Henry Tyrell-Smith
NationalityIrish
Born1907
Died1982 (aged 74–75)
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Isle of Man TT career
TTs contested13 (1927–1939)
TT wins1
First TT win1930 Junior TT
Last TT win1930 Junior TT
TT podiums8

Henry George Tyrell-Smith (1907–1982) was an Irish motorcycle road racer. He was born in Co Dublin and studied at Trinity College, Dublin for a B.A. And B.A.I.degree. He raced at the Isle of Man TT from 1927 to 1939, and between 1929 and 1936 competed in the German Grand Prix. He also raced in The Swedish Grand Prix in Saxtorp 1933–36.

Background

Henry's first motorcycle was an ex War Department Douglas. From 1924 to 1929 he studied for engineering degree at Trinity College Dublin. From 1936 to 1939 he worked for the Experimental Department at Excelsior motorcycles. From 1939 to 1942 he was with the Bristol Aeroplane Co working on single-cylinder test stands. In 1942 he received a direct officer commission for REME. He was with the Workshop Office for Guards Armoured Division during D-Day landings and Normandy. In 1945 he was promoted to major as a workshop control officer in an engine repair shop at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. After the war he worked in the Experimental Department for Triumph Motorcycles.[1]

Motorcycle racing career

Tyrell-Smith started out on a Douglas, and finished second in the 1926 Leinster 200.[1] He rode a Triumph in the 1927 Isle of Man TT, and by the next year rode for Rudge, and continued to do so until 1935.

Henry Tyrell-Smith crashing at Glen Helen during the 1929 Senior TT

In the 1929 IOM Senior TT Tyrell-Smith began in the lead, and by the fourth lap was more than three minutes ahead. Then he crashed at Glen Helen, allowing a number of bikes to pass before he could rejoin, and this put Tim Hunt, on a Norton, in front. When Hunt had problems, Sunbeam's Charlie Dodson moved into the lead. Interest then began to focus on Tyrell-Smith, who, riding furiously, was making up time on the leaders. Dodson won, with his teammate Alec Bennett more than four minutes behind, and Tyrell-Smith only 50 seconds behind him, taking third. When he was examined after the race, it was found that he had leg injuries and three cracked ribs.[2] The Rudge team of those years consisted of competition manager Graham Walker, with Ernie Nott, and H.G. Tyrell Smith.[3]

Tyrell-Smith won the 1930 500cc European Championship for Rudge. In 1933 he rode an OK-Supreme in the Lightweight. In 1934 he rode an AJS in the Senior, and the 1935 Junior, having his last TT ride for Rudge in the 1935 Senior. From 1936 to 1939 he rode for Excelsior. The bike Tyrell-Smith rode in the 1936 Lightweight was a four-valve OHC radial head Excelsior with two carburettors. He finished second and went on to win the 250 cc European Championship. In the late 1930s he worked for Excelsior motorcycle company and when the war broke out, joined the British Army and served in the D-Day landings with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).[4] After the war, a career followed with Girling Ltd as sales engineer supplying suspension units to the British Motorcycle industry[5]

In the 1960s he was regularly seen at the Isle of Man TT races accompanying the Girling racing department in his capacity as representative to the motorcycle industry but also helping to provide the support to the sport that he loved. "Tyrell" took retirement in 1972.[6] On 30 September 1956 the first Coventry Parade – then known as the Coventry–Birmingham–Coventry Veteran Motorcycle Run – was held. There were 61 entries, including "H.G. Tyrrell (sic.) Smith, successful TT rider of the 20s and 30s"[7]

Isle of Man TT Race career

YearPlacingRaceMotorcycleAverage Speed
192713thSenior TTTriumph60.99 mph
19284thSenior TTRudge60.52 mph
19293rdSenior TTRudge70.25 mph
19306thSenior TTRudge71.11 mph
19301stJunior TTRudge71.08 mph
19312ndLightweight TTRudge68.25 mph
19328thSenior TTRudge75.70 mph
19323rdJunior TTRudge74.02 mph
19339thSenior TTRudge75.34 mph
19335thJunior TTRudge75.46 mph
193311thLightweight TTOK-Supreme65.62 mph
19347thSenior TTAJS70.56 mph
193510thJunior TTAJS75.21 mph
19352ndLightweight TTRudge70.67 mph
19362ndLightweight TTExcelsior72.51 mph
19377thJunior TTExcelsior77.25 mph
19383rdLightweightExcelsior73.62 mph
193813thJunior TTExcelsior76.69 mph
19393rdLightweight TTExcelsior71.91 mph
  • DNF in 1931 Junior and Senior.
  • DNF in 1936 Junior (Excelsior)- Retired Lap 3 at Creg-ny-Baa.
  • DNF in 1937 Lightweight(Excelsior) – Retired Lap 6 at Creg-ny-Baa with broken connecting-rod.
  • DNF in 1939 Senior.
TT Career Summary
Finishing Position12345678910111213DNF
Number of times13411121111126

German Motorcycle GP

  • In 1929 Henry Tyrell-Smith won the 500 cc class at the German motorcycle Grand Prix
  • In 1931 the 350 cc Grand Prix
  • In 1934 the 250 cc Grand Prix
  • In 1936 the 250 cc Grand Prix[8]

Other race wins

  • 1931
  • 250cc Dutch Grand Prix
  • 1932
  • 350cc Ulster Grand Prix – Rudge 77.89 mph
  • 350cc Brooklands Grand Prix
  • 1933
  • 500cc Leinster 200
  • 1934
  • 250cc Belgium Grand Prix
  • 1936
  • 350cc Dublin 100
  • 1937
  • 350cc Dublin 100
  • 250cc Leinster 200
  • 1938
  • 250cc North West 200[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Title: "TT Special", Published: 12 June 1953, page 22.
  2. ↑ Archived 7 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine LocalHistory Boulton, Part6 (Retrieved 15 November 2006)
  3. ↑ Archived 7 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine LocalHistory Boulton, Part5 (Retrieved 15 November 2006)
  4. ↑ TT Special, Edited by G.S.Davison; Article – "Practice Report"; 1950 edition.
  5. ↑ Isle of Man Weekly Times – Golden Jubilee TT Supplement 1957 p.8
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) MCB Bikesport Photo Archives 1931 – 1939 (Retrieved 15 November 2006)
  7. ↑ VMCC Coventry Parade (Retrieved 15 November 2006)
  8. ↑ RacingMemo L'Histoire Du Grand Prix D'Allemagne (Retrieved 15 November 2006)
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