Henry Davis – any information requested, please
Recently I bought a racing helmet worn by Henry Davis – he’s wearing it in the accompanying photograph. I am trying to build up as much information as I can about Henry, can you add anything please?
Thank you for sight of this super photograph, Neil. Though the picture is dark, the machine, with its design of girder front fork, swinging arm rear suspension, tank and seat design, is a Velocette, a 350cc Mk.VIII KTT, made in
1939 and then again after the war, largely 1947-51.
Although your photograph was taken from an unusual viewpoint (most photograph towards the position this person was working from) I’m pretty sure the image is taken at Ballaugh Bridge on the IoM Mountain Course.
Unusually, the machine has no rear racing numberplates fitted either side of the wheel, which suggests this is a practice day shot when some riders used to run with just front racing numberplate as here.
The only rider in either the Manx or TT who could be Henry Davis entered as ‘C H Davis.’ I’m unable to find out much about him as all his entries were as a privateer, but we do know he started his IoM career at the 1938 Manx GP.
IoM Mountain Course racing results:
1938 Manx GP (MGP) – Senior, retired HRD/Vincent 1947 MGP – Junior, 54th Velocette
1947 MGP – Senior, retired Velocette
1948 MGP – Junior, 60th Velocette
1949 MGP – Junior, 25th Velocette
1949 MGP – Senior, 32nd Velocette
1950 TT – Junior, 49th or 50th* Velocette * sources vary regarding his finish in the 1950 Junior IoM TT with some stating 49th and others 50th.
In most IoM Mountain Course races, Henry Davis recorded race speeds in the low to middle 70s (mph) which is sound for an amateur rider on what appears a near-standard over-thecounter 350cc single cylinder racing machine of the period. None of the research material to hand indicates where he came from or the club he belonged to. So, over to the readership...