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1970 British League Division Two Season
The 1970 British League Division Two season was the third season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Team changes The league expanded from 16 to 17 teams in its third season. Plymouth Devils dropped out but two new teams had been created and joined the league, they were the Workington Comets and Peterborough Panthers. Before the season got underway the 1968 and 1969 champions Belle Vue Colts disbanded with most of their riders and the promotion team moving to Rochdale and becoming the Rochdale Hornets. Doncaster changed their nickname from Stallions to Dragons. Summary Two teams changed venue during the season. In July, the Nelson Admirals moved Bradford to become Bradford Northern and in August, the King's Lynn Starlets promotion moved to Boston and became the Boston Barracudas. Canterbury Crusaders won their first title. New Zealander Graeme Smith averaged 10.49 for the Crusaders and was well backed up by Barry Crowson (9.17) and Barry Thomas (9.11). Another ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
British League Division Two
The British League Division Two was created in 1968 and was the second tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom until the restructuring of British speedway in 1995. It was renamed the New National League in 1975 and the National League between 1976 and 1990. History After the formation of the British League in 1965, riders wanting to break into teams found it more difficult to do so. The idea of forming a second division was suggested and in 1968 the idea became a reality when ten teams formed the league. The ten teams were: Belle Vue Colts, Berwick Bandits, Canterbury Crusaders, Crayford Highwaymen, Middlesbrough Teessiders, Nelson Admirals, Plymouth Devils, Rayleigh Rockets, Reading Racers and the Weymouth Eagles. The league was renamed the New National League (to avoid confusion with the original National League) in 1975 after promoters of the Division Two tracks decided to form their own league after they became dissatisfied with the way the league was being run by the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bradford Northern (speedway)
Bradford Northern were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal Stadium, in Odsal, Bradford, from 1970 to 1973.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. History In June 1970, halfway through the Division Two season, promoters Les Whaley, Mike Parker and Bill Bridgett moved the Nelson Admirals side across the Pennines to Bradford to resurrect speedway at Odsal as Bradford Northern. The team spent three years in the British League Division Two. 1974 saw the team name change to Bradford Barons. Season summary See also * Odsal Boomerangs * Bradford Panthers * Bradford Tudors * Bradford Barons * Bradford Dukes The Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated from the Odsal Stadium in Bradford from 1986 until their closure in 1997.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. History Speedway has long been asso ... References Sport in Bradford Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom {{motorcycle-s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Long Eaton Speedway
Long Eaton motorcycle speedway teams operated from 1950 until 1997 in Long Eaton, England. Teams have raced at the Long Eaton Stadium as the Long Eaton Archers, Long Eaton Rangers, Nottingham Outlaws and the Long Eaton Invaders. The Invaders returned in 2011, with home meetings taking place at the Leicester Lions' track. History Speedway events had been hosted at Long Eaton from as early as 1929, the first meeting being on 18 May 1929. The team were founder members of the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League but withdrew and had their results expunged. The ''Derby Evening Telegraph'' described the oval circuit as having four laps to the mile, with straights and the bends 'to allow broadsiding at 60 mph'. The last meeting of this era was on 10 June 1930. Speedway events returned to Long Eaton in 1950 with a team initially called the "Archers". The team operated until 1953 when the promotion closed. The "Archers" name was again used when the track re-opened in 1963 un ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Berwick Bandits
The Berwick Bandits are a British speedway club, based in Berwick-upon-Tweed. They currently compete in the SGB Championship, racing at Shielfield Park, with home matches usually taking place on Saturday evenings. They also run a second team in the National Development League, known as the Berwick Bullets. History 1968–1981 Berwick have been operational in consecutive seasons from 1968 (as founder members of British League Division Two) through to the present day. From 1968 to 1980 they competed in division 2, either in the British League Division 2, or under the new name of the National League (NL). The team won their first honour during the 1980 National League season after winning the Division 2 Knockout Cup. In 1980, Berwick left Shielfield Park after a disagreement with the landlords Berwick Rangers FC. They raced their remaining fixtures as 'Nomads' including racing the second leg of the KO cup final at Brough Park Newcastle. In 1981 the Bandits were still homeless and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crayford Kestrels
The Crayford Kestrels were a Speedway team which operated from 1968 until their closure in 1983. They were based at Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium in Crayford. History Crayford were founder members of British League Division Two in 1968 and finished in sixth place in its inaugural season. The team were known as the Crayford Highwaymen from 1968 until 1970 but were disbanded after the 1970 season. Speedway returned to the stadium in 1975 with a team nicknamed the Kestrels. They competed for nine years, with their most successful season being the third place finish during the 1983 National League season The 1983 National League was the second tier of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom. Summary The winning team was Newcastle Diamonds. After the tragedy of losing a rider the previous season Milton Keynes endured a second loss when ... although they did win the Four-Team Championship in 1980. The team were forced to relocate for the 1984 season as the stadium ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rayleigh Rockets
The Rayleigh Rockets were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1973 from the Rayleigh Weir Stadium in Rayleigh, Essex . History The Rockets inaugural league season was in 1949 Speedway National League Division Three, where they finished in 12th place. After two more seasons in Division Three they joined the Southern League (which was a new name for the third division). The became champions of the league in 1952 and 1953. The Rockets closed in 1958 but re-opened again in 1960 and entered the Provincial League. The Provincial league was the second division of speedway at the time and Rayleigh won their third piece of silverware after winning the 1960 Provincial Speedway League. In 1964, they entered a regional Metropolitan League but this was the last league racing seen until 1968, when Len Silver took over as promoter. The Rockets rode at the stadium until 1973 when it was announced that the stadium had been sold to developers and the Rockets would ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reading Racers
Reading Racers are a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history. The club closed in October 2008 after the lease on Smallmead Stadium was sold and the site was demolished. In 2016 a group of supporters reformed the team and have subsequently gone on to gain a place in the newly founded Southern Development League winning their debut season undefeated in 2017. History 1968–1974 The club was formed in 1968 and were founder members of British League Division Two. The team were originally based at the Reading Stadium (Oxford Road) until the stadium closed in 1973. In their final year the Racers won their first British League title. Swede Anders Michanek was in imperious form, going undefeated in home fixtures and finishing with a 11.36 average. In addition to Michanek the team was boosted by high scoring from Norwegian Dag Lövaas and Australian Geoff Curtis and supported by Peter Murray, Richard May, Mick Bell and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Romford Bombers
The Romford Bombers were a speedway team which operated from 1969 until their closure in 1971. History In 1969, a team known as the Rochester Bombers started the 1969 British League Division Two season, at Rochester in Kent. However the local council suddenly ruled against planning permission and the clubs promoters Wally Mawdsley and Pete Lansdale were able to use the Brooklands Stadium in Romford, England. The last fixture with the team known as Rochester was on 10 May and as Romford they finished the season in a respectable third place. The team spent two more seasons in the British League Division Two. The promotion was quite successful but one vociferous local resident obtained a court order closing the track due to noise pollution.Jacobs, N. ''Speedway in the South East''. The promotion transferred to the West Ham Stadium and renamed the team the West Ham Bombers for the 1972 season but were forced to close in May of that year after only seven meetings at the stadium in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crewe Kings
The Crewe Kings was a British Speedway team which operated in Crewe, Cheshire from 1969 until its closure in 1975. History The team first competed in 1969 promoted by Maury Littlechild for Allied Presentations who also promoted the Rayleigh Rockets, the Sunderland Stars and the Reading Racers. Littlechild died on 12 July 1972 - a year when the Kings achieved the League and Cup double and Phil Crump won the Division Two riders championship; Ken Adams took over until the end of the season. In 1973, Len Silver took over on behalf of Allied Presentations, continuing in that role until former Crewe rider Dave Parry took over in 1975. The Earle Street track established itself as the fastest track in the UK. Originally 470 yards long, it was feared by many riders but was shortened to 436 yards in 1971, both versions had their track records in the'' Guinness Book of Records'' for the fastest average speeds. The team was renowned for developing young riding talent, giving early op ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Middlesbrough Bears
The Middlesbrough Bears were a British speedway team which operated under various names from 1939 until their closure in 1996. History The team was initially nicknamed the Bears in 1939 by the club's general manager Vic Wieland. The track at Cleveland Park, which operated in the pioneer days of the late 1920s, was promoted by Albion Auto Racers of Stockport, Cheshire, ran sporadically throughout the 1930s and for a short spell in 1939, staged a couple of open meetings in 1945, then saw competitive league speedway from 1946 until 1948. The Bears won the Northern League in 1946 and Division Two in 1947 before the promotion moved to Newcastle in 1949. The Bears nickname was again used when the track re-opened in 1961 under the guidance of former rider turned promoter Reg Fearman, who was a multi track promoter and one of the brains behind setting up the Provincial League. At the end of the 1964 season the Bears team moved to Halifax and the track staged challenge matches in 1965 an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastbourne Eagles
The Eastbourne Eagles were a British speedway team, based at Arlington Stadium, near Eastbourne, England, that raced in the SGB Championship. History Speedway was initially introduced to Eastbourne in 1929. During their first league season they were the 1947 Speedway National League Division Three champions. Despite winning the title at their first attempt they were forced to close down due to a petrol ban enforced at their Arlington Stadium. They decided to transfer their team to Hastings Saxons and at the beginning of 1948 the Speedway Control Board granted a licence to Hastings to stage speedway. Eastbourne would not compete again in the league until they joined the Southern Area League in 1954. In 1957, they won the 1959 Southern Area League which was the second division league at the time but once again did not compete in league action for another decade. The Eagles returned for the 1969 British League Division Two season and two years later won their piece of silverw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barry Thomas (speedway Rider)
Barry John Thomas (born 29 October 1951, Harrow, Middlesex) is a former motorcycle speedway rider. 'Thommo' is considered by many to be the most popular Hackney rider ever, staying with the club based at the Hackney Wick Stadium for a record-breaking 20 consecutive seasons. Career Although originally preferring Junior Grasstrack, Thommo was first spotted during interval demonstration rides at the home of the West Ham HammersThomas,B & Fenn,C (2018).”ThommoHawk”. with friend and rival Dave Jessup, following which he signed for the Canterbury Crusaders. He progressed through to heat leader status in his very first season, prompting Hackney Hawks promoter Len Silver to buy him for the Hawks in 1970. He was given plenty of advice and help from Garry Middleton who helped him with any bike problems he had which resulted in him winning the British Junior Championship in that first season at Hackney. He also twice won the prestigious London Riders Championship in 1973 and 1974 an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
