Here is a warming image of the works Scott team at the Isle of Man TT in 1925. It seems a far cry from today’s professional and serious garage set-ups, yet the work, the conversations, and the ultimate goal remain the same 97 years on.
The 1925 Senior TT will be remembered by many for the only win ever by a rider on a motorcycle bearing their own name. Harold R Davies, riding his HRD, beat Frank Longman on his AJS, and Alec Bennett riding a Norton. Just four and a half minutes separated first from third.
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In fifth came Harry Langman on his Scott with an average speed of more than 61mph over the race, 14 minutes after HR Davies and less than a second after Tom Frederick in fourth. Langman had fared better previously on Scotts, with a third in 1922 and a second in 1924, but the competition was getting better all the time. Scotts were ridden by three more riders in the Senior that year: E Mainwaring, H Town and JH Welsby, none of which finished.
Scott had been attempting the TT with the unusual two-stroke lightweight bikes since 1909 with rider Eric Myers; as with so many other companies, Alfred Scott realised the power of TT success in the sales of machines. Especially machines such as the remarkable Scott, liquid-cooled when most were air-cooled, two-stroke when most others preferred four-stroke, and twin cylinder when most were singles. Additionally, they were light, nimble, and made well. Scott continued to soldier on and make its two-strokes until 1978, though in reality it was all over by 1950.
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