Jimmie Guthrie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmie Guthrie
Nationality	British
Born	(1897-05-23)23 May 1897 Hawick, Scotland
Died	8 August 1937(1937-08-08) (aged 40) Sachsenring road racing course, near Hohenstein-Ernstthal village, Germany
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1927-1937 First race 1928 German Grand Prix 350 cc Last race 1937 German Grand Prix 500 cc First win 1930 German Grand Prix 350 cc Last win 1937 Belgium Grand Prix 500 cc Team(s) AJS, Norton Championships 4 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 0 19 0 0 0 0 Isle of Man TT career TTs contested 12 (1923, 1927-1937) TT wins 6 First TT win 1930 Lightweight TT Last TT win 1937 Junior TT Podiums 12

James "Jimmie" Guthrie (born May 23, 1897 – died August 8, 1937) was a famous Scottish motorcycle racer. He was known as the "Flying Scotsman" because of his exciting racing style.

Jimmie Guthrie owned a motorcycle garage and was a professional racer from Hawick, Scotland. He won 14 European Grand Prix races between 1934 and 1937. Overall, he had 19 European Grand Prix victories.

While racing for the Norton motorcycle team, Jimmie Guthrie won the 500cc FICM European motorcycle championship three times in a row (1934–1937). He also won the 350cc category in 1937. During the 1930s, he won the North West 200 races three times. He also achieved six wins at the famous Isle of Man TT races.

Sadly, Jimmie Guthrie crashed during the 1937 German Motorcycle Grand Prix. He was leading on the very last lap. The exact reason for the crash is still unclear. Some people think it was an incident with another racer, or a problem with his motorcycle. He later died in the hospital from his injuries.

Jimmie Guthrie's Early Life and Service

Jimmie Guthrie was born in Hawick, Scotland.

Serving His Country

After training as an engineer, Guthrie joined a local army group called the 4th (The Border) Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers. This group was part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division.

Guthrie served in important places like Gallipoli and Palestine. Later, in 1918, he served in France during World War I. There, he worked as a motorcycle dispatch rider. This meant he delivered important messages on his motorcycle.

Starting His Racing Journey

After the war, Jimmie Guthrie returned to Hawick. He and his brother Archie joined the local Hawick Motor-Cycle Club.

Guthrie started racing in local hill-climb and grass-track events. The Hawick MCC then chose him to race in the Isle of Man TT races in 1923. He didn't race at the Isle of Man TT again until 1927. However, he competed in the Scottish Speed Championships at St Andrews, winning in both 1926 and 1927.

Honoring a Racing Legend

TT Race Marshal Signal Box on the A18 Mountain Road near Guthrie's Memorial.

During the 1937 Isle of Man TT races, Jimmie Guthrie won the Junior TT. But he had to stop racing in the 1937 Senior TT race on lap 5. This happened at a spot called The Cutting on the A18 Mountain Road.

After his death in 1937, a special memorial was built for him. People donated money to create it. It was put up in 1939 at the place where he stopped in his last race. This spot is now called Guthrie's Memorial. The words on the memorial say:

James Guthrie, 1897-1937. Erected to the memory of Jimmy Guthrie, of Hawick, a brilliant Motor Cycle Rider, famous on the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Course for his wonderful riding and great sportsmanship. He won the race six times. Beat many world's records and was first in numerous foreign races. He died while upholding the honour of his country in the German Grand Prix, August, 1937.

Memorial plaque in Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick, Scotland

Another memorial was placed on the Sachsenring course in Germany in 1949. This is where his fatal accident happened. It is known as the "Guthrie Stone." There is also a memorial stone and a bronze statue of Jimmie Guthrie in his hometown park in Hawick.

Jimmie Guthrie's Isle of Man TT Career

The 1923 Isle of Man TT was Jimmie Guthrie's first race on the Snaefell Mountain Course. He raced in the Junior Race but had to stop on the first lap because of engine problems.

Returning to the TT Races

After four years away, Guthrie returned for the 1927 races. In the Junior race, he had to stop on lap 5 due to a broken fuel pipe. However, he finished second in the Senior race, riding a New Hudson motorcycle. He was only 8 minutes and 17 seconds behind the winner, Alec Bennett.

In the 1928 Junior TT race, Guthrie was in 6th place. During a fuel stop, his Norton motorcycle caught fire, and he had to retire. In the 1928 Senior TT race, he retired early with an engine problem. For the 1929 races, Guthrie couldn't start either race. He was injured in a crash during practice.

In 1930, Guthrie had to retire from the Junior TT race on lap 6. But he then won his first TT race, the Lightweight, riding an AJS motorcycle. He had to retire from the Senior TT race on lap 2 due to an engine problem.

Joining the Norton Team (1931–1937)

In 1930, Jimmie Guthrie set several world speed records on a Norton International motorcycle in France. He broke the one-hour world record, reaching a speed of 114.09 mph. He also set new records for 50 km, 50 miles, 100 km, and 100 miles.

After his first Isle of Man TT win, Guthrie joined the official Norton racing team in 1931. In both the 1931 Junior and Senior TT races, Guthrie finished second. His teammate, Tim Hunt, won both races.

In the 1932 races, Guthrie crashed during practice but still competed. He retired from the Junior TT race on lap 4 after slipping off his bike. In the Senior TT race, he finished second again.

In the 1933 Junior TT race, Guthrie lost time after hitting a bank. He recovered to second place but then slipped off again, finishing third. In the 1933 Senior TT race, he finished fourth, helping the Norton team achieve a 1-2-3-4 finish.

Becoming Team Leader

After Tim Hunt retired from racing, Stanley Woods became the Norton team leader. However, Woods left the team, and Jimmie Guthrie became the new team leader.

In 1934, Guthrie won the 500cc North West 200 race. The 1934 TT races were very successful for Guthrie. He won both the Junior and Senior races. This was a "double win" for him.

The 1935 racing season started with another win for Guthrie in the 500cc North West 200. The 1935 TT races were even filmed for a movie called No Limit. Guthrie won the 1935 Junior TT race, giving Norton a 1-2-3 finish.

The Dramatic 1935 Senior TT Race

The 1935 Senior race was delayed due to bad weather. It turned into a very exciting competition. Guthrie started first, and by the last lap, he had a 26-second lead.

His team told him to slow down. But Stanley Woods, racing for Moto Guzzi, did not stop for fuel on the last lap. He set a new lap record. Even though Norton tried to warn Guthrie to speed up, Stanley Woods won the race by just 4 seconds! After the race, Guthrie said, "I went as quick as I could but Stanley went quicker. I am sorry but I did the best I could."

Final Result: 1935 Senior TT (500cc)

Rank	Rider	Team	Speed	Time
1	Stanley Woods	Moto Guzzi	84.68 mph	3.07.10.0
2	Jimmie Guthrie	Norton	84.65	3:07.14.0
3	Walter Rusk	Norton	83.53	3:09.45.0

Later TT Races

The 1936 Junior race was controversial. Guthrie was leading but had to stop to fix his drive-chain. He was later disqualified for supposedly getting outside help. However, Guthrie denied this and finished fifth. The Norton team protested, and he was given second-place prize money. Guthrie won the 1936 Senior TT race, beating Stanley Woods. This was a sweet victory after the previous year's close race.

The 1937 TT races continued Guthrie's success with Norton. He won the Junior TT race. In the 1937 Senior TT race, Guthrie had to retire on lap 5.

Jimmie Guthrie's TT Victories

Summary of TT Career