Artie Bell

Early career

Bell began motorcycling as a teenager despite the opposition of his father, who at one time forced him to get rid of his Sunbeam motorcycle, but by 1938 Bell prevailed and rode in minor events progressing to a second-place finish in the North West 200 an event that still takes place in Northern Ireland.

Active years

Riding his 1939 Norton, he participated in several races in the immediate post-World War II period including the 1946 Cookstown 100 event where he recorded the fastest lap time of 76.60 mph and winning the 1947 500cc Ulster Grand Prix race with an average speed of 91.25 mph (146 km/h) in a time of 2 hours 43 minutes 1 second, while setting a new lap record of 94.79 mph (151.17 km/h). Away from motorbikes, he also won the 1946 Circuit of Ireland Rally, in a 12/4 Riley Sprite. Bell also won the 1947 North West 200.

Following his 1947 Isle of Man performance, Norton picked him up as a works rider for the following season. He did not finish in his TT Junior 350cc race, however, the next season he claimed first place in the 500cc Senior TT race and third place in the 350cc Junior event. In 1949 he placed third and fourth in the TT as well as taking the North West 200 again. Norton introduced the Featherbed frame in 1950 contributing to his 1950 first place in the 350cc Junior race and second place in the 500cc Senior race. Further placings in the 1950 Dutch TT and Swiss Grand Prix ensured his position in the 1950 Grand Prix season with seventh and fourth place respectively in the 500cc and 350cc championship standings. Bell also claimed the North West 200 for a third time.

Unfortunately, his promising racing career came to an end following a high-speed crash during the 1950 season at La Source Hairpin during the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix at the extremely fast Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The accident occurred during the 500cc race when the leader Carlo Bandirola was being followed by Les Graham and Bell. When Bandirola braked early for the La Source Hairpin, a collision occurred when the AJS Porcupine motorcycle ridden by Graham hit the rear wheel of the motorcycle ridden by Bandirola. Although Graham was thrown clear, Bell hit the AJS Porcupine and machines collided at high speed with a timing-post at La Source Hairpin. Bell was unable to race again even though he survived serious injury.

He died on 7 August 1972 at his home in County Down. In 1996 the Irish Post Office issued a set postage stamps of notable Irish motorcyclists that included a stamp depicting Artie Bell. Also in 1996, the Isle of Man Post Office issued a set of post stamps of Irish Isle of Man TT winners including Artie Bell's win during the 1950 Junior TT race.

Motor-Cycle Grand Prix results

FIM World Motor-Cycle Championship

Sources

References

1. (9 December 2003). "Artie Bell". ozebook.com.
2. "Irish Road Racing, NW200 and UGP".
3. "IOM TT rider's database". Iomtt.com.
4. "Artie Bell career statistics". Motogp.com.
5. ''TT Special'' edited by G.S.Davison 'TT Winners of the post-war years' page 13, 8 June 1954
6. ''Belfast News Letter'' page 6 Monday 7 June 1950
7. ''Stanley Gibbons: Collect Channel Islands and Island of Man Stamps 2014'' 'Irish TT Winners' page 181-182 Stanley Gibbons Limited; 29th edition (2014) {{ISBN. 0-85259-903-X "1996 (30 May 1996) Tourist Trophy Motorcycle Races, Irish Winners 705 669 Artie Bell 45p. multicoloured."