So, exactly 100 years after 25 pioneer racers gathered to contest the first Tourist Trophy meeting, 100 members of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club assembled with their early machines at Tynwald Hill and in the company of celebrity riders like Sammy Miller, Mick Grant, Nick Jefferies, Guy Martin and Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle, prepared to re-enact part of that first race by riding one lap of the original 15½ mile St John’s course.

Whilst the intention was to send the first rider off at exactly 10.00 am as in 1907, officialdom caused a short delay. This was put to good use by Nick Jefferies – dressed in his ex-ISDT Barbour suit and an early ‘helmet’ conspicously lacking ACU stickers – as he regaled current TT superstar Guy Martin with ‘can you believe it’ tales of the early TT races. Not that Nick was there in 1907, but he does have a superb knowledge of TT history. For his part, Guy had found some black leathers and a pudding-basin helmet that he wore at a jaunty angle to suit his permanent smile. Mick Grant had also dug out a set of black leathers, and part of his imitation of an early TT rider involved keeping a carefully prepared ‘roll-up’ drooping from the corner of his mouth throughout the whole re-enactment process, including his ride! All three of the above were on bikes loaned from local collections, whilst Sammy Miller brought a 1912 Humber from his New Milton museum and dressed in period attire.

Despatched in pairs at half-minute intervals by joint starters Geoff Duke and current top TT star John McGuinness, a few of the 2007 riders experienced the sort of difficulties that befell the first runners back in 1907, for some bikes were reluctant to start, while just a couple of miles into the lap one or two of the real veterans needed a push up Creg Wyllies Hill. Other riders were forced to stop en-route to make adjustments, and a few unfortunates failed to finish. Those that rode the whole lap spent much of the time returning the waves of the many roadside spectators who thronged the popular TT vantage points like Ballacraine, Glen Helen, Cronk y Voddy and Douglas Road corner at Kirk Michael, for the Re-enactment run really did catch the public imagination.

On completion of the lap, bikes were put on display at St John’s for literally thousands more to view, whilst judges determined who should receive a selection of awards. One of the last riders home was Manxman and TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle on his George Formby look-alike ‘Shuttleworth Snap’. Dealing with one or two mechanical problems en-route, ‘Milky’ was popular amongst autograph-hunters at the finish.

Little did arch-organisers of the event, Dick Hodge and Tony East (backed by Section members), realise when they were roped in to create it, that the Re-enactment run would turn into one of the highlights of the TT’s centenary celebrations. It really was a day to remember, being one on which the sun shone, everyone smiled and a truly historic occasion was celebrated in style. Many riders and spectators dressed in period costume and the event provided a wonderful showcase for vintage motorcycling, with photos and reports appearing in national newspapers.

On the racing side, most peoples abiding memory of the 2007 TT is the record-breaking 130 mph lap of John McGuinness, but when asked what part of the celebrations they enjoyed most outside the racing, many people still rate the Re-enactment as their favourite. It is something of which the Section is justly proud.

For more pictures click here