Picture story: Meet a real Jack Sparrow

It’s 1954 and Shrewsbury bike shop manager JJI Sparrow is returning from the Isle of Man where he’s just finished 16th in the Lightweight (250) TT. In the rain-affected race he averaged 66.83mph.

The top four places were filled by NSUs, with winner Werner Haas (pictured below in action) completing the reduced three-lap race at an average of 90.88mph. Jack’s bike has an Excelsior Manxman motor in a frame of his own design.

Excelsior never re-opened after World War II, meaning his bike’s single-overhead-camshaft, two-valve engine was at least 15 years old when he raced it. 250 World Champion Werner’s trick NSU Rennmax R22, by way of contrast, was a cutting edge largely magnesium alloy unit and at 37bhp had twice the power.