Dozens of Britain’s oldest and most valuable veteran racing cars will be on the Isle of Man this week for a series of special events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1914 “Patriotic TT” involving iconic veteran racing cars which were state-of-the-art at the time competing on roads which were then little more than rough farm tracks.
The cars will be on the Isle of Man from June 22nd to 26th and take part of series of events around the Island from Monday 23rd when Lt Governor Adam Wood will flag off the first cars at the TT Grandstand at 9.30am.
The three days of touring, concours and social gatherings also celebrates the 60th anniversary of veteran car events on the Isle of Man by the North West Section of the Veteran Car Company (VCC), the first being in 1954.
The theme for the 2014 event is based on the centenary of the last Tourist Trophy Car Race before the Great War, known as the “Patriotic TT”. This famous race was held over June 10th and 11th 1914. The race was a real marathon of sixteen laps of the “new” 37.5 mile (1908) four inch TT course. (now known as the TT mountain course) totalling 600 Miles, split equally between the two days.
This was the first time The TT Introduced “real “ purpose-built racing cars, rather than thinly disguised touring cars. The quest was for speed and reliability which the manufacturers could reflect in their standard production cars.
The fastest lap on the first day was from a standing start, with an average speed of 59mph, by the eventual winner Kenelm Lee Guinness in his Sunbeam. Of the 23 cars entered, only six cars made it to the end.
One of the original three 1914 TT Humbers has been entered for the event and will be driven by Bill Wrather from the North West section and another has been entered by Tim Moore from the Eastern section.
The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain was established in 1930 to help preserve, restore and encourage the use of Veteran (up to and including 1904) and Edwardian cars (from 1905 to 1918). The North West is the oldest existing section of the club, steered by chairman and old car enthusiast Philip and Carol Lucking, of Lytham St.Annes, who will also be on the Isle of Man for the celebration rally, driving their own 1918 Bedford Buick 1st World War staff car.
The Isle of Man event is also the opportunity to celebrate two well known terms have been associated with these early Manx car races. The eliminating trial for the original International “Gordon Bennett” Cup Race to be held in Ireland in 1903 was held on the Isle of Man, and was the Island’s first ever road race. “Gordon Bennett !” became the exclamation for shock and surprise.
The other term which originated in the Isle of Man, and is now known around the world is “the pits”, which stems from the trench or “pit” dug in the ground at the early Manx TT car races, to store fuel and spare parts, so that the spectators could see over the top of them.
There is a record entry of 45 cars for the rally, featuring at least one car representing every year from 1902 to 1918 and also including both steam and petrol powered racing, touring and town cars.
Events during the Isle of Man rally include a display on Douglas promenade opposite the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas from 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Monday 23rd and from Tuesday to Thursday the cars will be visiting most of the towns and villages in their travels, covering a total distance of 600 miles at a much more sedate pace than in 1914, for all to enjoy!
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