Sunday February 19 1928

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On This Day Sunday 19th February 1928 89 years ago

The first speedway meeting in Britain took place on a disused running cinder track at the rear of the King's Oak pub in High Beech, Essex. The High Beech meeting made a sensational impact, attracting an extraordinary crowd of 30,000 into the depths of Epping Forest and making front page news in the 'Daily Mirror' the following morning!. Within ten months, the new sport (first dubbed Dracing and then settling on its famous title of Speedway) was being played out in over fifty venues in towns and cities all over the UK - including famous London arenas like Stamford Bridge, the White City and Wembley.

High Beech. Kings Oak Speedway - 1928

 

[iris123]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmLhqavChDs

[The White Knight]

Happy Birthday Speedway. :party:

[Midland Red]

Shepton Mallet Journal - Friday 24 February 1928

 

NEW SPORT.

 

Nearly 15,000 people attended the first dirt track motor cycle racing meeting held in England at High Beach Speedway, near Loughton, Essex, Sunday.

The Speedway is a roughly circular track of cinders and dirt about quarter of a mile in circumference, previously used for bicycle races.

Two Australian “cracks,” Keith Mackay and Billy Galloway, who are over here to popularise the sport, competed in the events, and provided the spectators with many thrills.

Some superb riding was witnessed, the competitors skidding their machines at 50 miles hour, sending showers of dirt up from their sliding wheels.

In the first race in which they competed both the Australians were unfortunate. Mackay went over the line, and then Galloway, crashed owing to his driving-chain jumping off. H. J. Foulds (Sunbeam) won in good style from W. Pointer (Ariel). The home riders thus gave a highly commendable display.

The average speed for the races was 33 m.p.h.

 

 

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Saturday 25 February 1928

 

MOTOR NOTES.

 

How thrilling dirt track racing can be when experienced riders round each curve in one continuous skid on an illuminated track can hardly be appreciated, says "The Motor Cycle," by anyone who has not seen the sports as practised in Australia or America. However, those who watched Sunday's race meeting the King's Oak Speedway, High Beech, Loughton, found that even in daylight and with riders unused to cinder track racing there thrills in plenty. Although the Ilford Club’s venture was the nature of an experiment, it proved a great success and showed the many thousands who attended that the new sport has possibilities which, when fully developed, should result in a pastime making a wide appeal among the general public as well as motor cyclists. In its present state the track which was used is not ideal; its surface needs improvement, the width is insufficient, and there are not the necessary facilities for spectators. To see the races properly, it is essential for the spectators to be on the outside of the track, and to ensure their safety there should be a rider-proof barrier of handle-bar height. These points, and the improvement the track itself, will, no doubt, receive attention if, as is hoped, those responsible for the event develop the Speedway. Considering the fact that hardly any competitors had ever before attempted dirt track racing, the riding was of a remarkably high standard, and some of the skid correction a pleasure to watch. There was no broadsiding in the true sense of the word, for the surface was not conducive to this method of rounding the curves, and only one or two of the riders had the knowledge or experience to adopt the practice. The general organisation of the meeting was exceptionally good, and the Ilford Club has reason to be proud of the smooth way in which the lengthy programme of events was run off. In the latter connexion the Club was greatly assisted by the excellent behaviour of the crowd.

Edited April 21, 2017 by Midland Red