Tom Thorp

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 31, Thomas Thorp is an engineering pattern maker from Ruislip, Middlesex. He rode in the Manx for the first time in 1956, after four years of grass-tracking and three years of short-circuit road racing. He has been successful in 250 c.c. races, winning at Brand's Hatch in this class in '55 and finishing fifth in the 1955 250 c.c. class of the Hutchinson 100. In 1956, on his 250 c.c. B.S.A., he was fourth in the British Championships at Thruxton. He finished 19th in the Junior Manx soon after and 23rd in the Senior, qualifying for the Newcomers' Award jointly with W. Sawford and R. H. Lilley.

In 1957 he was sixth in the Junior Manx, at 86.31 m.p.h., and won the Hutchinson "100" 350 c.c. class, being awarded the Rickard Trophy for the best private runner. In 1958 his luck in the Island was out, for he retired in both Junior and Senior Manx races.

In the 1959 Junior Manx Tom took the lead on the third lap and held it to within a few miles from the finish when he struck trouble, coasting and pushing home from Keppel Gate to come in 45th. In the Senior race, however, he was second, half-a-minute behind the winner, Eddie Crooks.

Tom turned to the T.T. last year, but was unlucky enough to retire in both Junior and Senior races. He did well at short circuit meetings, however, scoring several second and third places at Brand's Hatch, Crystal Palace, Mallory Park and Snetterton, with a win in the 500 c.c. class of the Aintree Century Final. He is entered for this year's races by E. T. Pink (Harrow) Ltd.

Hobby: Football. (TT Special, 16 June 1961, p18)

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