Beschreibung:

Essentially developed from Triumph's Tiger 100 the prototype Grand Prix model debuted in the 1946 Senior Manx Grand Prix, ridden by Ernie Lyons who stormed to victory on a rain soaked course. Cycle components for the new model were similar to the off-the-shelf T100 and featured a rear-sprung hub with 8" brakes. The T100 engine was much modified, incorporating a lightweight alloy cylinder head and barrel as used in the wartime Triumph generator units. Fuel feed was by twin Amals with a modified inlet manifold. The valve gear was lightened and polished and racing camshafts fitted along with high compression racing pistons. Roller bearings, rather than the standard ball bearings, were employed for the crankshaft and the heavy-duty conrods and bearing caps ran directly on the crank pins. A close ratio box gave that extra performance edge. The production model debuted in 1948 and the Grand Prix was one of the most exclusive Triumph models built, production being restricted to numbers variously quoted between 150 and 200 examples. This bike was despatched on 27th January 1949 to dealers McIntyres of Belfast and first registered that month in Northern Ireland by privateer Richard 'Dick' Knox, a grocer from Lurgan. Knox had commenced his competition career in 1946 on a Triumph, campaigned a Norton in 1947 and 1948 but for the 1949 season actively campaigned his new Grand Prix model at seven meetings in Northern Ireland, generally finishing 'in the money'. Notably on 14th May in the North-West "200" Knox, on this machine, won the 500cc Handicap, coming 4th overall behind Artie Bell, Johnny Locket and Cromie McCandless. At the end of the season, in the Carrowdore "100", he finished 2nd to H Turner with Artie Bell in 3rd place. Knox was to remain loyal to the Triumph marque until 1952 and in 1953 this machine was sold to Norman Clarke. Nathan Phillips bought the bike in 1955 and in 1961 it passed to P McKeown. The vendor has known this machine for almost fifty years, recalling seeing it in a dismantled state in the workshop of his late cousin in the early 1960s. He was fortunate to acquire this machine directly from that source five years ago and restoration commenced three years ago. Photographs of that restoration are on file. Although Tiger 100 pistons have been fitted to make the machine more docile for parading, Grand Prix specification pistons come with the bike. The engine currently runs on modern mineral oil. During the restoration a 19" front rim has been fitted replacing the original 20" rim, to accept a TT100 tyre. Frame and gearbox numbers match Factory Records. The engine crankcases have been replaced and are unstamped, a former mechanic for Knox recalling that the engine blew up on Aard's Airfield during Knox's ownership, necessitating their replacement. He further recalls burning his fingers on the timing wheels as he picked them from the runway! Since completion of the restoration this bike has been paraded at the Dunboyne Motor Club 'Spirit of Dunboyne Event' in October 2009, completing two full laps of the old circuit. At Lurgan Show last year previous owner Nathan Phillips (1955) was reunited with his old machine. This important machine comes with good history records, various photographs of Knox during his racing career, copies of the North West "200" and Carrowdore "100" race programmes from 1949, a Triumph Owners MCC letter confirming despatch date and the Northern Ireland registration document recording first ownership by Dick Knox in 1949. A history of Dick Knox's full racing career, researched and written by Robert Maurice Wilson, is also included. This is a truly historic machine with excellent provenance which we think has rarely, if ever, previously crossed the Northern Ireland borders.