1957 Ultra Lightweight TT

Course name: Clypse

Course length: 114 miles (10 laps)

Description: 1957 Ultra-lightweight TT Race. Race report from the IOM Weekly Times 7 June 1957 (p. 7) below which is a full list of competitors:

Provini Wins 125 c.c. Race

And Sets Up 74.44 m.p.h. Record Lap

TIME FOR RACE
2 Hrs. 27 Mins. 51 Secs. – SPEED 73.69 m.p.h.

The Start, Wednesday
Tarquino Provini (Mondial) won the 125 c.c. International over the Clypse circuit this afternoon in 1 hr. 27 mins. 51 secs. – average speed of 73.69 m.p.h. Thus, the race was won at record speed – previous best time was set up by Ubbiali in 1955 at 69.67 m.p.h.

To Provini also went the honour of creating a new record lap for the course, his speed being 74.44 m.p.h. in spite of high winds. The old record of 71.65 m.p.h., set up by Carlo Ubbiali on an M.V. in 1955, went many times.

To-day Ubbiali was second man home, with Taveri, third (both driving M.V.’s). The first six men home all averaged well over the 71 m.p.h. mark.

The cold wind persisted as the 125 c.c. race men came to the starting line – many of them ready to “have a go” at the Clypse for the second time to-day! Out of the original field of 33, there were 26 starters.
This promised to be a real scrap between the 250 c.c. winner, Sandford, and Sammy Miller, the man who was robbed of probable victory by his spill at Governor’s Bridge within an ace of finishing the distance.
The massed start enjoyed its usual impressive moment. The bikes roared away – and it was seen that Miller had snaked into the lead with Taveri close behind and Ubbiali on his tail.

L. Tinker (M.V.), from Canada, had a shaky start and the last man away was 62-year-old Frank Cope – also astride an M.V. Actually he got away just as Creg-ny-Baa reported that Taveri had beaten the field at that point and was in the lead with Miller and Ubbiali (certainly out for his third consecutive win in this class) on his heels.

As Taveri, Miller, Provini, Ubbiali and Sandford came through with approximately ten miles of the race over, it looked as though it might be anyone’s win. Their engines whined in full song. There was time to notice that F. Purslow had retired at the pits with engine trouble, before it was announced that Taveri had achieved a lap of 9 mins. 6.4 secs. on his first trip – four seconds outside the record.

Then came the first sensation.

In the winding tricky second half of the course, Provini had got his Mondial past Taveri and Ubbiali – he was in the lead and had created a lap record, time, 8 mins. 41.8 secs.; speed, 74.44 m.p.h.

Provini Retains Lead
During the second section of the race, going through after the fifth lap Provini lengthened the distance between himself and Taveri, who in turn was drawing away from Ubbiali. Some distance behind the third man were Miller and Sandford who were having a private battle. On this occasion Sandford was tucking himself in behind Miller, and it would appear that they had come to some form of “gentlemen’s agreement” on pacing each other in the respective classes.

L. C. Harfield (L.C.H.) turned in to the pits and retired, with transmission trouble, and R. W. Porter (M.V.) stopped between Creg-ny-Baa and Ballacarroon with a seized engine.
At Creg-ny-Baa, commentator David Lay, said that Provini was “riding in immaculate style” and that Taveri, some 15 seconds behind him, and Ubbiali, 20 seconds in arrears, were chasing him hard. Ubbiali was “putting his skates on” in an attempt to catch the first two men.

Provini was out on his own, going on to the sixth lap. And he had established a lead of 600 yards. He was drawing away steadily from Taveri and Ubbiali at Creg-ny-Baa and was obviously out to retrieve his misfortune in the 250 class.

It was noticeable that second and third man were very close together at the end of this lap. In similar fashion to Miller and Sandford, who were lying fourth and fifth.

R. W. Porter (M.V.) was officially announced as retiring at Creg-nt-Baa.

Provini Wins!
There had been excitement when Creg-ny-Baa announced that Ubbiali had passed Taveri on the corner, but that his lead was very slight and this position could change very easily! Manxman A. R. Capner, walked down to Creg-ny-Baa, his machine having seized up.

In the meantime Provini was cornering beautifully and showing himself the potential master of the race.

Colombo was pulling up to Miller and Sandford, and was a mere six seconds in arrears. Going through the grandstand to start the eighth lap Ubbiali had dropped behind Taveri, who had resumed the second position he had maintained for so long. This was one of the races within a race!

The thrills as a matter of fact were not being provided by Provini’s consistent riding, as the now established leader. They came from the private battle between Ubbiali and Taveri, only separated by two seconds on the one hand, and Sandford, Miller and Colombo on the other, eight seconds separating these three riders. Once again at Creg-ny-Baa, Ubbiali passed Taveri. Dave Chadwick retired at Cronk-y-Garroo with engine trouble. The rider was reported to be O.K.

Ubbiali maintained his second position which he snatched from Taveri at Creg-ny-Baa, but he was just over half a minute behind the leader at the end of the eighth lap.

Provino kept a steady led throughout the ninth lap and his progress was of high speed and sureness. Some time later, second man, Ubbiali went flying past the stands with a very healthy sounding engine, and he was now putting some space between himself and Taveri.

Provini was clocked at Hall’s corner – there was no doubt the race was in his pocket. All eyes were on the scrap which was going on for third place. Taveri was dropping back and Miller and Sandford were doing their best to oust the M.V. rider. Provini was signalled at Governor’s and after a very fast and consistent race he received the chequered flag. Winner of the Lightweight International 125 c.c. race.

Second man home was Ubbiali. The crowds waited anxiously to see which rider would fill the third place.

Taveri, Miller and Sandford were signalled together at Governor’s Bridge, but it was Taveri who flashed over the line, only a yard or two in front of Miller and Sandford, who were so close together that a “photo-finish” would settle as to who were fourth and fifth men.

TEAM PRIZE FOR M.V.’S
The M.V. trio of Ubbiali, Taveri and Colombo – the only manufacturers’ team entered – won the team award.
No club team finished intact.

Competitors

Comments