier poses aboard Matchless number 14 (registration number LB1061), 1910 (?) TT (Tourist Trophy)

Date(s): 1910 (?)

Scope & Content: The Collier brothers, Charlie and Harry, were the founders of Matchless motorcycles. They might also be regarded as the founders of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) itself, for it was they along with the Marquis de Mouzilly St Mars who conceived of the idea of testing road going motorcycles by racing them on the Isle of Man. Charlie himself made history by winning the first ever TT in 1907. His winning time was 4 hours, 8 minutes and 8 seconds at an average race speed of 38.21 mph.

The St John's course was only just over fifteen miles long and avoided the mountain since the machines were not powerful enough.

In the 1911 Junior TT the new longer Mountain course was used and Charlie was running second, chasing American Jake de Rosier, who crashed on the first lap and had to make repairs. Collier took the lead and won the race, but was disqualified when he was found to have topped up with fuel at an unofficial station, not at the pits.

Charlie Collier also won the 1910 Senior race. He was was fourth in the 1912 Senior and rode his last TT race in 1914 when he retired on the first lap.

Language: eng

Item name: photograph

Collection: Photographic Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: PG/0363/33

Subject tags : #TT&MOTORSPORT

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