On Friday June 7th 1957 Glasgow’s Bob McIntyre made history by becoming the first man to lap the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course at an average speed in excess of 100mph.

The tough, no-nonsense Scot was riding a four-cylinder Gilera 500cc, and over the gruelling eight-lapper he recorded 97.2mph from a standing start, then 101.03mph, 100.54mph and 101.12mph, winning from MV Agusta’s John Surtees by over two minutes. Fifty years after the first TT, and 46 years after Oliver Godfrey won the first Senior TT over the Mountain Course at 47.63mph, Bob made sure his name was well and truly scribed into the history books.

In 2017 The Classic TT presented by Bennetts will pay tribute to the anniversary of that remarkable achievement with the help of Michael Dunlop and a stunning Grand Prix Gilera replica built by the Kays of Black Eagle Racing fame. This iconic combination will be at the centre of a series of themed events celebrating a remarkable achievement in an era when the TT was a battleground for the powerful and exotic multi-cylinder Italian thoroughbreds and the plucky, sweet-handling but essentially outdated British singles.

All this will be brought back to life in glorious sound and colour at the 2017 Classic TT presented by Bennetts. Don’t miss out, book your tickets today: