Frith entered his first major race, the first
Manx Grand Prix in 1930 riding an over-the counter, 350 cc
Velocette KTT in the Junior event, finishing third at a speed of 60.34 mph. He retired from the 500 cc race with a blown engine, again riding his 350, when holding third place. He won the 1935 Junior Manx Grand Prix and then joined the
Norton team for the
1936 TT Races. It was a winning combination as he claimed the
Junior TT and finished second in the
Senior TT as well as winning the
350cc European Championship. In
1937 he went one better in the Senior and took a brilliant win and setting the first 90 mph plus lap of the
Snaefell Mountain Course. After finishing third in the
1939 Senior he missed the
1947 TT due to a practice spill on a 500cc
Moto Guzzi. Turning to
Velocettes in
1948 he won the Junior Race, repeating this success a year later. Freddie was the first ever
350cc World Champion in
1949, winning all five events of the inaugural campaign, using a single-overhead-camshaft engine in the Ulster race. Frith, alongside other riders from BSA, Ariel and Matchless works teams, served in the army during World War 2 at the
Infantry Driving & Maintenance School stationed at
Keswick, where officers and NCOs learned how to ride cross-country. Sgt. Freddie Frith taught teams of four on
Norton 500s over
Skiddaw in all weathers. A special treat on the last day was reserved for roadwork, following Frith's track-style fast cornering. == Motorcycle Grand Prix results ==