Only an English rider can win

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Even though dark clouds were gathering over Europe, BMW brought three motorcycles to the Senior Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, held on June 16, 1939. The Type 255 BMW RS 500 was a mighty machine, that developed 60 hp at 7,000 rpm thanks to their mechanical supercharger. Reaching a top speed of more than 220 km/h or 136 mph, it’s no wonder they were the subject of close observation by the English motoring press. The BMW-team consisted of riders Georg -Schorsch- Meier from Germany; Karl Gall from Austria and Jock West from England, maybe because the locals claimed that ”only an English rider was able to win the race”. Tragically Karl Gall crashed heavily during practice and died eleven days later. Despite this accident, his teammates decided to stay in the race. Leading from the start, Meier finished ahead of his 42 competitors, the first non-English rider to do so, but Jock West came in two minutes later, making it a one-two victory for BMW. (info & photos courtesy BMW)

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