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Speedway Provincial League
The Provincial League was a league competition for speedway teams in the United Kingdom. The Provincial League created as a breakaway league from the National League and continued for five seasons between 1960 and 1964. History The 'Provincial League' name had previously been used for the second tier of the National League in the 1930s, although the name was dropped after two seasons, when it was renamed to National League Division Two. The new Provincial League was formed in the winter of 1959/60, when a group of promoters dissatisfied with the declining National League decided to form a breakaway league. Manchester businessman and sometime midget car driver Mike Parker had run a number of pirate meetings at Liverpool and Bradford and was involved with one at Cradley Heath in the summer of 1959. Interest was aroused by many people and a meeting was called in Manchester for like-minded people. A number of promoters and former riders including Reg Fearman and Ian Hoskins met ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Motorcycle Speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to simply as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four clockwise, anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. The motorcycles are specialist machines that use only one gear and have no brakes. Racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of soil, dirt, loosely packed shale, or crushed rock (mostly used in Australia and New Zealand). Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways, powersliding or broadsiding into the bends. On the straight sections of the track, the motorcycles reach speeds of up to . There are now both domestic and international competitions in a number of countries, including the Speedway World Cup, whilst the highest overall scoring individual in the Speedway Grand Prix events is pronounced the world champion. Speedway is popular in Central Europe, Central and Northern Europe and to a lesser extent in Australia and North America. A variant of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lord Shawcross
Hartley William Shawcross, Baron Shawcross, (4 February 1902 – 10 July 2003), known from 1945 to 1959 as Sir Hartley Shawcross, was an English barrister and Labour politician who served as the lead British prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal. He also served as Britain's principal delegate to the United Nations immediately after the Second World War and as Attorney General for England. Early life Hartley William Shawcross was born in Giessen, Germany, elder son of British parents, John Shawcross, MA (Oxon) (1871–1966) and Hilda Constance (died 1942), daughter of G. Asser. At this time, his father was teaching English at Giessen University. His younger brother, Christopher (1905–1973), was a barrister and Labour party politician. Shawcross attended Dulwich College, the London School of Economics and the University of Geneva and read for the Bar at Gray's Inn, where he won first-class honours. Career During his initial career as a barrister, Shawcross was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1963 Provincial Speedway League
The 1963 Provincial Speedway League was the fourth season of the Provincial League in the United Kingdom. Thirteen speedway teams took part. Season summary Thirteen teams competed again as in 1962, despite the loss of four teams. At the start of the year Neath had folded, and their place was taken by the new track at St Austell. After finishing at the bottom of the table the previous year, Bradford and Leicester were no longer running due to financial difficulties and Plymouth had also withdrawn. Long Eaton returned to competitive racing after 12 years under Reg Fearman, and Rayleigh returned under new ownership after a missing the 1962 season. New Cross Rangers would have made it 14 teams after returning but closed down in August, never to re-open. Speedway returned to Hackney Wick Stadium after an absence of 25 years under the promotion of Mike Parker and Reg Fearman. Wolverhampton won the league but there was controversy at the end of the year when Wolverhampton refused ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a Motorcycle speedway, speedway team based in the city of Exeter. The Falcons operated from 1947 to 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. History Origins & 1920s Speedway began at the County Ground in 1929, when the Southern Speedways Ltd, led by Mr Seward Glanfield agreed a ten-year contract with the Devon Athletic Ground Company. The first meeting was held on 9 March 1929 but despite a full season of racing (which included an Exeter team racing challenge matches) the company went into liquidation. 1930s A second promotion called County Speedways Ltd, ran the speedway in 1930 and 1931 but also went into liquidation. In 1931 the Exeter team competed in the Knockout Cup (speedway), National Trophy during the 1931 Speedway Southern League season, losing to High Beech Speedway, High Beech in the first round. 1940s At the start of 1947, plans began for the return of speedway to the County Ground and a lease was signed by Motor Sports (Exeter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neath Welsh Dragons
The Neath Welsh Dragons were a short-lived speedway team who operated from Neath Abbey Stadium, in Neath, Wales, in 1962. History The speedway circuit was opened by former speedway rider Trevor Redmond, who had hoped that he could attract some of the best Welsh riders at the time. The Dragons were members of the Provincial League for one season and finished runners-up in the 1962 Provincial Speedway League. The feat of finishing second was described as achieving the impossible. The description 'stadium' is misleading because the venue was literally an oval with a cinder track with banking for spectators. The west side of the Neath Abbey was so close to the banking that the Abbey ruins looked as though they formed part of the stadium. Monastery Road at the time was situated slightly different to where it is today (it now bends to the West instead of the East). The stadium was opened to Stock car racing as early as 1954. Attendances were poor and several home meetings were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1962 Provincial Speedway League
The 1962 Provincial Speedway League was the third season of the Provincial League. Summary Thirteen speedway teams took part. Bradford, at their new venue at Greenfields Stadium, returned to the league after missing the previous season due to delays building their new track. The league season proved to be disastrous for Bradford and the club folded at the end of the year. New team Neath Welsh Dragons joined the league and Leicester joined after dropping down from the National League. Neath, near Port Talbot in Wales, was not a successful venue and many of their fixtures were raced at St. Austell. Rayleigh Rockets withdrew with promoters Wally Mawdsley and Pete Lansdale citing falling gates and rider wage demands. Poole won the league championship for the second year in a row. The Neath Welsh Dragons achieved what was described as the impossible by finishing second in the league standings. Final table M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters previously the Hanley Potters were a British speedway team. As Hanley Potters they raced at the Sun Street Stadium from 1929 to 1963 and as Stoke, the team raced at Loomer Road Stadium in Newcastle-under-Lyme from 1973 to 2019. History Origins & 1920s In March 1929, British Speedways Ltd agreed a season lease with Northern Greyhound Racers (Hanley) Ltd (the owners of the recently constructed Sun Street Stadium in Hanley) for the introduction of speedway during 1929. Hanley were named as inaugural members of the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League and hosted their first home league match against Burnley on 18 May. However, they withdrew before the end of the season and their results were expunged. 1930s Ten years after the last appearance of speedway in Stoke, a team re-surfaced at the Sun Street stadium. The Stoke team with the nickname 'Potters' being used for the first time, joined the 1939 Speedway National League Division Two, under the pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plymouth Devils
The Plymouth Gladiators are a speedway team in the British SGB Championship. The team competed during various seasons from 1932 to 1969, before reforming after a gap of thirty-six years in 2006. In 2021, the club successfully applied to join the British second division, the SGB Championship. The team nicknames have included Tigers, Panthers, Devils and Bulldogs History Origins and 1930s The origins of speedway in Plymouth began when Western Speedways Ltd promoted the dirt track racing at Pennycross Stadium. The opening meeting was a challenge match against Exeter on 13 June 1931. The general manager of the stadium Freddie Hore signed Australian Bert Spencer as the first star to ride at Plymouth. As the Plymouth Tigers the team were founder members of the first National League, competing in the 1932 Speedway National League. The team included seven Australian riders, including Spencer, Eric Collins, Frank Pearce and Clem Mitchell. The team performed woefully, only ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1961 Provincial Speedway League
The 1961 Provincial Speedway League was the second season of the Provincial League. Summary Eleven speedway teams took part. Liverpool, Yarmouth and Bristol had all folded at the end of the previous season and Bradford were unable to take their place in the league after the construction of their new track was delayed. Exeter, Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough and Newcastle all re-opened their tracks and joined the league for the start of the season. Plymouth took on Bristol's riders and Bulldog nickname. Poole were champions, finishing seven points ahead of runners up Plymouth. After a couple of challenge meetings held throughout 1960 Exeter returned following a five-year league absence under the promotion of Wally Mawdsley and Pete Lansdale. Final table M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results Top Five Riders (League only) Provincial League Knockout Cup The 1961 Provincial League Knockout Cup was the second edit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bristol Bulldogs
The Bristol Bulldogs were a British motorcycle speedway team based at the Knowle Stadium, Bristol, England from 1928 to 1961Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. and later Eastville Stadium from 1977 to 1978. History Origins and 1920s Speedway in Bristol began during the inaugural pioneer season of racing in 1928. A track was laid inside the greyhound track at Knowle Stadium by the British Dirt Track Riders Association of Manchester and the first meeting was held on 25 August. Although there was no league racing, a Bristol team rode challenge matches throughout the 1928 and 1929 seasons and local riders, Len Parker, Jimmy Douglas and Ted Bravery came to prominence.. 1930s After the 1930 season the racing ceased at Knowle Stadium for five years. In January 1936, promoter Mr T. Bradbury-Pratt agreed a deal with Reg Bennett the MD of the stadium. A team (that would adopt the nickname Bulldogs) was formed to compete in the inaugural 1936 Provincial Sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates (also known as Poole Speedway) are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the SGB Championship. The club have been the champions of the United Kingdom on ten occasions. Poole Speedway is promoted by local businessman Matt Ford and son Danny Ford, who took over promoting rights of the club in 1998. The team is managed by past rider and former Great Britain team manager Neil Middleditch. Poole Stadium (known as Wimborne Road when speedway takes place) has been home to the club since it was founded in 1948. History Origins and 1940s In 1947, Bournemouth based Exeter Falcons riders Tommy Crutcher and Charlie Hayden created a consortium, which also included Crutcher's brother Jack and Herby Hayden, with the aim of opening a speedway club closer to their home. The consortium applied to Poole Borough Council in 1947 to stage speedway racing in the town and the council approved their request on 6 January 1948. The home ground of the Pool ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rayleigh Rockets
The Rayleigh Rockets were a Motorcycle speedway, Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1973 from the Rayleigh Weir Stadium in Rayleigh, Essex, Rayleigh, Essex . History Origins and 1940s In June 1948, the Speedway Control Board granted a permit for speedway to be held at the recently constructed Rayleigh Weir Stadium. The first was a challenge match on 17 July 1948. The following season the club organised a training school for novices and Messrs. Greavey and Rundle entered a team (the Rockets) into the 1949 Speedway National League Division Three. During the Rockets inaugural league season they finished in 12th place. 1950s After two more seasons in Division Three (1950 and 1951) they joined the Southern League (1952–53), Southern League (which was a new name for the third division). The club became champions of the league during the 1952 Speedway Southern League season, with riders Jack Unstead, Gerry Jackson and New Zealander Peter Clark (sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
