SPEEDWAY PLYMOUTH By Brian Collins

Transcription

1 SPEEDWAY PLYMOUTH 1931 By Brian Collins Acknowledgements Sources of Information AMJ = Automotor Journal (aka Auto) Auto = Automotor Journal (aka Auto) EPG = Exeter & Plymouth Gazette HoBS = Homes of British Speedway (1 st edition) (Robert Bamford / John Jarvis) MCyc = Motor Cycling Researcher = Speedway Researcher website SES = Story of Exeter Speedway Vol.1 (Tony Lethbridge) SN = Speedway News TMC = The Motor Cycle WMN = Western Morning News Abbreviations Agg aggregate captain Chall Challenge match ef engine failure e/t engine trouble f fell H/C Handicap Ht Heat M.R Match Race ns non-starter Rd. Round res reserve ret retired rm remounted Scr Scratch SF Semi-Final

2 Sat (3 pm) : Plymouth 32 Exeter 21 (Challenge - 1st Leg) TMC ; SES; HoBS; WMN Plans for this track, built inside the greyhound racing track at Pennycross Stadium, were announced by the promoters in early May. By the end of May a protest petition from local residents had already been presented to the local Plymouth City Council. This may have weakened their position, as the actual stadium was just outside their jurisdiction, in an area controlled by Plympton Rural Council. Because of this, the protest was basically ignored by both councils. Crowd : 6,000. 1st ever meeting. 410 yds track, surface of light-coloured decomposed granite. Promoters were Western Speedways Ltd (Chairman of Directors Mr Percy Fletcher; Clerk of the Course and Technical Director Freddie Hore). Lap record established by Frank Buster Buckland (20.2 sec). Note that Peter Slade was NOT Bronco Slade (who was Bernard) In a handicap semi-final, Spencer Stratton crashed into the fence, and his bike landed on top of him. He was stretchered off, and the doctor stated that he was not seriously injured, although suffering from concussion (!) Plymouth 32 Bert Spencer Bert Jones Noel Johnson 0 nf Maurice Bradshaw Spencer Stratton nf Peter Slade George Preston (res) 3 3 Exeter 21 Buster Buckland 3 3 nf 6 Ted Bravery nf nf 1 1 Fred Hawken Syd Fuller Fred Jarman Bill Latcham Reg Beer (res) Buckland Jones Spencer (Bravery nf) Bradshaw Hawken Fuller Johnson Slade Jarman Latcham (Stratton nf) Jones Spencer Fuller Buckland Bradshaw (Bravery nf) (Johnson nf) Hawken Stratton Slade Beer Bradshaw Johnson Jarman Preston Stratton Bravery (Buckland nf) Spencer Jones Beer Plymouth Handicap 1 Bradshaw (scr) Reg Robins (4) Hawken (2sec start) 2 Slade (1) Jarman (3) 3 Preston (2) Spencer (scr) 4 Stratton (scr) Will Colman (4) SF1 Bradshaw (scr) Robins (4) SF2 Preston (2) Colman (4) Spencer (scr) (Stratton f,ex) Final Reg Robins (4) Will Colman (4) George Preston (2) Bradshaw (scr)

3 Tue (7.45pm) : Plymouth v Bristol (Challenge) WMN Postponed due to rain until Thu : Exeter 33 Plymouth 20 (Challenge - 2nd Leg. Agg: 54-52) SN p9; SES; WMN ; Exeter 33 Frank Buster Buckland Reg Beer Ted Bravery Fred Jarman Fred Hawken Syd Fuller Bill Latchem (res) no rides - Plymouth 20 Bert Spencer 3 3 George Preston 0 Noel Johnson Spencer Stratton 0 Maurice Bradshaw Bert Jones 2 2 Peter Slade (res) Buckland Beer Bravery Johnson Jarman Bradshaw Hawken Fuller Buckland Johnson Beer Bravery Jones Bradshaw Spencer Fuller Hawken Buckland Beer Slade Slade Jarman Bravery Johnson Fuller Hawken Match Race Vic Huxley beat Wal Phillips 2-1 Handicap 1 Slade Spencer (Buckland f) 2 Case Jarman 3 Beer Hawken (Johnson f) 4 Bravery Ronald Coleman Final Beer Bravery Case 88.0

4 Sat : Plymouth 36 Bristol 18 (Challenge) WMN Plymouth 36 Bert Spencer George Preston Maurice Bradshaw Noel Johnson (f,ns) Peter Slade Bert Jones (res) Bristol 18 Felix Dallimore Will Spencer Bill Latchem Tommy Webb Bill Hamblin J Bamford B Spencer Preston Dallimore Bradshaw Jones Latchem (Johnson f,ns) Hamblin Slade Bamford B Spencer Preston Latchem Jones Dallimore W Spencer B Spencer Preston Bamford Slade W Spencer Dallimore Jones Bradshaw Hamblin Slade Latchem Webb Plymouth Handicap 1 B Spencer J Bamford W Spencer Hamblin Preston? Perry Frank Buckland (only finisher) 94.2 SF1 W Spencer B Spencer (Hamblin f) 96.4 SF2 Preston Buckland 95.1 Final Preston B Spencer W Spencer 92.0 Match Race (2 Fastest Riders) B Spencer beat Frank Buckland 84.4

5 Tue : Plymouth 26½ Lea Bridge 25½ (Challenge) WMN ; 5,000. Plymouth 26½ Bert Spencer 2 2 Bert Jones Maurice Bradshaw 3 2½ George Preston 2 Spencer Stratton 2 f Peter Slade Noel Johnson (res) Lea Bridge 25½ Jimmy Stevens 2½ 3 f Alec Peel 3 Bert Scott f - -? Stan Lupton 2 2 Stew Fairbairn 3 3 2? Harvey 2 1 Jones Spencer Bradshaw Preston (Scott f) Fairbairn Lupton Jones Spencer Stevens & Bradshaw dead-heat Peel Harvey Fairburn Lupton Stevens Stratton Jones Fairbairn (Stevens f) (Stratton f) 85.2 Plymouth Handicap 1 Bradshaw (scr) Peel (2 sec) Preston (scr) Fairbairn (1) Fred Hawken(2) Slade (1) Ron Coleman(2) Stratton (scr) 95.3 Final Bradshaw (scr) Preston (1)? Match Race Bradshaw beat Stevens 90.4 Fairburn beat Jones ef 86.4

6 Sat : Plymouth WMN ,000. Local riders Bill Willmott, Ginger Brown, and Monty Mortimer made their speedway debuts. Flying Nine 1 Frank Buckland, Art Warren Bert Spencer (only finisher) Jimmy Stevens, Bert Jones 92.2 SF1 (for heat winners) Bert Spencer, Frank Buckland 88.4 SF2 (for heat seconds) Art Warren (only finisher) 88.0 Final Frank Buckland, Art Warren 86.0 Match Race Frank Buckland beat Bert Spencer & 92.0 Scratch Race 1 Bert Spencer, Fred Hawken Dick Sulway, Bert Jones Art Warren, George Preston Ronald Coleman, Ginger Brown SF1 Fred Hawken, Dick Sulway 90.6 SF2 Art Warren, George Preston 91.2 Final Art Warren, Dick Sulway 91.0

7 Tue : Plymouth 22 Wembley 31 (Challenge) WMN ,000. Plymouth were without captain Bert Spencer, who suffered an ankle injury during a morning practice session. Plymouth 22 Peter Slade. Spencer Stratton, George Preston, Bert Jones, Maurice Bradshaw, Wembley 31 Jack Jackson, Cliff Parkinson, Charlie Shelton, Tom Lougher, Paddy Dean, Charlie Datson, Wally Kilmister 1 Jackson, Parkinson Shelton, Slade Stratton, Lougher Shelton, Preston Parkinson, Jones Bradshaw, Stratton Jones, Lougher Jackson, Parkinson 87.0 (Bradshaw f) 9 Lougher, Johnson 90.1 Scratch Race 1 Parkinson, Slade Jackson, Stratton Shelton, Bradshaw Lougher (only finisher)? SF1 Jackson, Stratton 87.0 SF2 Shelton, Bradshaw 87.3 Final Shelton, Stratton?

8 Tue : Plymouth 26 Wimbledon 25 (Challenge) WMN largest crowd so far Plymouth 26 George Preston, Maurice Bradshaw 6, Noel Johnson, Bert Jones, Peter Slade, Paddy Dean Wimbledon 25 Fred Leavis, Mick Murphy, Charlie Blacklock, Jack Sharp, Claude Rye, 1 Preston, Bradshaw Johnson, Leavis Murphy, Blacklock Bradshaw, Leavis? 5 Johnson, Jones Slade, Sharp Johnson, Leavis Rye (only finisher)? 9 Blacklock, Murphy 93.0 Silver Star Scratch Race 1 Rye, Preston Jones, Bradshaw Johnson, Blacklock Bill Willmott, Ginger Brown? SF1 Rye, Jones 88.1 SF2 Johnson (only finisher) 95.1 Final Rye, Jones 86.1 Tue : Plymouth v Stamford Bridge (Challenge) Postponed until due to rain

9 Thu : Plymouth 18 Stamford Bridge 36 (Challenge) WMN Plymouth 18 Maurice Bradshaw, George Preston, Paddy Dean, Peter Slade, Bert Jones, Noel Johnson Stamford Bridge 36 Len Stewart, Stan Lemon, Len Parker, Mick Murphy, Claude Rye, Nick Nicol, 1 Stewart, Preston Parker, Murphy Rye, Slade Stewart, Dean Murphy, Parker Stewart, Johnson Lemon, Rye Parker, Slade Rye, Lemon 83.4 Raven Trophy Scratch Race 1 Rye, Stewart Parker, Nicol Murphy, Preston Bill Willmott, Ginger Brown 99.2 SF1 Stewart, Rye 83.4 SF2 Preston, Murphy 89.4 Final Stewart, Rye 82.6

10 Tue : Plymouth 30 Southampton 24 (South Coast Championship) WMN 22.07; SN p28 Plymouth 30 Bert Spencer Noel Johnson Bert Jones George Preston Maurice Bradshaw Peter Slade Southampton 24 Steve Langton Eric Lister 0 Ernie Rickman Frank Bond 1 1 Norman Parker Art Warren Jimmy Hayes Spencer Johnson Langton 81.4* Rickman Jones Bond Parker Slade Bradshaw Spencer Johnson Rickman Jones Preston Hayes Rickman Slade Bradshaw Parker Warren Preston Bradshaw Langton Hayes Johnson?? Raven Trophy Scratch Race 1 Johnson Jones Rickman Hayes [Bradshaw f,rm,f,rm] Langton Warren (Spencer f) Dean Lister (Bill Willmott f) (M Mortimer f) 91.0 SF1 Johnson Rickman 85.3 SF2 Warren Paddy Dean 89.0 Final Johnson Rickman Dean Warren 84.0 * track record

11 Tue : Plymouth 32 High Beech 22 (Challenge) WMN ,000. Riders have competed for the Raven Trophy at the last 3 meetings, and the overall winner was Noel Johnson. Plymouth 32 Bert Spencer 1 2 f 3+1 Noel Johnson Bert Jones Paddy Dean Maurice Bradshaw Peter Slade High Beech 22 Art Fenn 2 2 Tiger Hart Ben Gunner 1 1 George Lovell Tom MacDonald George Bishop Johnson Fenn Spencer Jones Hart Dean MacDonald Lovell Bradshaw Johnson Spencer Gunner Jones Bishop Dean Hart Bradshaw Slade Jones MacDonald Dean Slade Bishop Bradshaw Johnson MacDonald Lovell (Spencer f) Match Race Ginger Rendell beat Bill Willmott f,rm Johnson beat Hart 82.0 Raven Trophy Scratch Race 1 Johnson Dean Hart Slade Spencer MacDonald Jones Bishop Preston Rendell 90.2 SF1 Slade Hart Johnson 84.0 SF2 MacDonald Preston Rendell 90.2 Final Hart MacDonald Preston 84.4

12 Wed : Southampton : Southampton 43 Plymouth 11 (South Coast Championship) SN ; WMN Southampton 43 (without Jack Parker, riding for England at Lea Bridge) Norman Parker Vic Collins Arnie Hansen Ernie Rickman Steve Langton Frank Bond Plymouth 11 Bert Spencer Peter Slade 1 1 Bert Jones Maurice Bradshaw 1 1 Noel Johnson George Preston Parker Spencer Collins Rickman Hansen Jones Langton Johnson Bond Collins Parker Jones Hansen Rickman Johnson Langton Bond Slade Parker Collins Preston Rickman Hansen Spencer Bond Langton Bradshaw Lap Dashes Arnie Hansen drew 1-1 with Reg Bounds Ernie Rickman bt Norman Paker 2-0 Married 6 Single 17 (Challenge) Married: E Rickman 4, Single: R Bounds 6, V Collins, N Parker,

13 Tue : Plymouth 40 Exeter 13 (South Coast Championship) WMN On a bumpy, over-watered track, the visiting team were beset by falls and loss of chains. Plymouth 40 Bert Spencer Maurice Bradshaw Bert Jones George Preston Noel Johnson Peter Slade Exeter 13 Frank Buckland 3 chain chain 3? - 0 Ted Bravery 3 3 Fred Hawken 1 1 Ronald Coleman Reg Beer Mart Seiffert Buckland Spencer Bradshaw Bravery Jones Preston Johnson Slade Beer Spencer Bradshaw Seiffert Jones Preston Coleman Johnson Slade Seiffert (Buckland chain) Jones Beer Preston Johnson Slade Coleman (Buckland chain) Spencer Bradshaw (Hawken ex) Match Race Buckland beat Johnson 85.3 Speed Cup 1 Johnson Preston Spencer Beer Jones Hawken Bradshaw Seiffert 89.4 SF1 Spencer Johnson 87.1 SF2 Jones Bradshaw 89.0 Final Johnson Jones 85.1

14 Tue : Plymouth 23 Crystal Palace 30 (Challenge) WMN ,000. Plymouth 23 Bert Spencer 1 2 Maurice Bradshaw 1 Bert Jones 2 2 Paddy Dean 1 1 Noel Johnson 3 2 f 3 Peter Slade 2 f George Preston 1 Crystal Palace 30 Joe Francis 3 Harry Shepherd Nobby Key Walter Bunner 1 Alf Sawford 3 Jim Cowie Francis Shepherd Spencer Key Jones Dean Johnson Slade Cowie Key Spencer Bradshaw Shepherd Jones Dean Key Johnson Bunner Sawford Cowie Preston (Johnson f) Johnson Shepherd (Slade f) ??? Speed Cup 1 Bill Willmott Ginger Rendell Johnson Spencer 3 Francis Sawford 4 Key Jones SF1 Spencer Johnson SF2 Key Jones Final Spencer Johnson Match Race Noel Johnson beat Joe Francis 85.4

15 Tue : Plymouth 27 West Ham 24 (Challenge) WMN Torrential rain caused machines to stall and riders to fall. Plymouth 27 Bert Spencer George Preston Noel Johnson Peter Slade Maurice Bradshaw West Ham 24 Tom Lougher Charlie Shelton Cliff Parkinson Allen Kilfoyle Jack Jackson 3 3 Arthur Mann Preston Spencer Johnson Lougher Slade Shelton Parkinson Bradshaw Lougher Kilfoyle Preston Jackson Johnson Slade Lougher Bradshaw Kilfoyle Johnson Slade Bradshaw Mann Spencer Parkinson Shelton Preston Gold Helmet (scratch) 1 Kilfoyle Bradshaw Spencer Slade Johnson Lougher 89.1 Final Johnson Spencer (punc) Kilfoyle? Match Race Jackson beat Johnson 2-0

16 Tue : Plymouth 29 Coventry 23 (Challenge) Auto ; MCyc ; WMN & Attendance 9,000, including the Mayor of Plymouth. Australian NOEL JOHNSON, 24, fell and was run over by the following rider, Bob Allen. He was taken to hospital, where he died 90 minutes later. At the inquest on 07.09, the verdict was accidental death. It was the 13 th meeting to be held at the track. Plymouth 29 Bert Spencer George Preston Bert Jones Maurice Bradshaw Noel Johnson 3 f 3 Peter Slade Coventry 23 Lew Lancaster 1 1 Les Patrick Stan Mauger Bob Allen John Deeley A Wilkinson Spencer Preston Mauger Jones Allen Johnson Wilkinson Deeley Spencer Preston Allen Patrick Jones Lancaster Mauger Slade Deeley Wilkinson Bradshaw (Johnson f) Slade Patrick Bradshaw Spencer Preston Deeley Triangular Match Race 1 Bradshaw beat Preston Dean beat Slade? Final Dean beat Bradshaw 85.0 Junior Scratch Race Ginger Rendell Jimmy Tellam 93.0 Scratch Race 1 Spencer Rendell Dean Mauger? 3 Deeley Patrick W White Bradshaw 86.4 Final Deeley Spencer 85.3 Fri : Plymouth The funeral of Noel Johnson, 24, was held. He was buried at Efford Cemetery, along with his helmet. The Plymouth team acted as bearers, and the funeral route was lined with a large number of supporters. Tue : Plymouth v Southampton (West Coast Championship) Postponed until due to rain

17 Thu : Plymouth 23 Southampton 31 (West Coast Championship) WMN Plymouth 23 Bert Spencer 3 3 Paddy Dean 1 1 Bert Jones Arthur Mann 2 Maurice Bradshaw 1 1 Peter Slade 2 2 Southampton 31 Ernie Rickman Frank Bond 2 3 Eric Lister Doug Hutchins 2 3 Jimmy Hayes 3 3? 1 Spencer Rickman Dean Lister Hutchins Jones Hayes Slade Bradshaw Spencer Lister Dean Rickman Bond Jones Hutchins Slade Lister Hayes Mann Jones Bond Rickman Bradshaw? ???? Scratch Race 1 Hutchins Spencer Rickman Bradshaw Bond Jones Lister Dean 86.4 SF1 Spencer Bradshaw 82.4 SF2 Jones Bond 85.1 Final Jones Bradshaw 88.4

18 Tue : Plymouth 26 Leicester 27 (Challenge) WMN ,000. Plenty of falls and crashes, but fortunately no serious injuries. Plymouth 26 Bert Spencer George Preston f Bert Jones Bill White 1 f 1 Maurice Bradshaw Peter Slade 2 1 f 3+1 Leicester 27 Bill Crouch Arthur Mann f Cliff Watson 3 f 3 6 Alf Summersby Hal Herbert George Marsh Spencer Crouch (Preston f) (Mann f) Watson Summersby White (f,pushed) Herbert Slade Bradshaw Spencer Summersby Preston (Watson f) Jones Crouch Mann Watson Bradshaw Slade Jones Herbert Marsh (White f) Crouch Bradshaw Mann (Slade f) Spencer Herbert Preston Match Race Spencer beat Herbert f 83.0 Bill Allen beat Paddy Dean 93.2 Gold Helmet (scratch) 1 Watson Jones Bill Allen Bradshaw Spencer Herbert Ginger Rendell John Evans 91.0 SF1 Watson Jones 86.3 SF2 Spencer? Final Spencer Watson?

19 Tue : Plymouth 16 Wimbledon 38 (Challenge) WMN Heavy rain made for treacherous conditions and several falls, but thankfully no serious injuries. Following a fall for Preston in heat 3, the crowd protested against their perceived unfair riding by Blacklock, but the ACU official blamed the conditions. A few days later, Freddie Hore announced the strengthening of the Plymouth team by the signing of Bill Clibbett and Charlie Blacklock. Plymouth 16 Bert Spencer Bert Jones 2 f 3 5 Peter Slade Paddy Dean Bill White f 1 1 George Preston f 0 Wimbledon 38 Bill Clibbett Arthur Mann Stan Lemon Don Boswell Charlie Blacklock Fred Ralph Clibbett Spencer Mann Lemon Jones Boswell Blacklock Mann Slade (Preston f) Lemon Boswell Spencer Clibbett Mann Dean (Jones f) Lemon Boswell Slade Jones Dean Ralph (White f) Clibbett Mann White? Blacklock Spencer Ralph? Single 26 Married 20 (Challenge) Single 26 Stan Lemon Bert Spencer Arthur Mann Bill White Peter Slade Paddy Dean Maurice Bradshaw Married 20 Don Boswell George Preston Charlie Blacklock Ginger Rendell Jimmy Tellan Bill Clibbett Lemon Spencer Boswell Preston Mann White Blacklock Slade Dean Rendell Tellan Lemon Spencer Preston Boswell Mann Slade Bradshaw Rendell Clibbett Blacklock Dean

20 Tue : Plymouth 18 Stamford Bridge 35 (Challenge) WMN ,000. Plymouth 18 Bert Spencer 3 2 f 5 Bert Jones Bill Clibbett Charlie Blacklock 2 2 Peter Slade 1 1 Stamford Bridge 35 Les Blakebrough Mick Murphy Ernie Evans Hal Herbert Claude Rye Ivor Hill Spencer Blakebrough Murphy Evans Jones Herbert Rye Clibbett Hill Evans Spencer Herbert Jones Blakebrough Murphy Clibbett Evans Herbert Rye Blacklock Hill Blakebrough Murphy Hill Rye Slade (f,push) (Spencer f) Scratch Race 1 Evans Spencer Clibbett Dean 89.4 Final Evans Dean Spencer (Clibbett f) 86.2

21 Tue : Plymouth 29 Lea Bridge 24 (Challenge) WMN ,000. Plymouth 29 Bert Spencer Peter Slade 3 3 Bill Clibbett 3 chain 3 Paddy Dean Bert Jones Charlie Blacklock 3 3 Lea Bridge 24 Stew Fairbairn Alf Foulds Stan Lupton 1 ef 1+1 Roy Dook 2 2 ef 4 Stiffy Aston Bert Scott f Spencer Fairbairn Foulds Clibbett Dook Dean Blacklock Jones Aston (Scott f) Slade Spencer (Lupton ef) (Dook ef) Fairbairn Foulds Dean Jones Dook Lupton Dean Aston Scott (chain) (Clibbett chain) Foulds Jones Fairbairn Spencer Aston Scott Gold Helmet (scratch) 1 Fairbairn Blacklock & Dean dead-heat Dook Spencer Lupton Clibbett Mau.Bradshaw Arthur Mann 85.0 Final Fairbairn Jones 83.0 Junior Scratch Jimmy Tellam (walkover)

22 Tue : Plymouth v High Beech (Challenge) WMN Start of the meeting was slightly delayed by a power cut. Plymouth Bert Spencer, Bill Clibbett, Maurice Bradshaw, High Beech Frank Pearce, Ben Gunner, Tiger Hart, George Bishop, Charlie King, Arthur Fenn No results available. Tue : Plymouth 21 West Ham 33 (Challenge) WMN Plymouth 21 Bert Spencer Peter Slade Bill Clibbett Bert Jones Charlie Blacklock 1 1 West Ham 33 Cliff Parkinson Reg Bounds Con Cantwell 2 ef - 2 Cecil Bounds Bluey Wilkinson Charlie Shelton Arthur Mann (res) R Bounds Spencer Parkinson Clibbett Cantwell C Bounds Wilkinson Jones Shelton Slade C Bounds Spencer (Cantwell ef) R Bounds Clibbett Parkinson Jones C Bounds Blacklock Mann Shelton Clibbett Wilkinson R Bounds Parkinson Jones Shelton Wilkinson Slade Match Races Jones beat Blacklock Wilkinson beat R Bounds Scratch Race 1 Shelton C Bounds (Slade f) 2 R Bounds Clibbett 3 Parkinson Wilkinson Bradshaw Mann Final R Bounds Shelton 90.3

23 Tue : Plymouth 17 Crystal Palace 36 (Challenge) WMN In the last meeting of a very successful first season, Tom Farndon record the first sub-80 sec race as he lowered Bert Spencer s track record by 2.3 secs to Plymouth 17 Bert Spencer Maurice Bradshaw Charlie Blacklock Bert Jones Peter Slade Bill White (res) 2 2 Crystal Palace 36 Joe Francis Harry Shepherd Nobby Key Triss Sharp Tom Farndon Bill Pitcher Francis Spencer Shepherd Key White Sharp Farndon Slade Jones 79.1* Key Bradshaw Spencer Francis Shepherd [both Plymouth riders ef] Sharp Key Slade Farndon Blacklock Pitcher? Shepherd Francis Slade Farndon Bradshaw Spencer Gold Helmet Final Tom Farndon Blacklock 82.3 Junior Scratch Race Francis Drake Match Races Spencer beat Billy Lamont 2-0 Farndon beat Billy Lamont 81.1 * track record

24 1931 SOUTH COAST CHAMPIONSHIP Results Exeter 24 Southampton Southampton 40 Exeter Plymouth 30 Southampton Southampton 43 Plymouth Plymouth 40 Exeter 13 Not raced Exeter v Plymouth Final Standings M W D L F A Pts 1 Southampton Plymouth Exeter