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Provincial League (speedway)
The Provincial League was a league competition for speedway teams in the United Kingdom. The Provincial League created as a breakaway league from the National League and continued for five seasons between 1960 and 1964. History The 'Provincial League' name had previously been used for the second tier of the National League in the 1930s, although the name was dropped after two seasons, when it was renamed to National League Division Two. The new Provincial League was formed in the winter of 1959/60, when a group of promoters dissatisfied with the declining National League decided to form a breakaway league. Manchester businessman and sometime midget car driver Mike Parker had run a number of pirate meetings at Liverpool and Bradford and was involved with one at Cradley Heath in the summer of 1959. Interest was aroused by many people and a meeting was called in Manchester for like-minded people. A number of promoters and former riders including Reg Fearman and Ian Hoskins met to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. The motorcycles are specialist machines that use only one gear and have no brakes. Racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of dirt, loosely packed shale, or crushed rock (mostly used in Australia and New Zealand). Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways, powersliding or broadsiding into the bends. On the straight sections of the track, the motorcycles reach speeds of up to . There are now both domestic and international competitions in a number of countries, including the Speedway World Cup, whilst the highest overall scoring individual in the Speedway Grand Prix events is pronounced the world champion. Speedway is popular in Central and Northern Europe and to a lesser extent in Australia and North America. A variant of track racing, speedway is adm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lord Shawcross
Hartley William Shawcross, Baron Shawcross, (4 February 1902 – 10 July 2003), known from 1945 to 1959 as Sir Hartley Shawcross, was an English barrister and Labour politician who served as the lead British prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal. He also served as Britain's principal delegate to the United Nations immediately after the Second World War and as Attorney General for England and Wales. Early life Hartley William Shawcross was born in Giessen, Germany, to British parents, John and Hilda Constance (Asser) Shawcross, while his father was teaching English at Giessen University. He attended Dulwich College, the London School of Economics and the University of Geneva and read for the Bar at Gray's Inn, where he won first-class honours. Career He joined the Labour Party and was Member of Parliament for St Helens, Lancashire from 1945 to 1958, being appointed to be Attorney General in 1945 until 1951. In 1946, when debating the repeal of laws against trade ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1963 Provincial Speedway League
The 1963 Provincial Speedway League was the fourth season of the Provincial League in the United Kingdom. Thirteen speedway teams took part. Season summary Wolverhampton won the league but there was controversy at the end of the year when Wolverhampton refused to move up to the National League which was dwindling in numbers. This would lead to the Provincial League running outside of the jurisdiction of the Speedway Control Board in 1964. At the start of the year Neath had folded, and their place was taken by the new track at St Austell. After finishing at the bottom of the table the previous year, Bradford and Leicester were no longer running due to financial difficulties and Plymouth had also withdrawn. Long Eaton returned to competitive racing after ten years, a new track opened at Hackney, and Rayleigh returned under new ownership after a missing the 1962 season. New Cross Rangers also returned but closed in August, never to re-open. Final table M = Matches; W = Win ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team based in the city of Exeter. The Falcons operated from 1947 to 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. History In 1947, the Falcons competed in a league for the first time when they finished fourth during the 1947 Speedway National League Division Three. The following season they won the 1948 Speedway National League Division Three. The next success came in 1951 when the club won the Division 3 National Trophy. After a five year absence the team returned to league action in the 1961 Provincial Speedway League and the following year won the 1962 Provincial League Knockout Cup. In 1973, the club signed New Zealander Ivan Mauger, a multiple world champion who would lead the club from 1973 to 1977 and bring Exeter their greatest success to date, when winning the 1974 British League title. In 1995 and 1996, the club ran a junior side called the Devon Demons. The Demons reappeared in 2014 as the junior side for the Plymouth Gladiato ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neath Welsh Dragons
The Neath Welsh Dragons were a short-lived speedway team who operated from Neath Abbey Stadium, Neath in 1962. History There were members of the Provincial League for one season and finished runners-up in the 1962 Provincial Speedway League. The description 'stadium' is misleading because the venue was literally an oval with a cinder track with banking for spectators. The west side of the Neath Abbey was so close to the banking that the Abbey ruins looked as though they formed part of the stadium. Monastery Road at the time was situated slightly different to where it is today (it now bends to the West instead of the East). The stadium was opened to Stock car racing as early as 1954. The speedway circuit was opened by Trevor Redmond but crowds were poor and several home meetings were staged at St Austell Gulls The St Austell Gulls were a speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1964 at the Cornish Stadium at Par, St Austell in Cornwall. In 1997 the team ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1962 Provincial Speedway League
The 1962 Provincial Speedway League was the third season of the Provincial League. Summary Thirteen speedway teams took part. Bradford, at their new venue at Greenfields Stadium, returned to the league after missing the previous season due to delays building their new track. The league season proved to be disastrous for Bradford and the club folded at the end of the year. New team Neath Welsh Dragons joined the league and Leicester joined after dropping down from the National League. Neath, near Port Talbot in Wales, was not a successful venue and many of their fixtures were raced at St. Austell. Rayleigh Rockets had withdrawn. Poole won the league championship for the second year in a row. Final table M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Top Five Riders (League only) Provincial League Knockout Cup The 1962 Provincial League Knockout Cup was the third edition of the Knockout Cup for the Provincial League teams. Exeter Falcons were the winners ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters previously the Hanley Potters were a British speedway team competing in the National League. As Stoke, the team raced at Loomer Road Stadium in Newcastle-under-Lyme. As Hanley Potters they raced from 1929 to 1963. History Hanley Potters were inaugural members of the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League but withdrew during the season and their results were expunged. They rode at the Sun Street Stadium in Hanley. In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club attracted crowds of over 12,000. Hanley won the National League Division Three and Div 3 National Trophy in 1949. The Sun Street track closed in 1963 after the greyhound stadium owners sold the site to a garage business. The team returned in 1972 riding at a new venue the Loomer Road Stadium; they were known for one season as Chesterton Potters. From 1973 to 1995 they competed mainly in the National League. In 1996, The team rode as the Cradley & Stoke Heathens, after the Cradley ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plymouth Devils
The Plymouth Gladiators are a speedway team in the British SGB Championship. Under several names Plymouth have competed during various seasons from 1932. The club was reformed after a gap of thirty-six years in 2006 by former St Austell Gulls rider Mike Bowden In 2021 the club successfully applied to join the British second division, the SGB Championship. The team names included Tigers, Panthers, Devils and Bulldogs History 1932–1937 Plymouth's original home was Pennycross Stadium. As the Plymouth Tigers they competed in the first National League season in the 1932 Speedway National League. The Tigers became the Panthers for the 1936 season and the stadium was used in 1937. 1947–1954 The stadium re-opened in 1947 when the Devils raced in the 1947 Speedway National League Division Three. Apart from short spells in the Second Division the team operated at this level until 1954. In 1952, the team achieved their first major success, winning the Division three section of the N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1961 Provincial Speedway League
The 1961 Provincial Speedway League was the second season of the Provincial League. Summary Eleven speedway teams took part. Liverpool, Yarmouth and Bristol had all folded at the end of the previous season and Bradford were unable to take their place in the league after the construction of their new track was delayed. Exeter, Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough and Newcastle all re-opened their tracks and joined the league for the start of the season. Plymouth took on Bristol's riders and Bulldog nickname. Poole were champions, finishing seven points ahead of runners up Plymouth. Final table M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Top Five Riders (League only) Provincial League Knockout Cup The 1961 Provincial League Knockout Cup was the second edition of the Knockout Cup for the Provincial League teams. Cradley Heathens were the winners. First round Second round Semifinals Final See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bristol Bulldogs
The Bristol Bulldogs were a British motorcycle speedway team based in the Knowle Stadium, Bristol, England from 1928 to 1978.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. History The club was formed in 1928. Their first trophy was the 1937 Provincial Speedway League, Provincial League title in 1937. The track operated a season of challenge matches in 1946 with the team known as Ex-Bristol. They competed in the Speedway National League Division Two, National League Division Two from 1947. The team was promoted to National League (1932–1964), National League Division One in 1950 after back to back Championship titles. The Division One Bulldogs team featured most of the Division Two men and as a result they reverted to Division Two for the 1954 season. Bristol's team of 1949 has a rare record in that it whitewashed the visiting Glasgow Tigers (speedway), Glasgow Tigers 70 -14 in a fourteen heat National League fixture.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2003) ''Bristol Bu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates (also known as Poole Speedway) are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the SGB Championship. The club have been the champions of the United Kingdom on ten occasions. Poole Speedway is promoted by local businessman Matt Ford and son Danny Ford, who took over promoting rights of the club in 1998. The team is managed by past rider and former Great Britain team manager Neil Middleditch. Wimborne Road Stadium has been home to the club since it was founded in 1948. In August 2004, Poole hosted the Speedway World Cup final, which was won by Sweden. Stadium Poole Stadium (also known as Wimborne Road Stadium), has been the Pirates' home track since the club was created in 1948. It is situated near to the town centre and is owned by Poole Borough Council. The stadium's capacity was limited to 5,500 people in 2008 for safety reasons. Prior to 1948, the stadium had been used as a cycle track and had been home to Poole Town Football Club sinc ... [...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] |
