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National League (1932–1964)
The National League was the main speedway league in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1964, after which it merged with the Provincial League to form the British League.Rogers, Martin (1978) ''The Illustrated History of Speedway'', Studio Publications, , p. 20-25 Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK, with the Northern League and the Southern League merging for the inaugural 1932 season. History Initially a single division, in 1936 a second division was created, initially named the Provincial League, but becoming National League Division Two in 1938. When league racing resumed after World War II, there was initially a single division. Six clubs started a new grass roots Northern League that year, and with more tracks opening up, the National League expanded to three divisions in 1947. For several reasons, including the levels of Entertainment tax and competition for audiences from television, a number of teams ceased to be pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northern League (speedway)
The Northern League was founded in 1929 when it was known as the English Dirt Track League, the earliest league (along with the Speedway Southern League, Southern League) in motorcycle speedway, speedway racing in the United Kingdom, comprising teams from Northern Britain. The addition of two Scottish teams prompted a name change in 1930. The league existed between 1929 and 1931, after which, with many teams folding, it was amalgamated with the Southern League to form the National League (1932–1964), National League.Rogers, Martin (1978) ''The Illustrated History of Speedway'', Studio Publications, , p. 21 In the 1929 season, White City (Manchester) won all 18 matches but resigned from the league after a dispute, leaving Leeds Lions as champions. The season was beset with problems with Warrington being expelled, Bolton completing only one match before their fixtures were taken over by Hanley, and Long Eaton Speedway, Long Eaton entering the league but not completing a match. Belle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speedway 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] |
1938 Speedway National League
The 1938 National League Division One was the tenth season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The only change from the previous season was Bristol Bulldogs moving up from the Provincial League and Hackney Wick Wolves moving down to take their place. They also swapped licences and riders as well as divisions. New Cross Rangers won their first national title. Final table Top Ten Riders National Trophy The 1938 National Trophy was the eighth edition of the Knockout Cup. Qualifying Rounds Norwich Stars won the Division Two final and therefore secured a place in the quarter finals. Quarter Finals Semi Finals Final First leg Second leg Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 123-92. A.C.U Cup The 1938 Auto-Cycle Union Cup was the fifth edition of the Cup and was won by West Ham Hammers, which ended the five year winning run of Belle Vue. The groups were decided on the number of heat points scored within matches, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West Ham Hammers
The West Ham Hammers were a speedway team, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929. History They operated from the West Ham Stadium until the outbreak of World War II under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of Johnnie Hoskins. The track opened in 1928 and staged a few meetings during the early war years. Meetings were staged in 1945 but the Hammers re-opened in 1946 and ran until 1955. However dwindling crowds saw the promotion close. It did not re-open until 1964. The West Ham team were the inaugural winners of the British League in 1965, under a promotion fronted by former rider Tommy Price. Dave Lanning became promoter in 1966, and West Ham ran for a further six seasons until 1971 when they were informed that the stadium was being sold by the Greyhound Racing Association to make way for building development. The Romford Bombers The Romford Bombers were a speedway team which operated from 1969 until their closure in 1971. History In ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1937 Speedway National League
The 1937 National League Division One was the ninth season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The entrants were the same seven teams as the previous season. West Ham Hammers won their first national title despite finishing bottom the previous season. In the process they stopped Belle Vue Aces from claiming a fifth consecutive title win. Belle Vue did however go on to win the cup double winning the Knockout Cup for the fifth successive year and the A.C.U Cup for the fourth successive year. Roy Clarence Vigor (Reg Vigor) was fatally injured during a match at Wimbledon Stadium on 27 September. He hit a safety fence and his bike landed on top of him. He died in Nelson Hospital, Merton, three days later. His death came just one month after the death of Stan Hart in the 1937 Provincial Speedway League. Final table Top Ten Riders National Trophy The 1937 National Trophy was the seventh edition of the Knockout Cup. Qualifying Rounds Southampton ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1936 Speedway National League
The 1936 National League Division One was the eighth season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The entrants were the same seven teams as the previous season. Harringay's Jack Parker topped the rider averages but was injured for the inaugural World Championship Final won by Wembley's Lionel van Praag on his home track. Belle Vue Aces won their fourth consecutive national title and Knockout Cup and third treble after winning the A.C.U Cup. Final table Top Ten Riders National Trophy The 1936 National Trophy was the sixth edition of the Knockout Cup. Qualifying rounds Southampton Saints won the Provincial final and therefore secured a place in the quarter-finals. Quarterfinals Semifinals Final First leg Second leg Belle Vue were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 122-90. A.C.U Cup The 1936 Auto-Cycle Union Cup was the third edition of the Cup and was won by Belle Vue for the third time. Tragically Herbert 'Dusty' Ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harringay Racers (speedway)
The Harringay Racers were a motorcycle speedway team who raced at the Harringay Stadium from 1947 until 1954 in the National League Division One. History The Racers were the third of three speedway teams to be based at Harringay Stadium. From 1929 to 1931 the Harringay Canaries were based there and later from 1934 to 1939, the team was known as the Harringay Tigers. Racing ceased because of World War II. The stadium reopened on 4 April 1947 at which point the team were revived as the Harringay Racers. The team finished runner-up in the league in 1948 and 1953. During the 1952 Speedway National League season the team became the National Trophy champions. Australian Vic Duggan Victor Duggan (16 October 1910, West Maitland, New South Wales – 24 March 2007, Queensland)Addison J. (1948). ''The People Speedway Guide''. Odhams Press Limited was a motorcycle speedway racer who won the London Riders' Championship in 1947 ... was the top man in the league for a few years. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1935 Speedway National League
The 1935 National League Division One was the seventh season of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary Walthamstow relocated to Hackney Wick Wolves. Plymouth Devils and Birmingham dropped out so there were only 7 teams, 6 of which were located in London. Bluey Wilkinson of West Ham Hammers topped the rider averages. The only non-London club, Belle Vue Aces, won their third consecutive national title and Knockout Cup and second treble after winning the A.C.U Cup. British champion Tom Farndon of the New Cross Lambs was fatally injured in a scratch race at New Cross Stadium, on 28 August. He was involved in a crash with Ron Johnson, who clipped the safety fence and fell causing Farndon to crash into Johnson's bike. Farndon suffered a fractured skull and spine injury and was unconscious when he was transferred to the Miller General Hospital in Greenwich. He died two days later on 30 August. Final table Top Ten Riders National Trophy The 1935 National Trophy was the fif ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1934 Speedway National League
The 1934 National League Division One was the sixth season of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. It was also the first time that a second division/tier of racing was introduced following the creation of a reserves league. Summary Birmingham Bulldogs (formerly Hall Green) and Lea Bridge rejoined the league. Sheffield dropped out and most of their team relocated to Lea Bridge. Clapton Saints, who rode at Lea Bridge's stadium in the previous season relocated and raced as Harringay Tigers for the first time. Crystal Palace relocated to New Cross. Coventry and Nottingham also dropped out. Lea Bridge closed down in late July and were replaced by a new side at Walthamstow who took on their last 10 fixtures. Belle Vue Aces won their second consecutive double of national title and Knockout Cup. They also completed the treble by winning the A.C.U Cup. Eric Langton of Belle Vue Aces finished with the highest average. National League Final table * Lea Bridge scored 8 point ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.Jacobs, N. ''Speedway in London'', The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their reopening in 1946 there were 42,000 people in attendance with an estimated 10,000 more locked outside. The club were very successful at the highest level of British speedway during the 1950s and 1960s, and attracted numerous famous riders. Having been defunct for eleven years, the team was reopened again in 2002 by Steve Ribbons & David Croucher in the Conference League but were forced to close in 2005, with Ian Perkin, Dingle Brown & Perry Attwood being joint owners of the club, when the stadium owners insisted on dramatically increasing the rent paid by the team to the stadium.. Honours National League Champions: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 National Trophy Wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway club, based in Manchester. The club hold the record of having won the top tier League championship 13 times. They currently compete in the SGB Premiership, racing at The National Speedway Stadium, with home matches usually taking place on Monday evenings. They also run a second team in the National Development League, known as the Belle Vue Colts. History Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there until 1987 when the stadium was demolished. The club moved to a new track at its original home and remained there before moving to the National Speedway Stadium in 2016. Hyde Road Stadium Hyde Road had a 40,000 capacity with a track length of , and was built around an existing athletics and cycling track. It is alleged that Britain's first open grass-track event took place here on 25 Februa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1933 Speedway National League
The 1933 National League was the fifth season of speedway in the United Kingdom. Summary Sheffield and Nottingham joined the league but the Stamford Bridge Pensioners dropped out. The National Association Trophy was dropped in favour of expanding the National League, with teams meeting each other home and away twice instead of once. Belle Vue Aces won their first national title and completed the double by winning the Knockout Cup. Jack Parker of Clapton Saints finished with the highest average although Vic Huxley of Wimbledon Dons scored the most points Final table Top Ten Riders National Trophy The 1933 National Trophy was the third edition of the Knockout Cup. Preliminary round First round Semifinals a=abandoned Final First leg Second leg Belle Vue were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 164-87. See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions *Knockout Cup (speedway) Knockout Cup (sometimes referred to as the KO Cup) is a type of B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
