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Senior Race, event of the day if not the era, the Scarlet Dragon flag descended with accentuated flourish, ‘dead-on’ 4.05pm. Syd Barnett 499 Norton already pulling well clear of Sandford’s 348 Velocette and Phil Carter on a 348 AJS as they left the starting area. Powell rapidly passing his way to second place by the time a second lap started, Syd Barnett, still smarting from his fall in the Junior was in no mood to dally at any stage. Sandford was 350 mounted because his intended Earles 499 BSA had not been completed in time. Powell 499 Norton, Sandford, Glazebrook 348 Norton, Freestone on 499 Norton not his intended and entered Matchless 500. That became the order. No ’fireworks’, New Australian rider G J Walker 348 AJS rose to sixth and naturally had his good progress commented upon. Lap three, Tannoy quickly advised an intent audience the lap record had fallen again to be now 71.94 mph. Chatter died away, all closely followed whatever was said over the Tannoy, all seemed tense, further news was awaited. Silver Dragons roared in the background. Fifth lap was underway, Barnett’s time of 4 mins 19 3/5th secs. sent spectators searching down the speed tables in their programmes, 72.11 mph. was announced to crowd murmer then fervent spontaneous applause. Crowd favourite Syd Barnett redeemed his earlier misfortune. Ron Jones 348 AJS in eighth was gaining on Des Snow’s 498 Triumph twin in its seventh position but Des gave nothing away and that is how they finished, Syd Barnett had proved his point and cruised home thereafter. C A Richards of Swansea had pluckily averaged over 60 mph for the 50 miles course bringing a comparatively slow Douglas 348 twin home into 11th place. Senior Race 10 Laps.
Winner’s Time: 43mins. 42secs. 71.40 mph. New And Absolute Lap record : Syd Barnett 72.11 mph. |
1953 pt10. The Senior race