By Next to feature in Road Racing News Famous TT Marques series is 15 times TT winners, Birmingham based Velocette.
First formed in 1904 by John Goodman, by the mid 1920’s they became established amongst the leading Mountain Course manufacturers.
Photo by Nick Wheeler
In 1926 one of the TT’s first major stars propelled the Velocette name into the race winners circle, as Alec Bennett triumphed within the Junior class.
Two years later Bennett would lead home a Velocette 1-2 within the Junior class, with second place going to H J Willis.
Moving onto the 30’s and another road racing legend in the form of Stanley Woods would provide Velocette with persistent front running challenges.
Runner-up for three successive years in the Senior TT from 1936-1938, Woods added to his already tremendous TT CV with back to back Junior Class triumphs in 1938 and 1939.
Fast forward to the 40’s and the Velocette name continued it’s front running pedigree with two more Junior race victories, courtesy of Bob Foster and Freddie Frith.
Velocette’s last TT victory arose in 1967 when Neil Kelly took the Production 500 race honours.
Unfortunately just four years after Kelly’s Production 500 success, financial problems forced the Velocette company to cease for good.
Velocette fans worldwide though have still had the chance to witness the iconic steeds, racing around the fabled, mythical Mountain Course since the early 1980’s at the Manx Grand Prix and 2013 inaugurated Classic TT Races.
Words by Stevie Rial
