Louis Lawson

[speediebee]

Is there any old time Belle Vue fans that remember Louis Lawson?

Louis rode for Belle Vue in the late 1940s and early 1050s and was world number 3 in 1949.

I heard a story some years ago that Louis was not his real name, but because at the time he was in the RAF it was not possible for him to compete using his real name.

I only saw him the once, riding for BV at Birmingham in the early 50s, but would be obliged if there was anyone out there that can shed any light as to the truth of this story?

Thanks in anticipation

[poolepirate]

The below link doesn't answer your question but makes good reading.

 

http://www.bellevuespeedway.co.uk/L_Lawson.htm

[TwoMinuteWarning]

Louis Lawson's real name was Arthur Woods ... dosen't have quite the same ring about it, somehow ...

 

I seem to remember that there was an article about him in VSM a few years ago - I wish someone would produce a good index for that magazine, so that I can find these articles!

Edited January 14, 2006 by TwoMinuteWarning

[speediebee]

Louis Lawson's real name was Arthur Woods ... dosen't have quite the same ring about it, somehow ...

 

I seem to remember that there was an article about him in VSM a few years ago - I wish someone would produce a good index for that magazine, so that I can find these articles!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Two Minute Warning.

Part of the story was that in later life he became chairman of UKBMX, thanks to your info I now find that there was once a chairman of UKBMX named Woods, in the early 1980s.

[Guest speedyguy]

Thanks Two Minute Warning.

Part of the story was that in later life he became chairman of UKBMX, thanks to your info I now find that there was once a chairman of UKBMX named Woods, in the early 1980s.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's an excellent article in the current edition of VSM - but cannot see any mention of him being Arthur Woods!

[TwoMinuteWarning]

There's an excellent article in the current edition of VSM - but cannot see any mention of him being Arthur Woods!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Strangely, there isn't. But he was DEFINITELY Arthur Woods

[iris123]

Funnily enough i was just looking through a few old programmes and came across a few things on the "blonde bombshell".One from a B.V prog in 1948 compares the 2 post war youngsters Lawson and Dent Oliver.Seems Oliver was at this point a "big" track specialist while Lawson had his best performances on the small London tracks.Here is a snippet.."Folks might say...why can Louis put up such a good show in London and not Dent.Why is Dent apparently better than Lou at Belle Vue.The answer again is simple.Lou is essentially a small track rider first.His particular style is "bang on" as he would say,on the smaller circuits.Eric Langton has been heard to remark that if ever Lawson lost his slide,came out of the corner as fast as he went in-nobody would see him."

Another interesting one from a few days before the 1949 World Final about the 3 "Aces" in the final,Jack Parker,Dent Oliver and Lou carries on in the same theme.

"Dent's riding during the last few weeks needs no commentary now,but our stalwart is under no illusion as to his chances unless he can on this great occasion master the Wembley circuit.Louis,on the other hand,is very much at home there.His trouble is that he's slow starting most times and usually takes a heat or two to get going."

[speedyguy]

Strangely, there isn't. But he was DEFINITELY Arthur Woods

 

 

This has just been posted on

 

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway

 

Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:25 pm

 

mattjackson

Re: Louis Lawson, RIP

 

I'm not sure that is right. I was doing research into the riders who started

their careers in the 1940s and was checking the birth dates of riders at the

Family Research web site.

Louis was born on October 25, 1921 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire and the entry

is there in the ledger:

 

Lawson, Louis - born Southwell.

 

I've also read the Arthur Woods story but I think that Louis Lawson was his real name.

Edited July 17, 2009 by speedyguy

[norbold]

Just had this response from John Chaplin:

 

"As far as I know, Louis Lawson's name was Louis Lawson.

I think there was a myth years ago that Louis Lawson was not his real name, but I interviewed him and there was never any suggestion that he was called anything else."

 

[Nigel]

I have also read the story, that his name was not Louis Lawson.... But as far as i can remember his surname was 'Brown' ? er maybe

[Nigel]

Right ......A Louis Lawson married Hilda Smith at Southwell Notts in 1946.... in the 1950s-60s there was a haulage contractor Louis Lawson of Gunthorpe Notts.

 

The plot thickens.. if his name really is Louis Lawson, where did and why did this story of His 'real name' start

 

The name on his headstone should be proof!

 

Edit....The Lawson Story by Phillip Dalling VSM mag.Vol 13. No 4. 2006

 

No mention of another name .. wife Hilda mentioned .. and living in Gunthorpe .......

Edited July 18, 2009 by Nigel