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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] |
Rye House Rockets
The Rye House Rockets were a speedway team based at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon, England. They competed in various British speedway leagues from 1954 to 2018. History Rye House began life in 1934 hosting open meetings. Whilst at Hackney in 1937, Dicky Case took over the sixty acre estate of Rye House and set up a training school at Rye House Stadium, operating under the name of the Hackney Motor Club. The school operated until 1938 when Rye House entered the Sunday Dirt-track League.Jacobs, Norman (2007). ''70 Years of Rye House Speedway''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Their first season competing in a league was in 1954 when as the Rye House Roosters they finished third in the 1954 Southern Area League. The team then won two league titles; the 1955 Southern Area League and the 1956 Southern Area League. The team competed in the 2nd division of speedway for 20 years, from 1974 to 1993, with their best successes being the 1980 league champions and 1979 Knockout Cup winners ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1972 British League Division Two Season
The 1972 British League Division Two season was the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The league still consisted of 17 teams with two teams leaving the league and two teams entering. The Rochdale Hornets had disbanded for good at the end of the previous season, whilst Ipswich Witches moved up to the British League. Two newly created teams Ellesmere Port Gunners and Scunthorpe Saints joined the league. The Romford Bombers promotion and team moved to the West Ham Stadium replacing the defunct West Ham Hammers at the stadium but halfway through the season, they moved again to become Barrow Happy Faces as their sponsor at the time was Duckhams Oil - its happy face logo was prominently displayed on the team's race jackets. Crewe Kings won their first title and completed the league and cup double. Crewe were led by their Australian Phil Crump who finished top of the league averages and won the Riders' Championship. John Jackson also finished with an impres ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1971 British League Division Two Season
The 1971 British League Division Two season was the second tier/division motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The league continued with 17 teams in its fourth season despite Reading Racers moving up to Division One and two teams dropping out because there were three new entrants to the league. Doncaster Dragons disbanded for good, with the promotion and some of the riders moving to Birmingham and reformed the Birmingham Brummies, who had last raced in 1957. The Crayford Highwayman also dropped out and the Middlesbrough Teessiders changed their name to Teesside Teessiders. Birmingham were one of the new entrants along with Hull Vikings and Sunderland Stars. Hull had last seen league speedway in 1949 and Sunderland in 1964. Eastbourne Eagles won their first title since their 1959 Southern Area League success. Despite losing their leading rider Dave Jessup to division 1, the Eastbourne Eagles triumphed by bringing in new signing Malcolm Ballard to support the Kennett ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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] |
1969 British League Division Two Season
The 1969 British League Division Two season was the second season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The league expanded from 10 to 16 teams in its second season. Weymouth Eagles dropped out after just one season. The seven new entrants included three newly created teams called the Crewe Kings, Doncaster Stallions and the Rochester Bombers. The King's Lynn Starlets who were the reserve side of the Stars also entered, along with Ipswich Witches who returned to league action (their first since 1962), the Long Eaton Rangers (formerly the Archers), and the Eastbourne Eagles (first since 1959). The Rochester Bombers team moved to Romford from 10 May, after the local council refused to give permission for racing and became known as the Romford Bombers. Belle Vue Colts completed the league and cup double, which included retaining their league title. Ken Eyre and Eric Broadbelt were once again instrumental in helping the Colts win again and they were bac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1968 British League Division Two Season
The 1968 British League Division Two season was the inaugural season of a second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The formation of a new division 2 was a success and attracted five new clubs to league speedway, the Nelson Admirals from Nelson in Lancashire, the Crayford Highwaymen from east London, the Canterbury Crusaders from Kent, the Berwick Bandits from Scotland and the Reading Racers. Additionally three other clubs, Middlesbrough, Plymouth and Rayleigh returned to league action having previously competed in the old defunct Provincial League and Weymouth returned after a 13 year absence. Belle Vue Aces, members of the first division, fielded a reserve side known as Belle Vue Colts and won the first league title. Colt's riders Taffy Owen, Ken Eyre, Eric Broadbelt and John Woodcock all scored heavily and ended with impressive averages. Canterbury in their first season of existence won the division 2 Knockout Cup beating another new team Reading in the ... [...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] |
1957 Speedway National League
The 1957 National League was the 23rd season and the twelfth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The closure of Wembley Lions, Bradford Tudors and Poole Pirates left the league with only four teams, so the seven sides in Division Two merged to make an eleven-team first tier and so Division Two became defunct. Bradford Tudors returned to replace Birmingham Brummies mid-season (in early August) and Swindon Robins followed up their Division Two title in 1956 with the Division One title in 1957. Final table *Bradford Tudors replaced Birmingham Brummies mid-season. Top Ten Riders (League only) National Trophy The National Trophy was not held during 1957. 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 British motorcycle speedway competition, examples of which have run annually since 1929. Each tier of British Speedway has ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1956 Speedway National League Division Two
1956 was the final season of the Speedway National League Division Two. Summary With the number of sides competing at national level diminishing from 37 at the start of 1951 to just 14 in 1956, only a single national division would be in existence by 1957. Poole Pirates had been promoted to Division One and Exeter Falcons had closed leaving seven entrants. Swindon Robins captured the title by a single point. Southampton's 34-year-old captain Ernie Rawlins died in Southampton Hospital on 22 September 1956, following an accident in the match against Birmingham on 18 September. Final table Top Five Riders (League only) National Trophy Stage One * For Stage Two - see Stage Two The 1956 National Trophy was the 19th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second tier clubs, stage two was for the top tier clubs. Southampton won stage one and qualified for second and final stage. Division Two First round Division Two semifinals Di ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1955 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1955 National League Division Two was the tenth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The only change in the list of teams that finished the previous season was the replacement of Motherwell Eagles with Weymouth Scorchers. Poole Pirates won the title. Weymouth Scorchers withdrew after 7 league fixtures, Bristol Bulldogs withdrew after 14. Final table * Weymouth Scorchers and 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 ... withdrew, records expunged. Top Five Riders (League only) National Trophy Stage One The 1955 National Trophy was the 18th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second tier clubs, stage two was for the top tier clubs. Poole won stage one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1954 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1954 National League Division Two was the ninth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The Southern League was replaced by the Southern Area League which resulted in Division Two taking in teams from the defunct Southern League. Only St Austell Gulls declined to step up to the national level, whilst from the previous season Yarmouth Bloaters were not issued a racing licence and Stoke Potters withdrew. Bristol Bulldogs moved down from Division One to make 15 teams starting the season however Glasgow White City Tigers and Wolverhampton Wasps withdrew before the league campaign started. Bristol Bulldogs won the title Plymouth Devils withdrew after 1 league fixture, Edinburgh Monarchs withdrew after 5. Final table * Glasgow White City Tigers, Wolverhampton Wasps withdrew before league racing *Plymouth Devils, Edinburgh Monarchs The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |