OK Supreme racer Manuel Torres winner 1923 Sitges Terramar Grand Prix motorcycle

Description

A superb and rare photo of
Manuel Torres
seen in winning action with his
OK Supreme
racer during the
1923
Grand Prix at Sitges Terramar
which was ridden for the first time that year!
O.K. Supreme
made motorcycles from 1899 to 1946. This great company was located in the British city of
Birmingham
. In 1882 Ernie Humphries and Charles Dawes founded "OK" as bicycle manufacturers. They experimented with powered bicycles in 1899 and 1906, before manufacturing a two stroke motorcycle using a Precision engine in 1911. Before WW I began, they had produced motorcycles with Precision, De Dion, Minerva, and Green engines. Their first entry in the Isle of Man TT, in 1912, led to a ninth place and mainly modest results came during the following years when OK-Supreme machines finished in every place from 1st, in the 1928 Lightweight TT, to 10th place. In the 1922 TT the fastest lap was set by Wal L. Handley at 51.00 mph (82.08 km/h) on an OK-Supreme even though he did not finish the race. After the war OK produced a 292 cc two stroke motor of its own, but also produced models using Blackburne (250 cc and 350 cc, sv and ohv), Bradshaw (34 cc oil cooled), and JAP (246 cc to 496 cc) engines. The racing JAP versions did well in the Twenties, and the company increasingly turned to JAP to power bikes not using an OK engine. There was even a 348 cc OHC model. Charles Dawes left to start his own business in 1926, and in 1927 the name of the company was changed to "OK-Supreme". In 1928 Humphries bought a failing HRD for the factory and tools, selling the rest, including the name, to Philip Vincent . OK-Supreme also won the Lightweight class in a JAP model that year. In the 1930s a Lighthouse 250 cc - 348 cc model, so named because of the little inspection window in the cam tower, was OK-Supreme’s final model. Although production ceased in 1939, 350 cc JAP engined OK-Supreme grass track racing machines were still available through John Humphries until his death in 1946. (John was the son of founder Ernie Humphries).
This is a very nice and very rare
non period
photo that reflects a wonderful era of 1950s motorcycle history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing!
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No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
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