On the third lap he learnt all about metal fatigue - the bars broke in the middle and Stanley crashed into a bank at Glascar Mills. Stanley used to race his 7/9 Harley-Davidson machine, both as a solo and with a sidecar, bending the handlebars in to clear the sidecar and out again for solo riding. Woods rode to the event, along with fellow Dubliner Charlie ‘Paddy’ Johnston. Banbridge man James Finney riding a 3 1/2hp Norton, was the winner, but the event was significant because it saw the road race debut of Stanley Woods. Not content with one race the Banbridge Club staged a second one - The Bann 50, on a 10 miles circuit, near Loughbrickland, on Thursday 29th September. A week later, it was the Banbridge Club’s turn to hold a 25 miles race on a five miles circuit at Ballynahinch, where Herbert Chambers, from Belfast, won on a 2 3/4hp AJS. Lindsay was the winner, riding a 2 3/4hp Imperial-JAP. Less than three weeks later the Temple Club staged a 25 miles handicap race, on Saturday 3rd September, on a course, starting at the Temple crossroads, and T. Four riders started and James Stewart, riding a 4hp Harley-Davidson, won. A race, covering three laps of a 12 miles circuit, was held as part of Killough Sports. It began on Tuesday 16th August with an event at Killough, Co Down. That changed from August to October 1921 when the first true road races were held. Until 1921, hill climbs and sand racing were the only options for the speed loving motor cyclist. © Richard Agnew, orginally published in 2003 as "At the Centre for 100 Years: Celebrating a century of Ulster Motorcycle Sport"
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