Later he also raced cars in the 1930s and died in a World War II aircraft accident while serving as pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary.

His ill luck continued into 1923 but in the Lightweight Race after leading for the first three laps he managed to finish in eighth place with an average speed of 47.8 mph.

[4] By 1924 he had joined the Rex Acme Company but with his ill luck continuing he was beginning to earn the unwelcome tag of 'Unlucky Handley'.

Then in 1925 his luck changed dramatically, he became the first rider to win two TT races in one week and three fastest laps.

He piloted his 60-degree Rex Acme V-twin through the field from 22nd to finish runner up to Stanley Woods who had won the first seven lap Senior TT by 4 mins 21 secs.

On 21 June 1929 the ACU Secretary, Tom Loughborough sent Wal a letter thanking him for thinking of others by giving up his own chances.

In 1929 he raced up Switzerland's Klausen Hill Climb to win the 350cc class at record speed, riding the Marchant designed Motosacoche.

He also became the holder of numerous motorcycle world records taken in 1930 at Arpajon and Montlhéry aboard the Belgian FN designed by Dougal Marchant.

In 1934 he contracted to race Norton motorcycles and gained his fifth win in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

His car racing ability was soon remarked upon at Brooklands and also drew favourable comment in the Isle of Man 'Round the Houses' contests.

It was at Donington in the British Empire Trophy Race of 1936 that Wal suffered serious injuries when the Riley somersaulted at the Hairpin Bend.

A major factor causing this spectacular crash was due to the fact that Dixon had decided to experiment by locking the differential on the eve of the race and there had been no time to practise.

Handley soon became a prominent member of the Midland Aero Club, his aircraft included an SE 5A, a Bristol fighter and a Puss Moth.

When he took-off the motor was 'moving' hard with an awful din and when he throttled down, it appeared to cut for a few seconds and then finally died out.

Geoff Davison, a fellow competitor, who knew Walter well, said that Wal had many friends and only one enemy, himself, 'he would have had far more success in life had he been less morose in manner, less bluntly and directly accusing when ill-used.

There is 'Handley's Cottage' so named because here on the S bend near the 12th milestone he had his first high speed crash on the fourth lap of the 1932 Senior TT.

The other place is the Memorial Seat at the top of Alexander Drive in Douglas, near the Quarter Bridge Road.

[20] This incident in practice involving Walter Handley was described as the "Comedy of novice from Birmingham"[21] by the national newspapers.

Walter Handley raced Rex-Acme motorcycles from 1924 to 1928, making them famous, and even became a company director, but left in 1928 to ride different machinery.

In 1928 Motosacoche made a name in the Grand Prix, with the 350 M 35 OHC racing bike, built by Dougal Marchant, of England, ridden to two European championship titles, 350 and 500, by Walter Handley.

[26] Handley had been persuaded out of retirement specially for the three lap race, which meant eight miles at top speed on the uneven and deteriorating banked oval track.

In 1935 he co-drove Freddie Dixon's Riley at Brooklands in the 500 Miles race, but the conrod holed the crankcase when he was competing for third place.

[32] In 1936 Handley had a bad crash at the 1936 British Empire Trophy after taking over Freddie Dixon's third placed Riley and suffered serious injuries to his spine and ribs.