Albert David Spencer (13 May 1908 – 22 May 1969) was an English born, international

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 ...

rider from Australia. He earned 6 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.

Biography

Spencer was born in Richmond, London, England but emigrated to Australia aged just three-years-old. In 1928, a contingent of Australian riders arrived in Britain to demonstrate the new sport, where Spencer competed in various exhibition events. He was nicknamed the Baby Cyclone and on more than one occasion fell foul of the local police due to motor car offences. He rode more events during 1929, while based in Exeter and rode for the Exeter team in challenge events, before being signed by Leicester Super, where he began his British leagues career during the 1930 Speedway Northern League season. In 1931, he was signed by Freddie Hore, the general manager of the Pennycross Stadium and a former room-mate of Spencers in Leicester. He rode for and captained Plymouth Tigers in the South Coast Championship. In 1932, the northern and southern leagues merged to form the National League and he rode again for Plymouth. He continued to represent Plymouth in 1933 and 1934 but broke his leg during June 1933, ending his 1933 season early. In October 1934, he joined

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 ...

for the 1935 season but failed to make the team. In 1936, he was loaned to Bristol Bulldogs for the 1936 Provincial Speedway League, before joining and captaining the

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 ...

on loan in 1937. He finally left Wimbledon, when signing for Norwich permanently in May 1938. He helped Norwich win the Provincial Trophy and

National Trophy National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

double in 1938 and became Norwich's star rider. Although his career was interrupted by

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he spent four more seasons with Norwich from 1946 to 1949, becoming a Norwich legend. He continued to ride in Australia until a crash in 1956 at the Brisbane Queensland Exhibition Ground ended his career.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Bert 1908 births 1969 deaths Australian speedway riders Bristol Bulldogs riders Australian expatriate speedway riders in England Leicester Super riders Norwich Stars riders Plymouth Devils riders