Tribute of McIntyre’s 1957 TT ‘Ton’ Lap Set for Classic TT

Tribute of McIntyre's 1957 TT 'Ton' Lap Set for Classic TT
Michael Dunlop near replica Gilera that will pay tribute to the first-ever 100mph lap at the TT (1957, Bob McIntyre)

McIntyre’s 1957 TT 100mph Lap Tribute by Michael Dunlop

Tribute of McIntyre's 1957 TT 'Ton' Lap Set for Classic TT
Michael Dunlop near replica Gilera that will pay tribute to the first-ever 100mph lap at the TT (1957, Bob McIntyre)

In 1957, Scottish rider Bob McIntyre became the first racer to ever complete a 100mph lap, aka the “ton”, at the Isle of Man TT. McIntyre completed the lap aboard a Gilera around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course en route to winning that year’s Senior TT.

This was quite the feat back in 1957 when horsepower numbers were low and tire technology was at its infancy. That year was also the Golden Jubilee of the Isle of Man TT, and the Senior TT was held for eight laps instead of six.

McIntyre broke the “ton” with a 101.03mph on the second lap, but earned the record lap for that race with a 101.12mph on lap four. McIntyre, who died at 33-years old in 1962 due to injures sustained in a race at Oulton Park, completed this feat when the Isle of Man TT was part of the Grand Prix Championship (1949-1976); throughout his nine-year motorcycle-racing career, McIntyre earned five wins.

Sixty-years later, Michael Dunlop will pay tribute to McIntyre’s lap-record feat at the 2017 Classic TT presented by Bennetts; the 13-time TT winner will pilot a replica dustbin-faired Gilera around the Mountain Course Saturday, August 26. Dunlop, the nephew of the late Joey Dunlop who holds the record TT wins at 26, will complete a celebration lap on an identical Gilera recreated by Kay Engineering.

Dunlop was the perfect candidate for the tribute lap; he claimed the outright lap record of 133.962mph during the 2016 Isle of Man TT Senior TT.

The IOM TT says “The tribute lap is set to be the highlight of a packed weekend of entertainment with a heady mix of Castrol induced nostalgia, ear-splitting noise and breath-taking racing, coupled with a packed program of special events, retro entertainment and classic tunes.”

The 2017 Classic TT begins with qualifying on Saturday, August 19, and ends with the Bennetts Senior Classic TT on Saturday, August 26. The 2016 Classic TT Senior Race was historic as 23-TT winner John McGuinness broke his losing streak at the Classic TT, and he earned the four-lap race aboard a Team Winfield Paton. Joining him on the podium was MV Agusta’s Dean Harrison in second, and in third the female Maria Costello on another Paton.

2016 Classic TT Schedule (local times):

Qualifying

Saturday, August 19: 5:20 – 8 p.m.
Monday, August 21 – Friday, August 25: 6:20 – 8 p.m.

Race Schedule

Saturday, August 26
Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race (4 laps), 11:30 a.m.
Lightweight Classic TT Race 2 (4 laps), 4 p.m.

Monday, August 25
Junior Classic TT Race (4 laps), 10:15 a.m.
Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race (4 laps), 2 p.m.

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