czechhero Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Can anyone help with any pictures or info on George Newton, please? The particular pic I'm looking for is of Wee George in action at Fleetwood, if anyone has a copy of the excellent Cyril May's "Ride It, The Complete Book of Speedway" it is on page 122. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 (edited) I haven't got that book but if it is the photo of George leg-trailing with his front wheel in the air it was on the front of the Stenners Annual dated 1950. It is also on the "Name the Rider" section of the excellent Newcastle History Website. The photo was actually taken at the Newcastle track I believe. George rode for New Cross, Crystal Palace, Fleetwood, Walthamstow and St Austell as far as I know. He held the Norwich Firs Stadium track record for some years before and after the War (74.0). He suffered from ill health for many years and the seasons he missed would have been his peak years. When he retired from riding he went on to become team-manager of the St Austell Gulls. Jim Blanchard and Norbold are New Cross fans and may be able to help with this request for a photo. Edited November 25, 2006 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 (edited) I always thought that George Newton was killed in a track crash in the early 1950's when he was way into his 40's. Edited November 25, 2006 by 25yearfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 George Newton was born on 27 January 1913 in Aldershot. On his very first appearance for Crystal Palace as a 19 year old reserve he equalled Vic Huxley's track record at West Ham, but it was a bit of a one-off and he didn't progress as expected. He was sent down to Eastbourne to learn his craft before returning to New Cross in 1934. He was a useful second-string but by 1936 was a top class heat leader. He rode in the Star Riders' Championship Final in 1934 and in all three World Finals, 1936-38. He also reprsented England in Test matches against Australia. In 1938 he contracted tuberculosis and had a lung removed. It was thought that would be the end of his career, but, amazingly, in 1948 he made a comeback with New Cross. He was then struck down by an abdominal complaint and was out again for a while. He returned to the track in 1949 riding for second division Fleetwood. In 1950 he moved to Walthamstow and in 1951 to Liverpool. He began 1952 with Liverpool but moved to St Austell later in the year. At the end of 1952 he retired and in 1953 was appointed manager of St Austell. He is said to have been one of the most spectacular riders of all time and continued leg-trailing to the end. He was also one of the bravest coming back from his illness to once again become a force in speedway, albeit in the seond division. I'm not sure when/where he died but it wasn't on the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 I always thought that George Newton was killed in a track crash in the early 1950's when he was way into his 40's. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I now realise that I got George Newton mixed up with Joe Abbot a guy who rode for many years and way into his 40's when he was killed on track at Bradfords Odsal circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenB1 Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 George Newton was born on 27 January 1913 in Aldershot. On his very first appearance for Crystal Palace as a 19 year old reserve he equalled Vic Huxley's track record at West Ham, but it was a bit of a one-off and he didn't progress as expected. He was sent down to Eastbourne to learn his craft before returning to New Cross in 1934. He was a useful second-string but by 1936 was a top class heat leader. He rode in the Star Riders' Championship Final in 1934 and in all three World Finals, 1936-38. He also reprsented England in Test matches against Australia. In 1938 he contracted tuberculosis and had a lung removed. It was thought that would be the end of his career, but, amazingly, in 1948 he made a comeback with New Cross. He was then struck down by an abdominal complaint and was out again for a while. He returned to the track in 1949 riding for second division Fleetwood. In 1950 he moved to Walthamstow and in 1951 to Liverpool. He began 1952 with Liverpool but moved to St Austell later in the year. At the end of 1952 he retired and in 1953 was appointed manager of St Austell. He is said to have been one of the most spectacular riders of all time and continued leg-trailing to the end. He was also one of the bravest coming back from his illness to once again become a force in speedway, albeit in the seond division. I'm not sure when/where he died but it wasn't on the track. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And his brother Len lives in bexhill on Sea- Sussex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knowle Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 A man claiming to be called George Newton worked in some capacity at Bristol Eastville stadium in 1977/78 and is illustrated in a handbook of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 (edited) i read in speedway star he had tuberculosis and had a lung taken out he made a comeback with one lung and was still a top line second division rider then he quit i believe he died of tuberculosis in his 40's or 50's Bit of trivia: he was in 1st ever world championship race in 1936 at Wembley If i am completely wrong sorry but i am only 15 Edited November 29, 2006 by RocketBen1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 i read in speedway star he had tuberculosis and had a lung taken out he made a comeback with one lung and was still a top line second division rider then he quit i believe he died of tuberculosis in his 40's or 50's Bit of trivia: he was in 1st ever world championship race in 1936 at Wembley If i am completely wrong sorry but i am only 15 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are right, because I said all that above!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 You are right, because I said all that above!!! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But not about riding in the first ever world chasmpionship RACE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czechhero Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Thanks for the help with this, everyone. I'm a friend of Derek Timms, who rode with George at St Austell. He told me some great stories about his riding exploits. Cheers all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenB1 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Thanks for the help with this, everyone. I'm a friend of Derek Timms, who rode with George at St Austell. He told me some great stories about his riding exploits. Cheers all. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well let Derek know I am still in contact with Georges brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 But not about riding in the first ever world chasmpionship RACE! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> True. Sorry. Incidentally, he fell in that race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Was this the first Championship Final race Or was it the first World Championship race which would have been a qualifying round somewhere ha ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Was this the first Championship Final race Or was it the first World Championship race which would have been a qualifying round somewhere ha ha ha <{POST_SNAPBACK}> well thats a bit petty considering my age it would surprise most people that i knew of George Newton before i read this thread and yes it was the 1st World championship final race Just for you star ghost here is George's Scorecard Points Total Bonus Points Overall F 0 3 1 0 4 12 16 George finished 9th out of 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I know that RocketBen1 It was a joke - hence the ha ha ha at the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowenna Cudmore Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I don't know if you can still see this, but I am George's great grand daughter. His wife Hazel (my great grand mother) is still alive, as well as his 4 children, one of which is my grandmother. I am pretty proud by everything I have read on the internet about him and of course all the amazing stories from my family. Trying to find memorabilia on ebay etc!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barcroftlad Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi Lowena. I have just found this report. I don't have any photos of George but I can see him clearly in my mind as I felt that I got to know him when I was just a teen in the early 1950s. He used to visit and stay over with Norman Hargreaves in his days at Fleetwood. Norman was a neighbour and family friend and it was paradise for a youngster like me to be able to hang out at Norman's small garage just along the street on a Sunday morning and it was on those occasions when I met George. I still have his autograph and I have written under it Walthamstow, so he obviously continued to visit Norman after he left Fleetwood. George was a good guy in my memories. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knowle Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Hi Lowenna Look out on ebay for a copy of Stenner's Speedway Annual World Edition for 1950 which has an action picture of George on the cover. These Annuals come up from time to time as they are very collectable. Also see my comment from Nov.2006 in this thread regarding a man claiming to be George working at the Bristol track in 1977/8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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