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1948 Speedway National League
The 1948 National League Division One was the 14th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the third post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The entrant list was the same as the previous season. New Cross Rangers won the National League for the second time. Fatalities 1948 proved to be the worst season so far in regard to fatalities. During the 1947 season two riders had died on the same day but 1948 saw three riders killed during the season. It started with 37-year-old Reg Craven, on his debut for Yarmouth Bloaters. Craven crashed with two Poole Pirates riders at Poole (on 26 April) during a National Trophy match and died eight days later (4 May) from a fractured skull in hospital. Billy Wilson of Norwich Stars and Eric Dunn of Hastings Saxons from the lower divisions were also killed. Final League table National League results Matches 1–12 Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away. Matches 13–24 Team ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
List Of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions ...
The List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions is split into three divisions, the top tier, the second tier and third tier, all three divisions have been known in various guises such as National League, Premier League, Elite League and many more. This list gives a complete listing of the divisional winners for each season. During some years there was only one or two divisions. Belle Vue hold the most tier one championships with 14 followed by Poole and Wembley with 10. Tier One League (Top division) Most Tier One titles Tier Two League (Second division) Tier Three League (Third division) References {{International speedway speedway Speedway may refer to: Racing Race tracks *Daytona International Speedway, a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida. *Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, a former motor raceway in Edmonton, Alberta. *Indianapolis Motor Spe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England, which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. History Origins and 1930s Speedway came to Norwich in August 1930 when the Eastern Speedways Motor Club arranged fixtures at The Firs Stadium in Cromer Road, Hellesdon. By the fourth successive season in 1933, sidecars were also introduced. Sporadic racing continued to be organised through 1934 and 1935 but had ceased in 1936. In January 1937, the famous rider Max Grosskreutz announced his retirement in order to take a lease on the Firs Stadium. Grosskreutz entered a team for the 1937 Provincial Speedway League and the first fixture was at home to Liverpool Merseysiders, on 1 May in a national Trophy match. The services of riders were secured, including Wal Morton, Bert Spencer and Dick Wise and the nickname Stars was adopted. After a solid first season the team were boosted by t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Eric Chitty
Eric Stephenson Chitty (28 April 1909 – 23 December 1989) was a Canadian speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1938. Early days Chitty was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1909. Before taking up speedway he worked as an electrical engineer.Storey, Basil (1947) ''Speedway Favourites'', Sport-in-Print, p. 23 Chitty started speedway racing in 1930 in Detroit, Chicago and New York City in the United States, where he was noticed in 1934 by Johnnie Hoskins. In 1935 he came to the UK for a trial with the West Ham Hammers. He was not successful in his trial and was looking for other employment when the West Ham promoter Hoskins gave him another chance five months later, which he took. He was offered a contract by the Hammers. A broken collarbone in 1936 caused a long layoff, and he returned in 1937, scoring moderately well. The 1938 season saw a considerable improvement in his racing, Chitty winning the Opening Cup and the London Riders' Championship, both a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Jack Parker (speedway Rider)
John (Jack) Parker (1905 – 1989) was an international motorcycle speedway rider who made his debut at the Whitsun meeting at High Beech in 1928. He won the British Riders' Championship in 1949 and finished second in the 1949 World Championship. He earned 89 international caps for the England national speedway team. Biography Parker was born in Birmingham, England, on 9 October 1905. His early employment was in the experimental department of BSA, where his talent for racing became apparent.Hoare, Ron (1963) "The Jack Parker Story" in ''Speedway Digest 1963'', p. 13-13-15, 52 He represented the company in road races, including the Isle of Man TT. He took part in some of the earliest dirt-track races at High Beech, initially riding a stripped-down road bike, but later a specially adapted BSA. He joined the Coventry team in 1929 at the stadium at Lythalls Lane, Foleshill, becoming the team captain, and switching to a Douglas bike. His brother Norman also rode in the Coven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Alec Statham
Alec George Statham (30 May 1912 Coventry, England – 8 March 1977) was a Speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1949. He earned 22 international caps for the England national speedway team. Biography Statham began grasstrack racing at the age of sixteen. He first rode in speedway as a novice at the Brandon track, going on to ride for Coventry, signed for Birmingham in 1932, and then Southampton, riding as a hobby with his garage business his main priority.Morgan, Tom (1949) ''Who's Who in Speedway 1949'', Sport-in-Print, p. 68 He rode for the Harringay Tigers in 1935 before dropping down a division to the Southampton Saints. He gave up racing, thinking he was not good enough to progress, but due to financial difficulties with his garage business in 1937 he returned to the National League with Harringay, soon rising to heat leader status.Storey, Basil (1947) "Once Rode Just for Fun", in ''Speedway Favourites'', Sport-in-Print, p. 7 After the Second Wor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Aub Lawson
Aubrey "Aub" Lawson (born 5 April 1914 in Kelly's Gully, Warialda, New South Wales - died 20 January 1977) was an Australian international speedway rider who featured in ten World Championship finals including the 1939 final which was never run due to the outbreak of World War II. Career Lawson first came to the UK in 1939 and rode in two leagues for the Wembley Lions and Middlesbrough Bears but at his mother's insistence, his sister accompanied him as chaperone. It was not until after the war in 1947 that he returned to the UK when league racing started again. He joined the West Ham Hammers where he stayed for five seasons, top scoring in three of them. In 1951 he won the London Riders' Championship whilst riding for the Hammers. After a year back in Australia he returned to the UK where he joined the Norwich Stars, where he remained until he retired from racing in 1960. Lawson then returned to Australia where he continued racing in Sydney, winning his then record 5th NSW ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Max Grosskreutz
Max Octavius Grosskreutz (27 April 1906 in Proserpine, QueenslandBamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) ''Speedway – The Pre War Years'', Stroud: Tempus Publishing. – 20 September 1994) was an Australian speedway rider. Speedway career Grosskreutz finished third in the Star Riders' Championship in 1935, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship which began a year later in 1936. He won the Australian Championship at Davies Park Speedway in Brisbane in 1929 and again in 1936 at the famous Sydney Showground. He was also NSW State Champion in 1936 and 1946. He moved to the Belle Vue Aces in 1931. He stayed with the aces until the end of the 1936 season when he retired to manage the Norwich Stars. During this time he made forty-one Test Match appearances for Australia.Foster, P. (2005) ''History of the Speedway Ashes'', The History Press Ltd. He did however ride for Norwich during the 1938 Speedway National League Division Two and topped the league averages. In 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
George Wilks
George James Wilks (23 February 1908 – 18 December 1981) was a British motorcycle speedway rider who rode for Harringay and Wembley. He earned nine international caps for the England national speedway team. Career Born in East End of London, Wilks was riding motorbikes before he was a teenager, racing in grasstrack and also travelled to the Isle of Man to compete in the TT in 1929, only to suffer injuries in practice which led to five months in hospital, and a break of three years from motorcycle racing.Morgan, Tom (1949) ''Who's Who In Speedway 1949'', Sport-in-Print, p. 73-4 In the early 1930s he won the South Midlands grasstrack title several times, and was encouraged to move to speedway by Australian international Frank Arthur. He first rode for Harringay, transferring to Hackney Wick at the end of 1935 for a transfer fee of 25.Storey, Basil (1947) "'Lion' Who Cost Wembley Fee of £350" in ''Speedway Favourites'', Sport-in-Print, p. 9 In early 1938 he was transferred to W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Wilbur Lamoreaux
Wilbur Leonard Lamoreaux (born 26 February 1907 in Roseville, Illinois, United States - died 11 May 1963) was an international motorcycle speedway rider who qualified for three Speedway World Championship finals and never finished lower than fifth place.Buck, B (2007) ''Brummies Legends'', Pendragon Books. Early life At an early age his family moved to Pasadena, California. Lamoreaux became a motorcycle enthusiast and he finally convinced his mother to allow him to buy an Indian Scout in 1923, when he was only 16 years old. He became a motorcycle messenger for Western Union. While working at Western Union that he met fellow Pasadenans, brothers Jack Milne (speedway rider), Jack and Cordy Milne. Career Nicknamed 'Lammy', he competed in California in the mid-1930s, and rode for the Wimbledon Dons from 1937 until the outbreak of World War II.Sandys, Leonard (1948) ''Broadside to Fame! The Drama of the Speedways'', Findon, p. 22 He won the Scottish Championship in 1939. Duri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ron Johnson (speedway Rider)
Ron Johnson (born Ronald Johnston; 24 February 1907Bamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) ''Speedway – The Pre War Years'', Stroud: Tempus Publishing. – 4 February 1983) was a Motorcycle speedway, speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1945 (unattached) and in 1946 whilst with the New Cross Rangers. Career Johnson emigrated to Australia with his parents when he was just a child. He started racing at the Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia in 1927 (the same year the venue first held racing), before his travelling to the UK with promoter Johnnie Hoskins in 1928 to start a career with Crystal Palace Glaziers, Crystal Palace. Johnson initially struggled on British tracks that were half the size of the ones he was used to (the Claremont Showground, which doubled as the speedway, was some in length, while other Australian tracks of the day, usually showground tracks, ranged from to in length).Morgan, Tom (1947) ''The People Speedway Guide'', Odha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Odsal Boomerangs
The Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated primarily from the Odsal Stadium in Odsal, Bradford until their closure in 1997.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. The Bradford speedway team previously raced at Odsal Stadium under various other names Odsal Boomerangs, Odsal Tudors, Bradford Tudors, Bradford Panthers, Bradford Northern, Bradford Barons and finally Bradford Dukes. History Origins, 1940s & Boomerangs During 1939, Bradford Northern Rugby league club's Harry Hornby and the local MP H Hepworth investigated the possibility of introducing speedway racing in Odsal, but the outbreak of World War II put an end to their plans. However, in 1945 Hornby joined together with Johnnie Hoskins, to reactive the plans and on 23 June 1945 before a crowd of over 20,000 the Lord Mayor, Alderman Cecil Barnett, officially opened the track. The first season was a series of open and challenge meetings before league racing was introd ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Wimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London from 1929 until 1991. The team were seven times champions of Britain. History Origins The speedway track opened at Wimbledon Stadium during the pioneer days of speedway in the United Kingdom on the Bank holiday of 26 May 1928 with an open meeting. The stadium had been opened one year previous for greyhound racing and the speedway track was constructed inside the greyhound track. The Wimbledon Dons were founder members of the 1929 Speedway Southern League and held their first home league fixture on 6 May against Birmingham Brummies, Birmingham Perry Barr. 1930s The Dons improved to a fourth place finish in 1930 and then finished 5th in 1931, struggling to match fellow London team, the Wembley Lions (speedway), Wembley Lions who dominated the league. Wimbledon signed some of the sports early stars, such as Jim Kempster, Dicky Case, Billy Lamont (sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
