Dick Humphreys' motor sport career
Motor sport career of
Dick Humphreys.
Dick
took part in a large number of
motorcycle and motor sport events, in at least 1920-1927.
He entered both speed trials and reliability trials.
Explanation of reliability trials:
-
Nowadays almost all motorsport is speed based,
so it is important to remember that reliability based sport was common
in the early days.
-
Speed trials would be on closed circuits. Winner is fastest time.
-
Reliability trials were on public roads. High speed is not allowed.
Winner is finisher of all sections (usually including hill climbs)
with least mechanical trouble,
in some reasonable time. (A target speed was set, but not unsafe for public roads.)
There would usually be joint winners.
Dick on motorcycle with Sighle, c.1918.
This is
[P106/589].
See
larger
and
full size.
Origins
Dick's first motorcycle ride was
around 1909 (age around 13).
He recalls it in
IC, 8 Oct 1919.
Dick started riding motorcycles regularly c.1912, age c.16.
See him writing in
IC, 13 July 1921.
He
assembled his own motorcycle from parts in 1919.
The story was he was discouraged from buying a motorcycle.
He
got around it by building one out of parts in his bedroom.
The family got a
great surprise when he dragged it down the stairs.
See IC, 10 Sept 1919.
1920
The first trials we can find Dick on are in 1920:
- 24 Hours trial, Dublin & District Motorcycle and Light Car Club.
Fri 25 June - Sat 26 June 1920.
Dick was on a 2 ¼ hp
Velocette
motorcycle.
He failed on Glengesh Hill. He finished the trial. No award.
See IC, 30 June 1920.
- Hill climb, Cornel's Court, Dublin & District,
Sat 17 July 1920.
Dick on 2 ¼ hp Velocette.
6th overall (after a generous handicap).
See IC, 21 July 1920.
- Dublin-Glengariffe, Dublin & District, motorcycle-only trial,
Sat 31 July - Sun 1 Aug 1920.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
Major repairs on way down. Finished, but not a gold medal.
See IC, 4 Aug 1920.
-
Winter trial, Dublin & District, Mon 27 Dec 1920.
2 ¼ hp Velocette. He finished.
See IC, 29 Dec 1920.
IC, 12 Jan 1921,
tells the amusing story of the group of keen riders (including Dick)
who had practiced by trying the course in advance.
Their practice was in appalling ice and snow.
"Not one rider went within 20 miles of completing the whole course".
And then their practice was pointless since 27 December saw
lovely weather:
"Certain would-be cup winners who had sampled the route a week or so previously
(when 4-6 in of snow covered the ground) were not a little disappointed at this state of affairs".
Paris-Nice Trial, Feb 1921
Dick had studied in Paris in late 1919 - early 1920.
In
Feb 1921 he went to France to compete in the
Paris-Nice trial,
all across France,
organised by the
Motocycle Club de France (MCF).
Dick was in the
Motos 250 cmc.
He won a gold medal.
He was
'only the second machine to arrive' in Nice.
See
IC, 9 Mar 1921.
Dick (centre) at the start of the Paris-Nice Trial,
Paris, Feb 1921.
-
Easter Monday Cup trials, Mon 28 Mar 1921.
Dick said that
approaching Sally Gap
in the Wicklow Mountains,
"in a storm of hail, wind and rain",
his motor cycle broke down.
Soaked and exhausted, he couldn't get it started again.
He abandoned it and set off on foot into the downpour.
He was
rescued by the priests at Glencree.
This was St Kevin's Reformatory school for young offenders.
He spent the night there.
Recalled by Dick in
IC, 13 July 1921.
- Hill-climb, Tallaght, Sat 30 Apr 1921.
2 ¼ hp Velocette. He set a poor time.
See
IC, 4 May 1921.
- Hill-climb, Tallaght, Dublin & District, handicap event, Sat 21 May 1921.
2 ¼ hp Velocette. 3rd place in lightweight class.
See IC, 25 May 1921.
Dick's biggest race was when he rode in the
1921 Isle of Man TT
in June 1921.
He rode
in the
Junior TT race
(350 cc and under,
also
here),
14 June 1921.
65 starters.
- He rode in the Lightweight 250 cc class.
-
He rode a 250 cc
Velocette
(made by Veloce Ltd),
1 cylinder,
2 ¼ hp.
-
He was no.63, part of the Veloce team
- although entered by himself, not by Veloce Ltd.
-
He came 14th overall. Time of 4 hrs 31 min 14 sec.
5th in Lightweight 250 cc class.
(The winner in this class was 10th overall.)
He was the
best Irish rider.
-
The motorcycling paper he wrote for,
The Irish Cyclist and Motor Cyclist, was very proud of him.
-
Dick wrote:
"To this moment I cannot remember where I passed those odd 52 competitors.
Certain it is that I never actually saw more than a third that number on the course".
The Senior TT race
(up to 500 cc)
was on 16 June 1921 - he was a spectator for this.
See IC, 8 June, 15 June, 22 June, 29 June 1921.
See Motor Cycling, 22 June 1921.
Claim of more TT races:
-
There were claims he competed in more TT races.
Tommy O'Brien
said Dick rode in at least two TTs while he worked for him
(i.e. post-1923), and probably three.
Tommy said he held the fort when Dick went over to the Isle of Man.
He remembered one TT where Dick was in the lead (!), within a short distance
of the finish, when one of the links on the front forks broke. Dick had to push it home.
-
But Dick is not found in
any other TT races
in the results database.
He did NOT ride in the 1922 TT.
Claim of riding with Stanley Woods:
-
Dick's obituary
says
"He was a T.T. rider with
Stanley Woods" [who won 10 TTs from 1923 to 1939].
-
But Woods was just a spectator in 1921, and
did not first enter the TT until
1922.
- Woods rode in the
Leinster 100, July 1923,
in which Woods came 3rd and Dick came 9th.
This might be the origin of the confusion.
Dick riding in the Isle of Man Junior TT, June 1921.
Dick in the Isle of Man Junior TT, 1921.
Note no.63.
Dick, no.63.
Must be the Isle of Man Junior TT, 1921.
Note registration RI 8669.
See larger
and full size.
Dick on RHS, 1921.
This might be at the TT.
See larger
and full size.
See other scan.
Dick's trophy from the 1921 Isle of Man TT.
See larger
and full size.
See front.
The inscription on the trophy.
See larger
and full size.
More 1921
- Leinster Club, Portmarnock. Sat 20 Aug 1921.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
Competed in the 10 miles open handicap (under 350 cc)
and the 30 miles open handicap (any capacity).
No awards.
See IC, 24 Aug 1921.
-
24 Hours trial, Dublin & District, Fri 26 Aug - Sat 27 Aug 1921.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
He did not finish in the time.
See IC, 31 Aug 1921.
- Jacob Cup Trial, Dublin & District, Sat 24 Sept 1921.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
He finished. Gold medal.
See IC, 28 Sept 1921.
- Enniscorthy Trial, Leinster MC and LC club, Sat 8 Oct 1921.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
IC, 12 Oct 1921, says Dick crashed and was injured:
"Trenches and felled trees formed no mean percentage of the route traversed.
It was really miraculous that so few accidents occurred.
R. Humphreys was very unfortunate. With a clean sheet just a few miles outside
the final check at Enniscorthy, he ran into one of the trenches at speed.
His next remembrance was of the doctor's dispensary in the town.
It is stated that he was off the set route when the accident happened.
An injured eye is the most serious outcome of the misadventure".
It still lists him as finishing.
1922
- St.Patrick's Day trial, Dublin & District, Fri 17 Mar 1922.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
2nd class award (silver medal).
See IC, 22 Mar 1922.
- Hill climb, Kilinarin Hill, Leinster MC, Sat 1 Apr 1922.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
1st in class (2-stroke machines up to 350 cc).
See IC, 5 Apr 1922.
- Easter Monday trial, Dublin & District, Mon 17 Apr 1922.
He was not on his Velocette.
He rode a
3 ½ hp Norton.
1st class award.
See IC, 19 Apr 1922.
- Scottish 6 Days trial, Mon 1 May - Sat 6 May 1922.
He was
part of a team of three Irish riders,
all on Velocettes.
See IC, 17 May 1922.
- 24 Hours trial, Dublin & District, Fri 23 June - Sat 24 June 1922.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
He
made 'quite a star ascent' of Glengesh Hill.
But then lost his way on the way back.
See IC, 28 June 1922.
- Hill-climb, de Selby Quarry, Dublin & District, Sat 29 July 1922.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
1st in class (2-strokes under 250cc).
See IC, 2 Aug 1922.
- Portmarnock speed trials, Leinster MC,
19 Aug 1922.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
6 mile handicap 300 cc class.
He came 1st.
- Flying Kilo, Dublin & District, 2 Sept 1922.
2 stroke class. 2nd class award.
2 & 4 stroke class, 2nd class award.
- 25 mile speed championship, Leinster MC,
30 Sept 1922.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
300 cc class.
2nd place.
- 2 stroke hill climb, Dublin & District, 14 Oct 1922. 1st place.
March to June 1923
- Dunlop Cup trial, Dublin & District, 17 Mar 1923. 1st class award.
- 24 Hours trial, Dublin & District, June 1923. 1st class award (gold medal).
Dick raced in the
Leinster 100 mile motorcycle handicap roadrace, Dunshaughlin, Co.Meath,
Sat 14 July 1923.
Organised by the Leinster MC.
3rd place was
Stanley Woods
('the winner of the Isle of Man Junior TT last month') on a Cotton.
9th place was Richard Humphreys on a Velocette (winning gold medal).
He
received finishers' award and replica of C.E. Jacobs cup.
See extensive report in
Irish Independent,
Mon 16 July 1923.
I had a reference that someone said he was on a '2½ Velocette'
not his 2¼ Velocette.
The Leinster 100, July 1923.
"Dick (No.10) won Lightweight class"
See
copy
in
[P106/590(2)].
Dick among the 18 finishers. (There were many non-finishers.)
From Irish Independent, Mon 16 July 1923.
An ad for Hutchinson tyres lists Dick as 'R.H.Humphreys'.
From Irish Independent, Mon 16 July 1923.
More 1923
-
Autumn 1923 trial, Dublin & District. 1st class award.
- Flying Kilo, Ballyogen Road, Ramblers MC, 6 Oct 1923. 250 cc. 2nd place.
- Winter trial, Dublin & District, 26 Dec 1923. 1st class award.
-
2 days trial, Leinster MC, 1923. 1st class award.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
-
Patland Cup trial, Leinster MC, 1923. Class award.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
1924
- Dunlop Cup trial, Dublin & District, 17 Mar 1924.
- Flying Kilo, Dublin University MC, 29 Mar 1924. Open 250 cc solo, 2nd place.
- Sprint meeting, Dublin & District, 26 Apr 1924.
250 cc class award.
Up to 350 cc class award.
Up to 600 cc class award.
- 10 miles scratch, Dublin University MC, 3 May 1924. Open 250 cc solo. 1st place.
- 24 Hours trial, Dublin & District, June 1924. Silver cup.
- De Selby, Dublin & District, 30 Aug 1924. 250 cc class.
- Enniscorthy trial, Leinster MC, prob. Oct 1924. 2nd class award. 249 cc Velocette.
- Patland Cup steeplechase, Leinster MC, 1924. 1st class award.
Said to be
2 ½ hp Velocette,
not
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
- Club reliability solo championship, Leinster MC, 1924.
1925
- Dunlop Cup trial, Dublin & District, 17 Mar 1925.
- Sprint event, Dublin & District, 29 Aug 1925.
350 cc class.
Solos up to 600 cc.
Unlimited solo class.
- Hill climb, Drogheda & District, Aug 1925. 350 class, 2.75 Velocette.
- 25 mile speed championship, Portmarnock, Leinster MC, 1925.
350 cc class, 348 Velocette. 3rd place.
1926
- Dunlop Cup trial, Dublin & District, 17 Mar 1926.
- 24 Hours trial, Dublin & District, 4-5 June 1926.
Dick was in a Rhode car. Silver cup.
This was the trial on which he saw Jones' Thomond no.1.
-
Hill climb, Drogheda & District, Aug 1926. 350 solo class. 349 Velocette.
1927
- Dunlop Cup trial, Dublin & District,
17 Mar 1927.
- 24 Hours trial, Dublin & District,
24-25 June 1927. Silver medal.
- 10 miles National Championship of Ireland, Motorcycle Union of Ireland, 1927.
248 cc Velocette. 251/350 solo class.
Unknown date
Unknown event. Looks like Dick in the crowd in the centre.
Back says it is
Irish Times press picture.
See
larger
and
full size.
Unknown event. Maybe Dick.
Maybe Portmarnock.
This is
[P106/599(12)].
See
full size.
Motor journalism
Some of Dick's motor journalism:
-
He wrote in 'Motor Cycling' in 1917 under the pen name 'Armfrees'.
He looked for a job with them but there were no openings.
- He mainly wrote in
IC, 1919-1922.
Mainly as pen name 'Ricardo', also 'Armfrees' and 'Amfrees'.
- Funny article on how to build your own motor cycles.
IC, 22 Sept 1920.
- Dick visits
Olympia motor show, London, Nov 1920.
IC, 24 Nov 1920.
- Dick visits
Olympia motor show, London, Nov-Dec 1921.
IC, 7 Dec 1921.
References
- IC - The Irish Cyclist and Motor Cyclist.
Sources yet to be consulted
- List of Dick's cups and medals, 1921-1924.
And copy.
- Dick Humphreys motor sport career, 1921 to c.1926, in
[P106/577].
- Newspaper article, 27 Apr 1924. "Humphreys' Hat Trick".
[P106/579(3)].
- Dick Humphreys motoring articles, 1916-1922, in
[P106/576].
- Possible video of an event:
IC, 4 May 1921,
says the hill-climb at Tallaght on Sat 30 Apr 1921
was "Preliminary to the formation of a motor cycling club for Rathmines and South Dublin".
It
says that "A cinematographic record" was made of it,
which "will be shown in the
Dublin picture houses".
Does it survive?
- IC, 24 Aug 1921, has photo of Dick in Leinster Club event, Portmarnock.
Things to do
- I have an undated newspaper cutting of
the Dublin-Glengariffe 2 day trial, Dublin & District.
Dick won lightweight prize (joint), and bronze medal.
2 ¼ hp Velocette.
Looks like it might be 1920.
To do: Identify newspaper and date.
1986 theft
Most of Dick's motorsport awards were stolen
in a burglary at
Kingswood, Clondalkin,
on
Fri afternoon, 14 Mar 1986.
Contact me
if you see them anywhere.
