Where Did Harry Start?

[Guest speedyguy]

Harold McNaughton (may be MacNaughton) started as a rider at Hastings in 1948 aged 37 years. Or did he? He may have been a grass track rider just before and after the war and a second-half rider at Eastbourne in 1947. When Hastings closed, he rode until around 1954 for Ipswich, New Cross and Southampton. I believe he suffered a heart attack at one meeting and was forced to retire - then about 47 years old. Harold also rode for England (?) at division two level - probably against either the USA or Overseas. He owned a garage in Hastings and in 1955 often helped out in the pits at Eastbourne who were then in the Southern Area League (Ray Terry, Johnnie Fry, Frank Bettis and Alan Brett were in the side). But more on Harry Mac PLEASE.

[TwoMinuteWarning]

Harold rode twice for England "C" against Sweden in 1952 Details are here:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/intspeedway/engcvswe.htm

 

There is also a pic of him at the Hastings Saxons website at:

http://hastingssaxons.doverathleticvideo.com/index.htm

[tape2tapevideo]

Harold McNaughton (may be MacNaughton) started as a rider at Hastings in 1948 aged 37 years. Or did he? He may have been a grass track rider just before and after the war and a second-half rider at Eastbourne in 1947. When Hastings closed, he rode until around 1954 for Ipswich, New Cross and Southampton. I believe he suffered a heart attack at one meeting and was forced to retire - then about 47 years old. Harold also rode for England (?) at division two level - probably against either the USA or Overseas. He owned a garage in Hastings and in 1955 often helped out in the pits at Eastbourne who were then in the Southern Area League (Ray Terry, Johnnie Fry, Frank Bettis and Alan Brett were in the side). But more on Harry Mac  PLEASE.

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I have a few pics of him, met him a few years back for an interview, nice chap.

I didnt know he was 37 when he started though!

That would have made him 88 when I spoke to him and I think you may have that bit incorrect, but not sure.

[Flaired Ric]

i think somerset could do with a rider of his calibre to replace magnus "physcho" zetterstrom

[Ian]

There is also a pic of him at the Hastings Saxons website at:

http://hastingssaxons.doverathleticvideo.com/index.htm

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Many thanks for this link, TwoMinuteWarning. I've no idea whose site it is, but there's certainly enough there to make for an interesting half-hour or more.

 

It also contains a piece of speedway trivia of which I was previously unaware, and which might form the answer to the question "Name the legal functionary who went from being an enemy of speedway to become one its best friends".

 

The answer is Arthur Shawcross. Many will remember that the then Lord Shawcross conducted the inquiry in 1964 which led to the birth of the British League in 1965, and arguably saved speedway from a state of virtual civil war. What I certainly didn't know is that it was the same judge who, in his then position of Attorney General, brought about the legal action which closed down speedway in Hastings. Bizarre or what?

 

Incidentally, the reason for the closing down order was one with which we're all familiar today - residents complaining about noise.

[Guest speedyguy]

I have a few pics of him, met him a few years back for an interview, nice chap.

I didnt know he was 37 when he started though!

That would have made him 88 when I spoke to him and I think you may have that bit incorrect, but not sure.

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My fact about him being 37 was based on memory of a report I remember (hopefully correctly) reading about a match at the Pilot Field, Hastings in 1948. Great play was made of the fact that Hastings had a novice reserve Harold MacNaughton aged 37 who had some terrific races with Yarmouth's 17 year old whizzkid Billy Bales. I later saw Harold ride for New Cross and Southampton and by then it was accepted he was past 40 years old. That must be the very early 1950s. A great trier and good rider to watch.

[tape2tapevideo]

My fact about him being 37 was based on memory of a report I remember (hopefully correctly) reading about a match at the Pilot Field, Hastings in 1948. Great play was made of the fact that Hastings had a novice reserve Harold MacNaughton aged 37 who had some terrific races with Yarmouth's 17 year old whizzkid Billy Bales. I later saw Harold ride for New Cross and Southampton and by then it was accepted he was past 40 years old. That must be the very early 1950s. A great trier and good rider to watch.

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Maybe he was 88 when I interviewed him, mind you he was with it compared to many I have to interview these days!

He gave me a couple of his Hastings pay slips, with the Hasting speedway header on the top, I still have them!

[JTIOW]

Maybe he was 88 when I interviewed him, mind you he was with it compared to many I have to interview these days!

He gave me a couple of his Hastings pay slips, with the Hasting speedway header on the top, I still have them!

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Having checks my records and details from that interview yes he was 37 when he started!

No truth that he will sign for Mildenhall or Wimbledon next year though!

[Guest speedyguy]

Having checks my records and details from that interview yes he was 37 when he started!

No truth that he will sign for Mildenhall or Wimbledon next year though!

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There have been some interesting posts on Harold MacNaughton in his speedway days. But what racing did he do - if any - before taking up speedway at 37 years in 1948? That's the real question?