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1938 Manx Grand Prix

One rider who was denied a more rewarding career was Kenneth Bills. An optician by profession, Ken Bills’ first Island venture was the 1934 Manx Grand Prix. On a 250 Rudge he finished in fifth place in the Lightweight; with a seventh berth in the Senior on a Vincent HRD. Bills persevered each year at the Manx and in 1938 he was rewarded with a Junior/Senior double, riding machines prepared by Norton specialist, Steve Lancefield. In more peaceful times a win in the Manx invariably led to a place in the Norton works team. Unfortunately for Bills, Europe was building up to a world war, and besides, Norton were heavily involved in war production and not officially supporting racing in 1939. Tensions in Europe were inexorably building up to crisis point, and somewhat optimistically the Manx Motorcycle Club pressed on with plans to run their Grand Prix in September. On 1 September Germany invaded Poland; Britain’s ultimatum to Germany expired on 3 September and as a result Britain declared war on Germany. Like many of his contemporaries, Ken Bills joined the RAF and qualified as a pilot.

1946 Manx Grand Prix

After a lapse of 7 years and a concerted effort by the Manx Motorcycle Club racing was resumed in 1946. Some entrants were able to purchase what were virtually brand new Manx Nortons. In effect they were part of a batch of 1939 International Grand Prix models that were shipped to the Isle of Man for the 1939 Manx Grand Prix. With the races cancelled the bikes were never used and were providentially stored out of harm’s way in the Island. Ken Bills showed that he had lost none of his pre-war brilliance with a popular win in the Junior. If the weather was inclement for the 350 race, then the Senior was run in diabolical conditions. Dark horse for the race was Irishman Ernie Lyons, entered on a prototype Triumph twin. Mindful of the treacherous conditions and blissfully unaware of a broken frame he rode a masterly race to finish in first place ahead of the Nortons of Bills and Manx regular Harold Rowell.

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