Clutch starts
Cashy Offline
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#1
Clutch starts
I am aware of course that the pure race bikes were push started but what was the first TT race to be started with a clutch or electric starter?
Cashy
30-01-2022, 11:01 AM
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sprocket Offline
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#2
RE: Clutch starts
An interesting question and one which I should know the answer to, but the memory cells aren't what they used to be!!
I would guess at around the mid to late 80's ?
Maybe just the lightweight machines initially ?
Again, just guessing.

For sure, there are many knowledgeable folk on here who will know.
(This post was last modified: 30-01-2022, 08:00 PM by sprocket.)
30-01-2022, 07:48 PM
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boon345 Offline
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#3
RE: Clutch starts
not sure about this was it the very first prody race
30-01-2022, 11:54 PM
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Cashy Offline
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#4
RE: Clutch starts
I don’t know the answer. It came up between my like-minded friends and I but we couldn’t come up with a definitive answer.
I am aware of the extremely knowledgeable anoraks there are on this site and hope that one of them can put me out of my misert
31-01-2022, 01:22 AM
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Splashdown Offline
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#5
RE: Clutch starts
The 1947 (and from then on) Clubman's TT was kickstart.
I am sure that my races at the TT were clutch start from 1984, though the 75/76 10 lap Production TT was kick/electric start.
I didn't ride the smaller classes, but I think they were still push start in 1980, so maybe it was between then and 1984.
31-01-2022, 02:22 AM
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Chris_Sav Offline
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#6
RE: Clutch starts
(31-01-2022, 01:22 AM)Cashy Wrote: I am aware of the extremely knowledgeable anoraks there are on this site and hope that one of them can put me out of my misery

I suppose that's one way of asking a favour!
[Image: chris-quill-blue.gif]Laurel Bank II Marshal, Classic TT & Manx GP
31-01-2022, 09:16 AM
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Cashy Offline
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#7
RE: Clutch starts
I think my original question would be better divided into two categories. Firstly my original query and secondly which was the last TT race to be “push start”?
31-01-2022, 11:55 AM
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Alfie Noakes Offline
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#8
RE: Clutch starts
I'd hazard a hazy guess based on equally hazy personal memory that the last push start race would/could have been the 250cc 2-stoke Junior race before the race was renamed Lightweight in the mid 90's......or the 125cc ultra-lightweight race which was reinstated in 1989...
31-01-2022, 09:27 PM
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Cashy Offline
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#9
RE: Clutch starts
Thanks Alfie I’ll look into it
31-01-2022, 11:19 PM
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Cashy Offline
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#10
RE: Clutch starts
I have found a photograph of Joey and Brian Reid push starting the Junior TT of 1985. There is also a sign on the start line “Push Start”
02-02-2022, 06:55 PM
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Sam Pato Offline
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#11
RE: Clutch starts
My first TT was 1993 and I'm fairly sure they were still doing them for the two strokes then (but the old memory does play tricks). All my TT reviews are on VHS so not easy to watch. The best I could do on YouTube was the 1991 250 race and they were definitely still pushing then.
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03-02-2022, 01:26 AM
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Alfie Noakes Offline
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#12
RE: Clutch starts
Thanks Sam, I can defo remember a friend in 1987 pushing his bike level with Mountain View on the right after the cemetery before it fired and was 99% sure my first TT in 1993 was a push start which was curious as my previous MGP's were clutch start.
03-02-2022, 07:10 PM
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RTR Offline
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#13
RE: Clutch starts
My first sidecar race in 1993 was push start. I remember it well - road was a little bit damp and I slipped, hitting my knee on the road. Managed to recover quickly- but my sponsor, sitting in the grandstand, noticed! LOL
26-02-2022, 05:44 PM
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