1952 Junior MGP

Course name: Mountain (post 1914)

Course length: 226.38 miles (6 laps)

Description: Race report from the Isle of Man Weekly Times 13 September 1952 (pp. 3-4) below which is a full list of competitors:

McINTYRE WINS JUNIOR M.G.P.
LAST LAP SENSATION AFTER RECORD-SHATTERING RACE
Englishman v. Scot in Battle of Speed
Thrilling Duel with Clark
MANXMAN IN FOURTH PLACE
R McIntyre (A.J.S.) set the seal on a meteoric career in motor-cycle racing when he won the Junior M.G.P. on Tuesday at record speed after one of the greatest duels in a great series. Almost from the start it was a case of Clark v. McIntyre and the rest nowhere as those two sped around the tortuous course at fantastic speeds. Then in the last dramatic seconds of the race came the news that Clark had stopped. McIntyre had won.
On the 4th lap Clark beat last year’s record by 1 minute 4 seconds at 87.37 mph ONLY 10 SECONDS SLOWER THAN THE LATE DAVE BENNETT’S SENIOR LAP RECORD LAST YEAR!
McIntyre, the Scot who put up the lap record in the Junior Clubman’s T.T. this year, set a hot pace from the start and finished the first lap in the lead, 8 seconds ahead of Harold Clark, both on A.J.S. machines. Third was D. K. Farrant, also on an A.J.S. Local rider Derek Ennett, another A.J.S. man was putting up a fight for fourth place, held by Keith Campbell, the Australian (Velocette) by one second. The leader’s speed for the first lap was nearly one mile per hour faster than the winning speed last year, and even at this early stage everything pointed to a great race.
Clark jumped into the lead with a record in the second lap, just after McIntyre had also beaten Robin Sherry’s last year’s record of 26 mins 59 secs. Clark shattered the record by 34 seconds and his speed was 85.73 m.p.h. He now led by eleven seconds, but McIntyre was still ahead on the road, 30 seconds before him. Farrant held his third place but Derek Ennett had ousted Keith Campbell from fourth position. Four A.J.S.’s in the lead!
Sensation followed sensation in the third lap. At the Quarter Bridge M. Richardson threw himself from his machine to avoid hitting another rider. Then came the news that Harold Clark had broken everything but his A.J.S. and was the first rider in the Junior Manx Grand Prix to beat 26 minutes for the lap. He did it by one second at a speed of 87.13 m.p.h. Only question now was could man and machine keep up this colossal pace? The duel between him and McIntyre has never been equaled in history of the races. On this breathtaking third circuit McIntyre equaled Clark’s previous record. Englishman v. Scot. What a race!
Although weather conditions before the start promised to be fair, they were far from ideal. Reports stated that a few scattered showers were possible and visibility would be good except on the mountain during these showers. Winds were north-easterly. The wet roads were drying quickly, but they were greasy under the trees between the Quarter Bridge and Ramsey, and a very strong wind faced the riders from the Start to Ramsey. They were warned to pay particular attention to the vigorous gusty wind on the mountain.
A telegram from Sir Geoffrey Bromet, former Governor of the Island, was received wishing success to the races and the competitors.
Thirteen non-starters left 93 in the race. Club Teams totalled 14, two of which came from the local Peveril Club. They consisted of “A,” D. Ennett (A.J.S.), J.J. Wood (Norton), D. Christian (Norton) and “B,” H. L. Mills (A.J.S.), A.R. Capner (B.S.A.) and R..A. D Mawson (Norton). Other teams which promised fireworks were the B.M.C.R.C. “A” team made up of E. Housley (Norton), D.K. Farrant (A.J.S.), K. R. Campbell (Velocette), and Kings Norton members of which were B. Purslow (Earles), J. A. Storr (Norton) and B. S .Hosking (Norton).
FIRST LAP
M. Wilcox (A.J.S.) had a little difficulty, but his machine spluttered into life and he roared down towards Bray Hill with G.P. Clark (A.J.S.) in hot pursuit. T. W. Brown (A.J.S.) experienced trouble and three men passed him before his stubborn engine answered his efforts. M. R. McGeagh (Velocette), of Ramsey, felt the engine of his machine jump into life beneath him and a split second later die out, causing him to pull into the pits. The last man was dispatched as D. J. P. Wilkins (Norton), No. 2 to start, reached Ramsey.
First news of misfortune referred to local rider Robert Dowty, astride a Douglas, who stopped at Quarter Bridge to make adjustments. He later proceeded.
Duels which promised excitement were those between K. R. Campbell (Velocette) and J. J. Wood (Norton) and J.A. Storr (Norton) and B.J. Hargreaves (Velocette).
Keith Campbell and Jackie Wood reached Ballacraine simultaneously having made up two places. Eric Housley (Norton) arrived there before H. H. Brown (Douglas), who had started five places ahead of him and R. McIntyre (A.J.S) arrived there before H. L. Mills (A.J.S.) who started three places ahead.
P. Bagshaw (A.J.S.) pulled in at Union Mills, changed a plug and proceeded.
The sun came out for a second as D. J. P. Wilkins (Norton) flashed through the Start, the first man to complete a lap this year. Close behind came R. McIntyre (A.J.S.), riding superbly having overtaken 14 men on the first circuit. He finished the lap 27 minutes, 7 seconds, a speed of 83.5 miles an hour.
Amid a clatter of engines Keith Campbell led through the Start, but Jackie Wood was not one of them. His indicator showed him to be still on the Mountain. Campbell had passed a dozen men. The light above Dennis Christian’s number flashed on, showing him to be at Governor’s Bridge long before many of those who started before him were anywhere near the end of the lap. No less than sixteen riders had seen Dennis flash past them on that circuit.
McINTYRE IN THE LEAD
Some riders pulled in for rapid replenishments at the end of the first lap.
McIntyre led H. Clark by only 8 seconds and Derek Ennett, of Castletown, astride an A.JS., set Manx hopes high by occupying fifth place on the leader board. But he was 49 seconds behind McIntyre although one second slower than Keith Campbell, the Australian, on a Velocette.
Startling announcement which proves the progress made in the motor cycling industry was that all those who started, succeeded in finishing one lap, a striking testimonial to the calibre of the modern machine.
SECOND LAP
By the time he had reached Kirk Michael, McIntyre was ahead on the road, having passed all those who started before him.
B. S. Hoskins (Norton), the Australian, proceeded after stopping to make adjustments at the Highlander.
Only an hour after the start, Robert Dowty (Douglas) was reported to have made three plug changes, and eventually retired.
CLARK SHATTERS THE RECORD
First retirement came when F. Pusey (Norton) had a spill at Quarter Bridge and retired. He suffered no injury. The famous bridge proved a stumbling block to two others, H. B. Winter (Norton) and M. Richardson (A.J.S.) both of whom came off there. Richardson immediately proceeded, but Winter had petrol trouble which delayed him.
THE WINNER
R. McIntyre, a newcomer to M.G.P., is a 23 year old motor mechanic from Glasgow, and finished second in this year’s Junior Clubman’s after setting up a lap record. He belongs to the Mercury Club.
He had been a consistent performer in practice
D. P. J. Wilkins, who started before McIntyre and did well in the first lap, retired at Handley’s Corner with engine trouble.
Harold Clark swept into the lead with a shattering record lap on his second circuit which converted an eight second deficit at the end of the first lap into a lead of 11 seconds at the end of the second. He sped around the twisting course at an average speed of 85.73 m.p.h. in 26 mins. 25 secs, to smash the old record of 26 mins. 59 secs. (83.91 m.p.h.) – put up by R. H. Sherry (A.J.S.) last year – by 34 seconds.
Although Clark had got into the lead, McIntyre had also broken the lap record set up last year. He covered the second circuit in 26 mins. 44 secs., a speed of 84.71 mph.
Farrant did a lap of 27 mins 9 secs. to retain third place. Derek Ennett with a very fast lap of 27 mins. 21 secs. ousted Keith Campbell from fourth place. Keith was fifth with Taylor still sixth.

THIRD LAP
M. Richardson retired after completing two laps. He had courageously thrown himself off his machine at Quarter Bridge to avoid hitting another rider, but in doing so damaged the handlebars of his machine, and he had difficulty in steering.
For the first time a Junior M.G.P. rider lapped in less than 26 minutes. The man who did it was Harold Clark (A.J.S.) who finished his third circuit in the astonishing time of 25 mins. 59 secs, an average speed of 87.13 m.p.h. He shot through the Start only 10 yards behind McIntyre (A.J.S.), who equalled the record of 26 mins. 25 secs. in the previous lap by Clark, and had started 30 seconds before him.
Other individual lap times on the third were: Farrant 26 mins. 29 secs.;Ennett 27 mins .14 secs.; Taylor 27 mins. 27 secs.; K. Campbell 28 mins.
Clark’s terrific speed had increased his lead over McIntyre by 26 seconds on the third lap to a total of 37 seconds for the first three laps. The exciting duel between the two leaders was taking them way ahead of the field. Farrant (A.J.S.) lay 58 seconds behind McIntyre at the half-way stage. Ennett (A.J.S), still in fourth place, was one minute 17 seconds behind Farrant. Meanwhile Keith Campbell had dipped another place, and Taylor had crept up from sixth to fifth, with a one second lead over Campbell.
A. J. Hickson (A.J.S.) went into a wobble at Brandish Corner on the third lap, which caused him to crash. He sustained a knee injury and a doctor attended to him.
FOURTH LAP
Those two speed aces, Clark and McIntyre were electrifying the crowds round the course with their thrilling duel in which only yards separated them.
David Lay, the commentator at the Highlander, demonstrated just what a pitch the excitement had reached as they careered through there. He yelled they were going through like the oft quoted hammers.
McIntyre’s style gave a greater impression of speed than did Clark’s, but Oh! How cool and calm was Harold.
Not content with smashing last year’s record by such a margin, Harold Clark went on to knock yet another four seconds off the record he had created on the previous circuit. He lapped in 25 mins. 55 secs. a speed of 87.37 mph. That bettered the record set up last year by 1 min. 4 secs.
Clark added another 10 seconds to his lead over McIntyre. He had led by 47 seconds at the end of this lap. But make no mistake about it, McIntyre was speeding round. He lapped at 26 mins. 5 secs. News of local riders was that Alan Raynor (Velocette) retired with valve trouble on lap three and Dowty retired with plug trouble after completing only one lap
Still the competition between Clark and McIntyre was increasing the distance between them and the field. Once again Farrant occupied third place, but he was now 1 min. 17 secs. behind McIntyre. Ennett followed 2 mins. 31 secs. behind Farrant and he in turn was 30 seconds ahead of a new fifth man H. A. Pearce (Velocette). Campbell was still sixth. The reason for Taylor dropping from the leader board was that he had replenished at the end of lap three.
Individual lap times and speeds for the leaders were: - Clark, 25 mins. 55 secs. (87.37 m.p.h.), McIntyre 26 mins. 5 secs. (86.81 m.p.h.), Farrant 26 mins. 24 secs. (85.79 m.p.h.), Ennett 27 mins. 48 secs. (81.96 m.p.h.), Pearce 27 mins. 15 secs, K .Campbell 27 mins. 46 secs.

FIFTH LAP
Once again David Lay had stimulated excitement with his description of the two riders passing that point “Oh my God” he suddenly announced, followed a few seconds later by a grateful “Oh! It’s all right”
McIntyre had gone into a slight wobble which made spectators gasp, but he came out of it safely and went on his speedy way.
At that point Clark led McIntyre by 400 yards, but later McIntyre made up the deficit and passed Clark, only to be passed by the Manchester man once again. Clark came through the Start to commence his last lap about 100 yards ahead of McIntyre.
Crooks, of Douglas, stopped at the bottom of Creg Willy’s hill with a broken primary chain on his third lap. He was all right but he retired. Eddie had bad luck throughout the practices with his chain and it did not leave him during the race.
D.E.R. Morgan (A.J.S.) retired at Sulby on his third lap with a broken primary chain.
Clark and McIntyre had covered the fifth lap in exactly the same time 26 mins. 2 secs. so that Clark’s lead remained at 47 seconds.
F.A. Rutherford (Velocette) crashed at Kerrowmoar on this lap, but was reported to be all right.
LAST LAP
By the time they had reached Glen Helen, McIntyre had cut Clark’s road lead to 75 yards. By the time they had reached Ballaugh, McIntyre had cut the lead still further and only 20 yards separated them.
It was obvious that McIntyre had realised that it was now or never, and he was making a desperate attempt to overtake Clark in an all-out effort to win. By the time they had reached Sulby Bridge, Clark led only by six seconds, a situation which promised an exciting finish.
McIntyre’s all-out effort was reminiscent of that record last lap of his in the Junior Clubman’s T.T .this year, when he snatched second place at the eleventh hour. At the Gooseneck only four yards separated Clark and McIntyre, with Clark leading. As they careered past the Guthrie Memorial Clark led by only two yards. At the Mountain Box the distance between them had increased to four yards.
But victory was not yet Clark’s. At about 1.25 came the most exciting news of the day – and perhaps the most disappointing. The Creg commentator announced that McIntyre had appeared round Kate’s Cottage in company with another rider – but not Clark. It was No. 23 T. W. Brown. Then Clark appeared, but the commentator estimated that he was about 14 seconds behind McIntyre at the famous cottage. Clark streaked down the mountain descent, not as fast as usual, and looking down at his engine!
And so people at the Grandstand stood and watched anxiously and eagerly.
McIntyre flashed past the Start to the applause of the crowd, which anxiously consulted watches to see whether McIntyre had snatched a last minute victory from Clark and so it proved, for it was announced a few seconds after McIntyre had finished that Clark was touring in from Governor’s Bridge. Clark passed over the finishing line at about 20 m.p.h.
It was clutch trouble which robbed Clark of his victory. When he eventually finished – and just before his clutch failed completely – he said that it started slipping on the mountain ascent, and there McIntyre passed him.
Clark announced over the loud speaker that he had tried to slipstream McIntyre as he came past, but he could not hold him.
McIntyre won the race in record time of 2 hours 38 mins. 27 secs. , an average speed of 85.73 m.p.h. Clark came second in 2 hours 39 mins. 6 secs., 39 seconds behind McIntyre and an average speed of 85.37 m.p.h. McIntyre beat the record set up by R.H. Sherry (A.J.S.) in 1951 by 5 mins. 58 secs.
The first four, which includes Manxman Derek Ennett, all beat last year’s race record.
E Housley (Norton), Junior Clubman’s winner this year and a fancied competitor, retired at Kirk Michael on the last lap with a broken chain. G.K. Lambert retired with broken handlebars collected in a crash at Quarter Bridge on the last lap. Lambert was unhurt

OVER 70% FINISH

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