Alec Bennett was born on April 21, 1897, in Craigantlet, Northern Ireland. His family moved to Canada in 1905. By 1911, Alec was working as a telegraph messenger, likely sparking his interest in motorcycles. In 1913, at just 16, Bennett was already racing on BC's dirt tracks, winning several races and the British Columbian Championship. His dirt track experience honed his riding style, contributing to his success on the Tourist Trophy circuit on the Isle of Man.

Bennett joined the Canadian Army in 1916, serving as a motorcycle dispatch rider before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. After the war, he returned to Canada but moved to England in 1920 to pursue a career as a motorcycle test rider and racer. Sunbeam hired him after an impressive test ride.

Bennett's first race for Sunbeam was the 1921 Senior Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, where he finished 4th despite a severe concussion. He later identified a fault with Sunbeam's valves, leading to his first major victory in the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

In 1922, Bennett dominated the Senior Tourist Trophy, winning by a wide margin and setting a new lap record. He also won the French Grand Prix at Strasbourg for the 2nd time. However, when Sunbeam's team manager chose another rider as the firm’s number one, Bennett left the team.

In 1923, Bennett joined Douglas, working on innovations like the flat twin engine and front disk brake. Despite numerous mechanical issues, he finished 10th in the Senior TT and won the Welsh Championship.

By 1924, Bennett had started a motorcycle dealership in Southampton and became a freelance rider. He saw potential in Norton’s new 490cc pushrod ohv racer and signed on to race for them selectively.

Alec Bennett, a formidable figure in motorcycle racing history, excelled in both Senior and Junior TT races. His triumph in the Senior TT saw him win with an average speed of 61.64 mph, besting the previous record by 3.33 mph, and finishing 87 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. Despite the rigorous demands of the TT, post-race inspections confirmed Bennett’s bike remained in perfect condition. Bennett continued his victorious streak by clinching wins at the French GP and Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

Sunbeam extended an offer for Bennett to join their motorcycle and Grand Prix automobile racing teams. He had never raced cars before and declined to remain loyal to his Norton deal. In 1925, despite a fall that initially dropped him to 6th place, Bennett fought back to secure a 3rd-place finish in the Senior TT. His races on the continent saw him retire from the French Grand Prix but win again at the Belgian GP.

Between 1921 and 1925, Bennett primarily competed in the Senior or 500cc Class, the premier motorcycle racing category in England and Europe. By 1926, he ventured into the Junior or 350cc class, seeing potential in Velocette’s new 350cc ohc road bike. An agreement with Velocette, where he was only paid upon winning, led him to transform the bike into a racer. Bennett’s efforts bore fruit as he triumphed in the Junior TT by a significant margin, setting new race and lap records. Although he retired from the Senior TT due to clutch issues, he secured another win for Norton in the 500cc French GP.

In 1927, with a growing family and business, Bennett restricted his racing to British events, riding an OK in the lightweight race and the 350cc Velocette in the Junior TT, though mechanical issues forced him to retire from both. However, he rode Norton’s new CS1 to victory in the Senior TT and later won the Senior class of the Brooklands Grand Prix.

Bennett’s 1928 season was limited to races on the Isle of Man, where he retired from the Lightweight TT due to mechanical failure and the Senior TT. Despite these setbacks, he won the Junior TT with a remarkable performance, setting new records. This success prompted Velocette to release a production replica of Bennett’s winning bike, which achieved great success both on the road and track.

From 1929 to 1932, Bennett continued racing with Velocette in the Junior TT and Sunbeam in the Senior TT. Although he finished 2nd and 3rd in these races, press speculations suggested he was past his prime. Realizing the increasing demands of his business, Bennett retired from racing. He later returned briefly in 1932 for the Junior TT as an amateur, finishing 8th before retiring again.

Bennett also competed in the International Six Days Trial, earning a gold medal in 1923, becoming the first Canadian rider to do so.

By the early 1950s, Bennett’s business, Alec Bennett & Sons, flourished, employing over 100 people and dealing in various vehicles. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, Bennett capitalized on war surplus motorcycles, refurbishing and selling them at a profit.

Alec Bennett passed away in 1973 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy as the most successful motorcycle racer of his time, with an unmatched record in European Grand Prix and Tourist Trophy races. Newspaper and magazine accounts of Bennett’s races referred to him as a Canadian, an Irish Canadian and an Ulster born Canadian. Although there was no such thing as Canadian citizenship in those days, there is no doubt that Alec Bennett raced as a Canadian. To this day, no Canadian rider has come close to matching Bennett’s record, cementing his status as the most successful motorcycle racer Canada has ever produced.