1953 Clubman Junior TT

Course name: Mountain (post 1914)

Course length: 150.92 miles (4 laps)

Description: 1953 Clubman Junior TT Race report from the Isle of Man Times 13 Jun 1953 (p. 3) below which is a full list of competitors:
Clubman’s Junior T. T.
Derek Powell’s Fine Win
Broke McIntyre’s Lap Record
FIRST THREE BEAT LAST YEAR’S RACE FIGURES
NO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS
A 24-year-old bulldozer driver, D.T. Powell of East Boldre, Brokenhurst, Hants., won Monday’s Junior Clubman’s T.T. on a B.S.A. at the record speed of 80.17 m.p.h. Powell, who represented the Ringwood M.C. and L.C.C., set up a new lap record at 80.96 m.p.h. on his second circuit, smashing the record of Bob McIntyre last year by 18.4 seconds. He led from the first lap, and was never seriously challenged. Second was O.E. Greenwood, of Leicester, also on a B.S.A., at 79.23 m.p.h., which also beat Eric Houseley’s race record set last year. J. Bottomley (Norton), of Prestwich, was third at 79.09, again faster than the previous record.
There were 70 starters for the race and 49 finishers. Among the non-starters were local men Fred Jenkins and Doug. Crennell. Only two of the three local riders in the race finished. They were Eddie Crooks (Norton), 35th, 2 hrs, 5 mins. 21 secs (72.25 m.p.h.), and Roy Capner (B.S.A.) 49th, in 2 hrs, 29 mins. 59 secs. (60.38 m.p.h.).
Powell started off in determined style, and on his first lap came within four seconds of McIntyre’s 1952 lap record. Only 13 seconds behind was J. Bottomley (Norton) in 28 mins. 33 secs., who in turn headed P.E. Burns by 3 seconds. The race was indeed going to be close. E. Cox (B.S.A.), No. 26, who started between Burns and Bottomley was early in trouble, and he retired at the end of the first lap with a split petrol tank. Also in trouble was S.R. Raynor (B.S.A.) who came off his machine at Hillberry and retired.
Meanwhile, Powell was streaking round the course on his B.S.A. to set a new record at 80.96 m.p.h. and increase his lead over Bottomley to 42 seconds. O.E. Greenwood (B.S.A.) ousted Burns from third place on this lap at a speed of 78.81 m.p.h. G. Owen (Matchless), one of the Manx competitors, was reported to have retired on the second lap, but no reason or position was given. Local riders Eddie Crooks and Capner were still going strong and they completed the two laps in in 62 mins. 40 secs. and 61 mins. 15 secs. respectively.
Lap three saw Powell increase his lead further to 1 min. 48 secs. At this point Powell’s average of 80.57 m.p.h. for the three laps was greater than the previous lap record. In second place was Greenwood (B.S.A.), who had managed to pass Bottomley, and now headed him by 11 seconds. There was a tie for fourth position between A.M. Sutton (B.S.A.) and P. Palmer (B.S.A.) at 78.24 m.p.h. At the end of the lap, Bottomley (25) and Powell (39) were signalled at Governor’s Bridge almost simultaneously and they came through the Start with Bottomley leading by yards. Powell pulled in for petrol. Would Bottomley be able to make up the lost time? He had to lead Powell by over two minutes on the road to be in front. At Ramsey Powell was only 57 seconds behind, but although his last lap in 28 mins. 39.8 secs. was his slowest of the race he won easily by over 80 seconds.
RACE ACCIDENTS
P.E. Burns (B.S.A.), of Fleetwood, who had been on the leader board, lying third at the end of the first lap, came off his machine at the Stonebreaker’s Hut on his last lap and was taken to Ramsey Cottage Hospital.
R Brassington (Norton), came off at the Waterworks and was also taken to Ramsey Cottage Hospital. Both were stated to be “quite comfortable”.

Competitors

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