Belle Vue (Kirkmanshulme Lane) 1928

Belle Vue (Kirkmanshulme Lane) 1928 Meeting results compiled by Bob Ozanne Saturday 28 July 1928 Belle Vue's opening dirt track meeting at Kirkmanshulme Lane greyhound stadium. Attendance 18,000. Belle Vue was one of A.J.Hunting's International Speedways tracks in 1928 and the opening ceremony was performed by W.E.Robbins, a director of ISL. The running of the meetings was handled by The North Manchester Motor Club. 17 events took place on the day. Golden Helmet 1 Charlie Spinks, Eric Spencer 87.1 2 Frank Arthur, Jim Kempster 83.6 3 Frank Pearce, Noel Johnson 89.7 4 Vic Huxley, Jack Parker 84.1 Final Frank Arthur,Charlie Spinks, Vic Huxley, (Jack Parker F) 82.0 The Golden Helmet was to be contested fortnighly under a points system. The helmet was won outright by the rider with the most points at the end of the year. Manchester Handicap 1 Jim Kempster, Charlie Spinks. 88.3 2 Frank Arthur, Eric Spencer 87.0 3 Jack Parker, Acorn Dobson, (Frank Pearce F), (S.Allen FIL) 99.3 Oliver Langton also rode. 4 Alec Jackson, Vic Huxley 95.0 Rerun - Eric Langton and Cyril B.Manson collided the first time. Semi Final 1 Jim Kempster, Frank Arthur, Charlie Spinks, (Eric Spencer F) 81.5 Semi Final 2 Jack Parker, Alec Jackson, (Acorn Dobson FIL) 89.9 The second semi was rerun. The first time Parker and Huxley collided and were thrown headlong down the track. Both needed medical attention. Huxley competed in the rerun but was on a borrowed bike. Final Frank Arthur, Jim Kempster 89.0 Jack Parker did not start due to engine problems. Match race Charlie Spinks bt Frank Arthur Lap Record Jim Kempster 20.5, Frank Arthur 20.1, Vic Huxley 19.9 Saturday 04 August 1928 Attendance 9,000/10,000. Splendid weather. Evening Chronicle Cup () 1 Alec Jackson, B.Wade 96.2 2 Cyril B.Manson, Wilf Mc Clure, (E.Mangnall NS), (Acorn Dobson FIL) This race was rerun after a big crash involving E.Mangnall, Cyril B.Manson and

Wilf McClure 3 Alec Hill, E.Flynn 4 Tommy Hatch, G.Booth Again a rerun - W. Stockdale badly injured his ankle in a collision with Hatch. Stockdale caught his left leg between the back wheel and the frame. Semi Final 1 Alec Jackson, Cyril B.Manson Semi Final 2 Alec Hill, Tommy Hatch 97.8 Final Alec Hill This comp, run on a handicap basis, was restricted to English riders residing within 50 miles of Manchester. Hill fell near the finish but was able to push home still first. 1 Ben Unwin (2 secs), Eric Spencer 92.2 2 Eric Langton, Alec Jackson 95.6 Mart Seiffert (FRM), Dick Smythe and T.Ashburn also rode. 3 Tommy Hatch, Colin Watson 101.8 Charlie Spinks crashed and was out of the meeting with a shoulder muscle injury. Tommy Hatch fell just after the start and remounted. 4 Vic Huxley, Acorn Dobson 90.6 Semi Final 1 Eric Langton, Alec Jackson, Ben Unwin, Eric Spencer 95.6 Semi Final 2 Vic Huxley, Colin Watson, (Acorn Dobson F), (Tommy Hatch E) 92.0 Final Eric Langton, Colin Watson 96.8 Golden Gauntlet 1 Eric Spencer, Colin Watson 85.0 2 Alec Hill, Alec Jackson, (Dicky Smythe E) 91.0 3 Mart Seiffert, H.Pearce 95.6 Seiffert replaced Spinks. 4 Vic Huxley, F.Whiting, (Ben Unwin E) 89.0 Final Vic Huxley, Eric Spencer 83.8 Match race Alec Jackson bt Acorn Dobson (Holder Huxley 19.9) Eric Spencer 21.0 Saturday 11/08/1928 1 R.Sidebottom, A.Simons 103.5 2 R.Hickson, T.Ashburn, 102.3 3 Cyril B.Manson who passed Wilf McClure to win by inches, Harold Tobin fell. 99.5 4 Bob Harrison, C.A.Drew 103.6 Semi Final 1 R.Sidebottom, A.Simons 103.5 Semi Final 2 Bob Harrison, Cyril B.Manson 102.9 Final R.Sidebottom, Bob Harrison 104.2 1 Frank Varey, Alec Jackson 98.7 Jack Bishop also rode. 2 Ben Unwin, Eric Langton (Scott) 94.9 T.Ashburn also rode.

3 Vic Huxley (Douglas), Reg Pointer (Rudge) 92.4 4 Dicky Smythe, Bob Harrison, (Tommy Hatch F), (G.Booth E) 92.7 Semi Final 1 Ben Unwin, Eric Langton, (Alec Jackson E) 94.5 Semi Final 2 Dicky Smythe, Reg Pointer 89.1 Huxley fell and remounted Final Reg Pointer, Eric Langton, (Dicky Smythe F) 91.0 Silver Sash 1 Jack Bishop (Harley). Tommy Hatch 91.8 2 Vic Huxley, Reg Pointer 83.8 3 Alec Jackson, H.Pearce, (Ben Unwin E), (Bob Harrison F) 91.4 4 Dicky Smythe (Douglas), Cyril B.Manson, Acorn Dobson 89.3 Final Dicky Smythe, Jack Bishop, Alec Jackson 82.2 Huxley fell in the Final whilst battling for the lead with Smythe. s (Holder Huxley 19.9) Tommy Hatch 22.3, Alec Jackson 22.0 Jackson established a British record Tuesday 14/08/1928 1 Ben Unwin, Harold Tobin, Alec Hill 94.0 T.Ashburn also rode. 2 W.Lewty (7 secs), Cyril B.Manson, (Alec Jackson F) 103.0 3 Reg Pointer, H.Pearce, (Acorn Dobson FIL) 94.2 4 Oliver Langton, R.Sidebottom, (Tommy Hatch F),(A.J.Ward F) 92.0 Semi Final 1 Ben Unwin, Cyril B.Manson, (Acorn Dobson FIL), (Harold Tobin F) 92.6 Semi Final 2 Oliver Langton, R.Sidebottom 92.0 This was a rerun. In the first run Reg Pointer crashed and Alec Hill could not avoid him. Final Oliver Langton, Ben Unwin 89.2 Silver Armlet 1 Eric Langton, Cyril B.Manson, Tommy Hatch 88.2 2 Oliver Langton, A.J.Ward 90.2 Frank Varey also rode. 3 Ben Unwin, Acorn Dobson 92.0 4 Alec Hill, Tom Simister, (Reg Pointer F) 90.2 Final Oliver Langton, Alec Hill, (Ben Unwin F) 84.8 Final Alec Hill s (Holder Huxley 19.9) Ben Unwin 20.2 Thursday 16/08/1928 The move from Saturday to Thursday was to accommodate the wishes of the Manchester United and City football clubs who feared the popularity of speedway would damage their attendances. 1 Eric Langton (Scr), R.Hooten 93.0 2 Dicky Smythe (Scr), Cyril B.Manson 96.8

3 E.Flynn, R.Sidebottom, (E.O'Donnell E) 99.2 4 T.Ashburn, Tommy Hatch, (Ben Unwin F) 90 Semi Final 1 Dicky Smythe, Eric Langton, R.Goodson 84.0 (Standing Start Record) Semi Final 2 Tommy Hatch, R.Sidebottom, T.Ashburn 96.8 Final Eric Langton, Tommy Hatch 92.6 Dicky Smythe could not get going properly. Silver Helmet 1 Tom Simister, Alec Hill 92.4 2 Dicky Smythe, Eric Langton 84.0 3 Oliver Langton, Tommy Hatch, (Acorn Dobson F) 87.6 4 Ben Unwin, Frank Varey (Frm), (O.Donnell E) 97.6 Final Dicky Smythe, Oliver Langton, (Ben Unwin F) (Tom Simister F) 78.2 (track record -Rolling Start) 1 H.Pearce, W.Lewty 99.6 2 Frank Varey, J.Connought 100.0 3 J.Hall, Harold Tobin 100.2 4 R.Hickson, E.Flynn 99.4 Semi Final 1 Frank Varey, H.Pearce 99.8 Semi Final 2 J.Hall, E.Flynn 103.2 Final Frank Varey, E.Flynn 100.4 s (Holder Huxley 19.9) Dicky Smythe 19.4 new record Oliver Langton 20.8 Tuesday 21/08/1928 At the time Oliver Langton was the only English rider in the north to hold an ISL Trophy, The Silver Sash. 1 Jim Kempster (Scr), B.Wade 86.6 2 Oliver Langton, Wilf McClure 91.2 3 Charlie Spinks (Scr), Alec Hill, (T.Simister E) 89.2 4 Eric Langton, Larry Coffey 90.6 5 Jimmy Stevens, Tommy Hatch, 90.8 R.Sidebottom also rode Semi Final 1 Jim Kempster, Oliver Langton, Charlie Spinks 85.4 Semi Final 2 Tommy Hatch, Eric Langton, Jimmy Stevens 91 Final Jim Kempster, Eric Langton 85.6 Silver Wings 1 Jim Kempster, Oliver Langton 84 2 Charlie Spinks, B.Wade, 87.8 Eric Langton FRM place not known 3 Alec Hill, Wilf McClure 94 Larry Coffey FRM place not known 4 Jimmy Stevens, R.Sidebottom 89 Final Charlie Spinks, Jim Kempster 81.6 North Manchester Cup 1 Frank Varey, Lloyd Flowers 96 2 Wilf McClure, C.Wood 99.8

3 R. Hickson, A.Simmons 99.2 4 H.Pearce, R.Hooten 100.6 Final Frank Varey, R. Hickson, Wilf McClure 98.8 Evening Chronicle Cup () (Holder Alec Hill) 1 Oliver Langton, Tommy Hatch 87.2 2 Cyril B.Manson, R.Sidebottom 101.8 3 R.Hooten, J.Sohl, 100.6 4 R. Hickson, Wilf McClure 100.8 5 Frank Varey, Lloyd Flowers 99.6 Semi Final 1 Oliver Langton, Tommy Hatch 88.8 Semi Final 2 Frank Varey, R. Hickson 97 Final Oliver Langton, Frank Varey, (R. Hickson F) 89.6 (Holder Dicky Smythe 19.4) Charlie Spinks 19.2 new record Match Race Stevens bt Coffey who fell. Thursday 23/08/1928 Track soaking wet. Conditions difficult. 1 Greenhalgh, T.Simister, (Vic Huxley (Scr) EIL) 104.4 2 Lloyd Flowers (9), Frank Arthur 93.6 3 Wilf McClure, T.Ashburn, (Larry Coffey FIL) 103.8 4 Jimmy Stevens, Oliver Langton 89.6 5 Eric Langton, J.E.Whittle, (L.Jacobson F), (R.Sidebottom F) 90.6 Semi Final 1 Frank Arthur, Lloyd Flowers 86 Semi Final 2 Eric Langton, Oliver Langton, (Jimmy Stevens F), (J.E.Whittle E) 88.6 Final Oliver Langton, Frank Arthur, Eric Langton, Lloyd Flowers 84.2 Silver Pennant 1 Vic Huxley, Oliver Langton 80.6 2 Frank Arthur, Eric Langton 81 3 Jimmy Stevens, R.Sidebottom, T.Ashburn, (Wilf McClure E) 92.2 4 Larry Coffey, Cyril B.Manson, (Frank Varey F) 85.4 Final Frank Arthur, Jimmy Stevens, (Vic Huxley F), (Larry Coffey F) 84 Huxley had machine problems throughout the evening. North Manchester Club Race Final R.Sidebottom, Wilf McClure Lloyd Flowers also rode. (Holder Charlie Spinks 19.2) Frank Arthur 19.2 record equalled on a wet track Match Race Larry Coffey bt Jimmy Stevens. There were 2 attempts to run this event. Stevens fell both times. Tuesday 28/08/1928 Very wet track again. 1 Larry Coffey (Scr), Alec Hill, E.Flynn 90.0 Heat 1 was run in pouring rain. Things got worse and the organisers had to call

a halt for a while. 2 Oliver Langton (Scr), E.Kingdom, (Lloyd Flowers F), (Booth F) 89.6 3 Wilf McClure, Jim Kempster 99.6 Kempster had a big lead but was blinded by mud and had to back off. 4 Eric Langton, Jimmy Stevens 86.4 5 Colin Watson (Scr), W.Lewty, (Acorn Dobson F) 89.0 Semi Final 1 Oliver Langton, Wilf McClure 89.0 Semi Final 2 Eric Langton, Jim Kempster 88.0 Final Eric Langton, Jim Kempster 89.8 Silver Wheel 1 Eric Langton, T.Ashburn 89.4 2 Jimmy Stevens, Acorn Dobson 96.0 3 Jim Kempster, Alec Hill 90.6 4 Colin Watson, Oliver Langton 87.6 Final Jim Kempster, Eric Langton, (Colin Watson FIL) 87.2 City Hall Cup First races for the City Hall Cup, a comp only open to riders residing within 50 miles of Manchester, to be held fortnightly. Eric Langton, Oliver Langton Abandoned due to conditions. Belle Vue Track Championship Oliver Langton, Eric Langton, B.Wade Thursday 30/08/1928 Attendance 10,000. 1 T.Ashburn (15), Eric Langton, E.Kingdom Dicky Smythe had engine trouble. 2 Jimmy Stevens, Alec Hill Cyril B.Manson also rode. 3 Albert Hill, Williams Larry Coffey and R.Sidebottom collided in the first run of this race and were unfit for the rerun Fortunately they were not seriously injured. 4 Billy Lamont, C.A.Drew, R.Hooten 87.0 Lamont was back after 6 weeks out with an injury. 5 J.S.Clayton (16), Snaith Semi Final 1 Eric Langton, Jimmy Stevens, A.Hill, T.Ashburn Semi Final 2 C.A.Drew, Snaith, (Billy Lamont F) Final Eric Langton, Jimmy Stevens 86.2 Golden Helmet 1 Billy Lamont, Cyril B.Manson 2 Eric Langton 81.2 Dicky Smythe had engine trouble. 3 Wilf McClure, W.Lewty 4 E.Flynn, H.Pearce, (Jimmy Stevens FIL) Final Billy Lamont (A.J.S.), Eric Langton Final Harold Tobin, C.A.Drew, J.Cookson

Harold Brumby Tobin was 18 years old and 5ft 3ins tall. He was a promising junior and this win lifted him into the senior class. Match Race Eric Langton bt Larry Coffey Eric Langton (Rudge) bt Billy Lamont 80.4 Lamont fell but was not injured. Tuesday 04/09/1928 The Thursday meetings at Belle Vue stopped because the pressure of travelling on the ISL star riders mainly based in London became too much. It was also suggested in the press that the Thursday race night was unprofitable. After this meeting the N.M.M.C. fully took over all aspects of the speedway with I.S.L. remaining as track owner. Attendance 15,000. 1 E.O'Donnell, Cyril B.Manson, Lloyd Flowers, (Jimmy Stevens FRM) 2 Eric Langton, Larry Coffey, E.Kingdom, (E.Flynn FIL) 3 Frank Varey, Oliver Langton C.Hiscock also rode. 4 Wilf McClure, G.Sohl (12), (Noel Johnson E) 5 Jim Kempster, Acorn Dobson Final E.O'Donnell, Eric Langton (Rudge), Jim Kempster 93.2 Golden Gauntlet 1 Frank Varey, Larry Coffey 2 Alec Hill, E.Kingdom, Oliver Langton (E) 3 Eric Langton. Jim Kempster 81 R.Sidebottom and E.Flynn were also in this heat. 4 Acorn Dobson, Wilf McClure, (Noel Johnson CIL) Final Eric Langton (Rudge), Frank Varey (Scott) 81.8 Evening Chronicle Cup () (Holder Oliver Langton) Final Oliver Langton, Cyril B.Manson, (Eric Langton F), (Alec Hill E) Challenge Race Jim Kempster, Eric Langton, Oliver Langton (Holder Charlie Spinks and Frank Arthur 19.2 ) Noel Johnson 19.6 North Manchester Club (Holder Oliver Langton 20.8) Frank Varey 21.4 North Manchester Club Cup A.Pratt (Raleigh), Wilf McClure (Scott), B.Wade 99.2 Tuesday 11/09/1928 Attendance 10,000. The first meeting run wholly by the North Manchester Motor Club without ISL. Hilary Buchanan was a non starter due to an injury in practice. There was an exhibition of broadsiding by Larry Coffey.

City Hall Cup Eric Langton (Rudge), Tommy Hatch (Douglas) 85.2 1 Lloyd Flowers, Ben Unwin, E.Kingdom 2 Fred Fearnley, Alec Hill, W.Lewty, M.Crook also rode. 3 Tommy Hatch, Cyril B.Manson, E.Flynn 4 Wilf McClure, Albert Hill, H.Pearce also rode. 5 B.Wade (8), Acorn Dobson Semi Final 1 Tommy Hatch, Lloyd Flowers, Alec Hill Semi Final 2 B.Wade, Wilf McClure, (Acorn Dobson F) Final Alec Hill, Wilf McClure (Scott), B.Wade, (Tommy Hatch F) 87.8 Silver Sash 1 Tommy Hatch, Eric Langton, Ben Unwin 2 Alec Jackson, Oliver Langton, Larry Coffey rode in this heat despite a sprained ankle. 3 Alec Hill, E.Flynn 4 Jimmy Stevens, Wilf McClure Final Alec Jackson (Rudge), Alec Hill (New Imperial), (Tommy Hatch F) 86.0 Jimmy Stevens was a non starter, having fallen in 2 previous attempts to run the race. Norman Hartley took part in the heats. Norman had not ridden since Audenshaw closed at the end of May 1928. Final B.Wade (D.O.T.), H.Wych (Bradbury), (R.A.Hickson F) Record Attempts Tommy Hatch and Oliver Langton both 20.8 Tuesday 18/09/1928 Attendance 12,000. Evening Chronicle Cup () Final Alec Jackson (Rudge), Oliver Langton (Rudge) 86.2 The Final was rerun as Jackson and E.O'Donnell collided the first time 1 S.J.Clayton (10), Acorn Dobson (Scr) 96.8 Wilf McClure rode. 2 Eric Langton, Norman Hartley, (Frank Pearce E) 89.4 3 E.O'Donnell, G.Drew, Alec Jackson 98.2 4 Oliver Langton, E.Flynn 90.0 5 H.Wych, Dan Buck, (G.Sohl F), (Jimmy Stevens F) 103.0 Semi Final 1 S.J.Clayton, Acorn Dobson 97.0 Norman Hartley rode. Semi Final 2 Oliver Langton, G.Drew, H.Wych 89.2 Final Oliver Langton (1), Acorn Dobson (Rudge) (4), G.Drew, S.J.Clayton 84.6 Silver Armlet 1 Eric Langton, Frank Varey, (Tom Simister F) 83.2 2 Alec Jackson, W.Kingdom 86.8 3 Acorn Dobson, Wilf McClure, (H.Pearce F), (Norman Hartley F) 91.0 4 Oliver Langton, Frank Pearce (Harley) 81.6 Final Oliver Langton (Rudge), Alec Jackson (Rudge) 83.8

North Manchester Club Race Final G.E.Drew (New Henley), F.Williams (Rudge), E.O'Donnell 98.2 Match Race Oliver Langton (Rudge) bt Alec Jackson (Rudge) 86.4 This was the last meeting to be held in 1928. The track closed for extensive work on the drainage. Relaying of the track was also needed. As things turned out the track did not reopen for 60 years being replaced by the wonderful purpose built Hyde Road. By the 20 October 1928 work had begun on the new speedway at Belle Vue pleasure groundsunder the direction of the N.M.M.C. The track was being built around the Manchester central football pitch and would be an Australian style egg shape. Accommodation for 30,000 was intended.