David Ernest Perks (born 16 December 1951) known as Dave Perks is a former speedway rider from England.

Speedway career

Perks rode in the top two tiers of British Speedway from 1972 to 1987, riding for various clubs. Perks began a cycle speedway career with a team called the Oldbury Lions and after one appearance for

Scunthorpe Saints The Scunthorpe Scorpions are a motorcycle speedway team in the British SGB Championship. They have raced at various times since 1971, at three different venues. History Origins and 1970s Speedway in Scunthorpe began on 3 May 1971 at the ...

joined the

Cradley Heathens Cradley Heathens were a motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England. The team was founded in 1947 and competed primarily at the top level of British speedway at Dudley Wood Stadium until its closure in 1995. The team was revived as Dudley Heath ...

in 1972. He won the Ivor Hughes Trophy for best novice during his inaugural season at Dudley Wood. In 1980, he joined

Oxford Cheetahs The Oxford Cheetahs are a British Motorcycle speedway, speedway teamLawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. based at Oxford Stadium, in Oxford, England. They were founded in 1939 and are five times champions of Britain, in 1964 Speed ...

and topped the league averages during the

1980 National League season The 1980 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary The league was increased from 19 teams to 20 from the previous season. Exeter Falcons dropped down from the British League to join the 1 ...

with a 10.82 season average before sustaining a serious back injury in July. He became the club captain and exceeded a 10 point average again during the

1981 National League season The 1981 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary The league started with 20 teams with Nottingham Outlaws dropping out after the BSPA refused an application by promoter Maurice Jo ...

. He returned to Long Eaton in 1982 but never reached the heights of his two years at Oxford. In 1984, he won the silver medal at the

National League Riders' Championship The National League Riders' Championship is an annual 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 ...

. Perks captained

Newcastle Diamonds Newcastle Diamonds were a motorcycle speedway team that raced in the British speedway leagues from 1929 to 2022. They were based at Newcastle Stadium on the Fossway, Byker. The Stadium was previously known as Brough Park. History Origins and ...

in 1986.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perks, Dave Living people 1951 births British speedway riders Cradley Heathens riders Long Eaton Invaders riders Newcastle Diamonds riders Nottingham Outlaws riders Oxford Cheetahs riders Stoke Potters riders Reading Racers riders