Who Were The Real American Pioneers?

[Sidney the robin]

We're Dewayne Keeter, Scott Autrey,Sumner Mcknight,Rick Woods the real pioneers who put the USA on the map in the 70s/80s.Or were the likes of J.Milne,C.Milne,Lamoreaux,Elder,Roccio the ones years before that set the ball rolling be interested to hear peoples thoughts.My two favourite American riders were Elder,(never see😆)and Autrey.

Edited April 6, 2017 by Sidney the robin

[iris123]

I think it goes without saying that the early riders were the pioneers.Maybe i am misunderstanding what you are questioning?

[Sidney the robin]

I think it goes without saying that the early riders were the pioneers.Maybe i am misunderstanding what you are questioning?

I thought that, but often Autrey is the one who gets mentioned as the one who got the ball rolling.

[iris123]

I thought that, but often Autrey is the one who gets mentioned as the one who got the ball rolling.

Certainly the revival really got going with Autrey.But as you mention Keeter and even Steve Bast were in the BL a few years earlier.Wasn't it down to Jack Milne getting the revival going in California?

Edited April 6, 2017 by iris123

[norbold]

Well I guess the real American pioneers were the likes of Don Johns and Albert 'Shrimp' Burns, who were sliding round dirt tracks from as early as 1914, followed by Maldwyn Jones and Eddie Brinck round about 1920 with their famous pendulum skid. The Americans pre-dated anything that was going on in Australia.

 

As far as speedway as we more or less know it goes, the American pioneers would have to be Sprouts Elder and Art Pechar who rode in this country in the late 1920s. When the Milnes and Wilbur Lamoreaux later came to Britain in the 1930s, along with many other Americans, it has to be said that they became an established part of the British speedway scene. In the early post War years (late 1940s and 1950s), there were the likes of Ernie Roccio and Nick Nicolaides,

 

Of course there have been some gap years, but the tradition of American riders certainly goes much further back than Scott Autrey and DeWayne Keeter.

Edited April 7, 2017 by norbold

[steve roberts]

We're Dewayne Keeter, Scott Autrey,Sumner Mcknight,Rick Woods the real pioneers who put the USA on the map in the 70s/80s.Or were the likes of J.Milne,C.Milne,Lamoreaux,Elder,Roccio the ones years before that set the ball rolling be interested to hear peoples thoughts.My two favourite American riders were Elder,(never see)and Autrey.

There was talk of Oxford doing a deal with Jeff Sexton in, if I recall, 1974 but it came to nought...happened regularly at Cowley with supposed interest in signing riders that never materialised thru' one reason or another. Harfeldt and Harrysson are two who immediately come to mind.

[Guest]

Well I guess the real American pioneers were the likes of Don Johns and Albert 'Shrimp' Burns, who were sliding round dirt tracks from as early as 1914, followed by Maldwyn Jones and Eddie Brinck round about 1920 with their famous pendulum skid. The Americans pre-dated anything that was going on in Australia.

 

As far as speedway as we more or less know it goes, the American pioneers would have to be Sprouts Elder and Art Pechar who rode in this country in the late 1920s. When the Milnes and Wilbur Lamoreaux later came to Britain later in the 1930s, along with many other Americans, it has to be said that they became an established part of the British speedway scene. In the early post War years (late 1940s and 1950s), there were the likes of Ernie Roccio and Nick Nicolaides,

 

Of course there have been some gap years, but the tradition of American riders certainly goes much further back than Scott Autrey and DeWayne Keeter.

 

The legendary late 1920s USA pioneer rider Lloyd 'Sprouts' Elder.

 

Edited April 7, 2017 by Guest

[Sidney the robin]

The one legged Dave Detemple was a name that was often bandied about.Mike Bast i really wished he could of joined Wimbledon we could of then seen his true ability

[Guest]

1937, Jack Milne - the first of the USA's great world champions. In Europe, he rode for New Cross between 1936 and 1939. The photo appeared in the USA's 'LIFE" magazine after Milne won the world title at Wembley.

[Sidney the robin]

The Americans really took our strong BL by storm even the lesser lights like McConnell were great value.Our league was really strong and varied and to think that the likes of Penhall/Sigalos started at reserve a great time to watch speedway.

[norbold]

Don Johns, American, and very probably speedway's, original pioneer:

[lucifer sam]

Norbold, there's been the occasional claim that speedway started in the USA as early as c.1907. Did these claims prove to be false?

 

All the best

Rob

[iris123]

Norbold, there's been the occasional claim that speedway started in the USA as early as c.1907. Did these claims prove to be false?

 

All the best

Rob

I thought the use of the word "speedway" started in 1909 at the new Indianapolis speedway?A news article from the time i think called the first meeting,which was motorcycle racing "speedway races".Turned out to be a bit disastrous as the surface wasn't suitable for motorcycles and so the two day meeting was shortened to just the one day as some of the riders refused to ride

 

An interesting article in a newspaper previewing the opening compares the speed records of both motorcycles and automobiles with the bikes being faster.Barney Oldfield the man who possibly invented the "slide" around the bends in his car holds a lot of the auto records at the time,whilst Jake De Rosier holds a lot of the motorbike records and so the fastest times

 

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/sites/default/files/news81009.pdf

 

Report from first meeting,August 14th,1909 "It is not as smooth as it should be-Crowd not as large as was expected"

 

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/sites/default/files/IMSNewsmoto081409.pdf

Edited April 7, 2017 by iris123

[Guest]

Don Johns, American, and very probably speedway's, original pioneer:

 

This AMA 'Hall of Fame' Link gives more background to Don Johns racing career:

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=202

Edited April 7, 2017 by Guest

[iris123]

 

Jake De Rosier.One of the pioneer US motorcycle riders,who started out racing bicycles then moved on to motorbikes and held many speed records,was almost fatally killed in the very first Indianapolis Speedway motorbike meeting in 1909

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=95

Edited April 7, 2017 by iris123

[Guest]

 

​Ray Tauser was a popular American member of the Wimbledon team in 1929 and 1930.

Edited April 7, 2017 by Guest

[iris123]

 

​Ray Tauser was a popular American member of the Wimbledon team in 1929 and 1930.

 

1930,31 and 32?

 

In 1931 Tauser had a very successful year,winning the major "Star Trophy" at Wembley.He also finished behind Billy Lamont in the Paris world championship and had some success in Australia,winning the "world dirt track derby" ahead of Vic Huxley and Dick Symthe.He only came back after the 1932 was underway and recieved a bad hand injury

Edited April 7, 2017 by iris123

[Guest]

USA Eastern States star Benny Kaufman. In the UK he rode for Wimbledon in 1938 and Southampton in 1939.

[iris123]

Miny Waln and his wife Gwynie.Miny had a brief spell at Wimbledon in 1937,Gwynie didn't

Edited April 7, 2017 by iris123

[Guest]

We're Dewayne Keeter, Scott Autrey,Sumner Mcknight,Rick Woods the real pioneers who put the USA on the map in the 70s/80s.Or were the likes of J.Milne,C.Milne,Lamoreaux,Elder,Roccio the ones years before that set the ball rolling be interested to hear peoples thoughts.My two favourite American riders were Elder,(never see)and Autrey.

 

 

I thought that, but often Autrey is the one who gets mentioned as the one who got the ball rolling.

 

 

The Americans really took our strong BL by storm even the lesser lights like McConnell were great value.Our league was really strong and varied and to think that the likes of Penhall/Sigalos started at reserve a great time to watch speedway.

 

Many Waln had an impressive record in pre-WW2 USA speedway and was a winner of the National Championship in 1930, 1931 and 1932. He joined Wimbledon in 1937 on the recommendation of the Milnes Jack (New Cross) and Cordy (Hacney) and Dons rider Wilbur Lamoreaux. But he failed to adapt to British speedway and only had a short spell with the Dons. He also retired towards the end of the 1937, and switched to building and racing midget cars for a time.

For his feats in the USA, Miny Waln was inducted to the AMA Hall of Fame. His entry is as follows:

AMA Hall of Fame Miny Waln

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=290

Edited April 7, 2017 by Guest