Jimmie Guthrie - Biography

Biography

During the 1937 Isle of Man TT Races he won the Junior TT but retired on lap 5 of the 1937 Senior TT race at The Cutting on the A18 Mountain Road section of the course. After his death while competing in the 1937 German Grand Prix, a memorial was erected to him in 1939. Paid for by public subscription the memorial was built at the place where he retired in his last Isle of Man TT Race and The Cutting has been called Guthrie's Memorial (Ordnance Survey Map SC 435 935 GB Grid) ever since. The inscription on the memorial reads as follows;-

"James Guthrie, 1897-1937. Erected to the memory of Jimmy Guthrie, of Hawick, a brilliant Motor Cycle Rider, famous on the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Course for his wonderful riding and great sportsmanship. He won the race six times. Beat many world's records and was first in numerous foreign races. He died while upholding the honour of his country in the German Grand Prix, August, 1937."

A further memorial was created on the Hohenstein-Ernstthal or Sachsenring course in 1949 at the site of the fatal accident and is called the "Guthrie Stone." There is also a memorial stone and bronze but of Guthrie in his native town's park.

Read more about this topic:  Jimmie Guthrie

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