The way we were: September 1937
Leicestershire runner Maurice Cann completed a double victory in the year’s Manx Grand Prix as he took his 490cc Norton over the line, beating like-mounted Rochester clubman Ken Bills by over a minute...
In the Junior race Cann broke Freddie Frith’s Junior lap record on his opening circuit and beat Bills by 45 seconds at the flag with Johnnie Locket (Norton) third.
Organisers ran the 250cc Lightweight class concurrently with the Junior race. Wakefield's Dennis Parkinson (248cc Excelsior) led from start to finish and won by over 3½ minutes. Parkinson’s race speed also secured him a Junior replica.
Scotsman Tommy McEwan set off at a blistering pace in the Senior and took the lap record up to 83.92mph. Turning up the wick further, McEwan’s Norton engine seized, throwing him off. Luckily not too badly hurt, he was soon on his feet. Cann took over the lead. Manxman Bertie Rowell was third on another Norton.
As September closed Brough Superior of Nottingham supplied engine drawings of an all new transverse twin. Coupled to its AMC derived engine was a synchromesh type gearbox.
Issue 40-06 - June 2013
Where legends come to life...
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