Lot details Registration No: N/A Frame No: TF20058R Engine No: T10097066R cc: 500 MOT Expiry Date: N/A
Shortly after the Second World War, well known Irish road racer Ernie Lyons persuaded Edward Turner to provide him with an engine for road racing, a feat that must have required frequent trips to the "Blarney Stone" on Mr Lyons part given Mr Turner's views of road racing! Mr Turner instructed Freddie Clarke to build an engine in the development shop, using his tuning abilities and as far as possible production parts. What emerged, housed in a standard rigid Tiger 100 frame with rear mounted footrests, a sprung hub, experimental eight-inch single sided front brake, narrow mudguards and racing number plates, was a power unit that utilised a Tiger 100 bottom end fitted with the light alloy head and barrel from the wartime generator unit. Mr Clarke employed separate inlet manifolds for two Amal carburettors fed by a common remote float chamber. The valve gear was standard, but like the components in the bottom end, benefited from Mr Clarke's attentions, being lightened and polished. Heavier conrods were employed and roller main bearings were utilised. Full race camshafts, a racing BTH magneto, alloy pushrods, and a rev counter all formed part of the build.
The machine's first outing at the 1946 Ulster Road Race was not a success, but a win in that year's Manx Grand Prix, when Mr Lyons was never headed and a fastest time at Shelsley Walsh all contributed to demands for a "production" version of the machine to be made available to which Mr Turner reluctantly agreed. The production bike made as much use as possible of production parts, although the special pushrods and roller main bearings were carried over from the Ernie Lyons' machine which had effectively become the prototype for what became known as the "Grand Prix". The "production" racers met with some success in Europe and Don Crossley won the Manx, however, it was at national and club level that they made the greatest impact. It is believed that somewhere between 150 and 200 examples were built between 1948 and 1950 with many going for export.
The example offered, an original `matching numbers' machine, has been known to the vendor for fifty years. It was dispatched from the Triumph factory on the 27th January 1949 to McIntyres in Belfast. At the time it was common for racing machines to be ridden to events in Northern Ireland necessitating their registration for road use and this machine was registered `LZ 1246' on the 21st February 1949 in Armagh to Richard (Dick) Knox. He went on to enjoy considerable success with it in local races including a win in the 1949 North West 200 Handicap and was fourth overall behind Artie Bell, Johnny Lockett and Cromie McCandless and a second place finish behind Harry Turner and in front of Artie Bell at the Carrowdore 100. An extensive restoration was undertaken following its acquisition by the vendor with a view to use. The transmission, magneto and engine were overhauled with Tiger 100 pistons being used and 19-inch TT100 tyres were fitted. The machine was repainted in the correct silver and black livery and the chrome was renewed. Presented in lovely condition following the restoration this exceptionally well documented example is accompanied by its original log book and a letter from the Triumph Owners Club confirming its engine, frame and gearbox numbers together with a comprehensive photographic record of the restoration and race programmes for the 1949 North West 200 and Carrowdore 100.
PLEASE NOTE: The vendor has informed us that the original high-compression grand prix pistons will accompany the sale of the motorcycle.
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