In the 1923 Junior TT a youthful Stanley Woods, making his second Island outing on a Cotton recorded the first of his ten Island victories ahead of H.F. Harris on a works AJS. In the atrociously wet Senior TT it was Tom Sheard who prevailed, on this occasion on a flat-twin Douglas rather than an AJS.
‘Unlucky Jim’
Also in 1923 AJS secured the services of the meteoric Jimmy Simpson; both as a works test rider and racer. Jim’s win-or-bust style gained many a lap record but sadly for AJS no chequered flags. In that year’s Junior TT he came tantalisingly close to making the first 60mph Island circuit with a record lap of 59.59mph; but predictably ‘Unlucky’ Jim failed to finish. His opportunity came at the 1926 Junior TT with a record lap at 64.54mph. Simpson also had aspirations for the first 70mph lap and was delighted when the Stevens brothers produced a new 500 model to contest the 1925 TT series. Simpson’s AJS finished in third place in the Junior TT, but his Senior race resulted in retirement after making fastest lap at 68.97mph.
Record Laps and Sidecar Antics
That same year the third sidecar race was run, and rather impudently AJS entered Simpson on a 350 in a race for 500s. His erstwhile passenger was George Rowley, another AJS stalwart who competed in both road racing and trials. By all accounts the Simpson/Rowley duo provided some scarifying moments as Simpson manhandled the little Ajay to a meritorious fifth place.
Finally in the 1926 Senior TT, Simpson recorded that magic 70mph lap; and again he suffered retirement. Simpson’s tenure with AJS had been generally unrewarding and in 1929 he switched his allegiance to Norton; but Jim’s unerring misfortune coincided with a temporary slump in Norton’s dominance. Jimmy Simpson was truly one of motor cycling’s great characters.
The ‘Cammy’ Ajays
By 1926 AJS were facing a serious challenge from Velocette, following Alec Bennett’s masterly Junior TT victory, ahead of Simpson’s AJS. Significantly it was the first Isle of Man win for an overhead-camshaft machine; a fact that was not lost on the Stevens brothers. The outcome was a purposeful design with a chain-driven overhead-camshaft, rather than the shaft and bevel arrangement favoured by Velocette and others. The ‘cammy’ AJS made its debut in the 1927 Junior TT, where Jimmy Simpson gained third place behind Freddie Dixon (HRD) and Harold Willis (Velocette). It was a reasonable result for the new model, however in the 1928 TT series AJS reverted to the earlier push-rod models. That year’s Senior was plagued by foul weather; and saw Charlie Dodson’s Sunbeam finish ahead of George Rowley’s AJS.
A Remarkable Record
Since 1911 AJS had been represented on the Island on ten occasions. Their Junior results were quite remarkable; with four victories, five seconds, four thirds and three fourths. In the Senior category they could claim a first, a second, a third plus a fourth in the Sidecar TT. Their final pre-war TT victory was recorded by Jimmie Guthrie in the 1930 Lightweight TT, riding the beautiful little 250 ‘cammy’ AJS.
Corporate Take-over
Despite the Guthrie victory, nothing could be done to save A.J. Stevens from going into liquidation; a fate that had already claimed so many of those pioneer manufacturers. Ownership eventually passed to the Collier Brothers, past winners at the Isle of Man, and owners of the Matchless brand. At the time they did not support motorcycle racing, but that policy was revised to lend support for a limited racing programme, using the AJS name.
An Improved ‘Cammy’
Whilst the ‘cammy’ AJS had made a reasonable impression; with leader-board finishes in the 1927 and 1929 Junior TTs, it was felt that more improvements could be initiated. In 1929 Freddie Hicks on a Velocette had scored a narrow victory over Wal Handley on a ‘cammy’ AJS. Hicks was a capable engineer and also a handy rider; with the result that he accepted an offer to join A.J. Stevens Ltd. to develop the 1930 OHC models for the forthcoming TT. Hicks devised a sturdier frame and front forks, plus bigger brakes and improvements to the oiling system. All this was to no avail; for the 1930 Junior saw total dominance by the Rudge works team; taking the first three places. By comparison Hicks’ AJS debut resulted in a retirement.
An Unhappy Outcome
With the onset of the 1931 TT the old company was in the process of the take-over; but nevertheless Hicks and Rowley both appeared with Junior and Senior machines; with a certain amount of factory support. It was altogether a disastrous outing, with Hicks suffering fatal injuries, following a crash at Union Mills, while holding fourth place behind the all-conquering Norton team. This unhappy incident led to the racing machines lying dormant for the next two years, until finally the Colliers relented and allowed the OHC model to be marketed in racing and trials format. From then until the outbreak of war they were the subject of steady development, but were never to achieve the past glories of the heady 1920s.
Reference:
AJS - The History of a Great Motorcycle Gregor Grant (Patrick Stevens Ltd. 1974)
Murray McLeod - Murray has maintained an involvement in the arts for many years and for a time he operated his own gallery at Mt., Tamborine overlooking ...
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