Clem Cort

[iris123]

 

Clem Cort was one of those shooting stars that as far as i can tell started out mid way through the 1928 season and made enough of a mark to be included in the Ogden cigarette card collection.

 

First appearance i can find is when he wonan Inter-Club race at Harringay on June 26th,had a few meetings before turning up at White City on 25th July and a month later was also riding at Wimbledon losing to the French star Charles Bellisent.But as pointed out on the back of the card he did win a couple of handicap meetings at both Wimbledon and White City and also the White City version of the News of the World belt

 

At the end of the first season he was part of a group who travelled out to Zamalek,Egypt to race and it seems rip off the locals fixing races that in the country betting was allowed

 

In 1929 i think he mainly raced in the Southern League for White City,although his name is also mentioned for the other two,Harringay and Wimbledon?He also rode for England against Wales at Cardiff and strangely i think the same year turned out for Australia alongside Vic Huxley,Max Grosskreutz and Hilary Buchanan at Preston against a Lancashire select

 

During the winter it seems he had travelled to Australia and was riding at the Exhibition Stadium where it is reported in january 1930 he was beaten in a best of 3 match race by R.West

 

Coming back for the 1930 season it seems he made what was to be a fatal change to Belle Vue.This year he also again turned out for England at Halifax against Australia

 

Over the winter i have found a report he was back in Melbourne.It was announced in December 1930 that both Clem and Lionel davey had arrived from England in January 1931 it was announced Lionel van Praag will meet Clem Cort,the famous dirt track racer.Sadly not long after he travelled to Uruguay with some of the Belle Vue team on what turned out to be a disasterous tour both financially and fatally for Cort,who was travelling in a sidecar with Bob Harrison and Oliver Langton when they collided with an on coming car with no headlights and Cort was killed.A benefit meeting had to be held to pay for his burial and it mentions his wifes journey back to Australia!!! So maybe he had married an Australian woman(he met on a previous visit)?

 

Any more info would be greatly appreciated

 

Interesting report on the Zamalek trip

 

http://www.guskuhn.net/GKuhn/Zamalek.htm

 

 

And the Wimbledon version of the belt Clem Cort won at White City and seems the Wimbledon meeting was never held for him to attempt to win

Edited October 20, 2017 by iris123

[britmet]

Interesting report on the Zamalek trip

 

http://www.guskuhn.net/GKuhn/Zamalek.htm

[iris123]

Also found this mis-spelt card

 

[BL65]

The touring party to Montevideo, Uruguay, sailed from England on 1st November 1931. It comprised Belle Vue riders Clem Cort, Frank Varey, Bob Harrison, Eric and Oliver Langton, along with Joe Gooding of Nottingham.

 

The fatal accident occurred on Wednesday, 20th January 1932. The other two riders involved were Bob Harrison, who suffered minor injuries, and Oliver Langton, who was unhurt. It was reported in the press that Harrison was arrested in connection with the death of Clem Cort following the crash. Harrison spent three days in prison while his colleagues sought an interpreter to assist him. It later transpired that Cort was the driver and Harrison and Langton pillion passengers. To avoid a collision Cort turned the machine on its side and he suffered fatal head injuries. Harrison was taken to prison because, not understanding the language, he had unwittingly agreed that he was the driver of the machine when questioned.

Edited October 20, 2017 by BL65

[iris123]

Thanks for that.Sometimes difficult to sort through conflicting information.He seems to have been confused with Clem Beckett on a couple of sites.One site saying they thought he died in the Spanish Civil War.One seems to have the Clem Cort card with a bio about Beckett

I was wondering how he managed to ride against LVP and then also take part in the Uruguay trip.Glad that is clear now

[iris123]

On ‎10‎/‎19‎/‎2017 at 9:56 PM, iris123 said:

 

 

 

Over the winter i have found a report he was back in Melbourne.It was announced in December 1930 that both Clem and Lionel davey had arrived from England in January 1931 it was announced Lionel van Praag will meet Clem Cort,the famous dirt track racer.Sadly not long after he travelled to Uruguay with some of the Belle Vue team on what turned out to be a disasterous tour both financially and fatally for Cort,who was travelling in a sidecar with Bob Harrison and Oliver Langton when they collided with an on coming car with no headlights and Cort was killed.A benefit meeting had to be held to pay for his burial and it mentions his wifes journey back to Australia!!! So maybe he had married an Australian woman(he met on a previous visit)?

Seems my guess was right. Clem married Miss Francis Fegan(Feegan) from Victoria, Australia. They were married in Australia in early 1931

Edited February 15, 2020 by iris123

[Guest]

On 10/20/2017 at 4:12 PM, iris123 said:

Thanks for that.Sometimes difficult to sort through conflicting information.He seems to have been confused with Clem Beckett on a couple of sites.One site saying they thought he died in the Spanish Civil War.One seems to have the Clem Cort card with a bio about Beckett

I was wondering how he managed to ride against LVP and then also take part in the Uruguay trip.Glad that is clear now

My hand is held up.I wrongly confused elsewhere on the BSF Clem Cort and Clem Beckett. But elsewhere on other BSF threads I do accept there were two riders named Bob Harrison!!!

[iris123]

3 minutes ago, gustix said:

My hand is held up.I wrongly confused elsewhere on the BSF Clem Cort and Clem Beckett. But elsewhere on other BSF threads I do accept there were two riders named Bob Harrison!!!

Indeed. One of those oft repeated topics of yours

[iris123]

Found a report from Cort's Australian debut 14.12.1929 at Melbourne. Unfortunately there was a bit of a mix- up with his bike and he had no chance to practice, but won his heat and made the scratch final

Lining up against him were Reg West, Con Cantwell and Fay Taylour

Reg West led and over done it on the first lap and was challenged by Taylour and as West tried to hold the lead he skidded and fell. Cantwell hit Wests bike and also hit the deck. In the re- run Taylour shot in front, but made the same mistake as West at the same place and fell and West fell again in trying to avoid Taylour. It was said that West's action saved Taylour from serious injury. But she couldn't compete in the 2nd re-run, which West won from Cort and Cantwell 

The next meeting a week later Clem won the scratch final, but West seems not to have been in this one, having a match race series against Taylour. Cantwell clashed with Cort and fell and one of the following riders hit Cantwell, leaving Cort way out in front to win

The meeting after Cort lost in the final to West, but got his revenge in an international triangle race with Ben Unwin finishing 3rd. Taylour having left Melbourne for Sydney

 

Edited February 15, 2020 by iris123

[iris123]

Another crash almost marred the next final Cort appeared in. Lined up against West, Norman Clarkson and Stan Simpkin.Cort and West were out front, whist Simpkin got into a slight lead over Clarkson and fell, Clarkson in trying to avoid the fallen rider crashed into the fence and his machine bounced high and hit a small boy who was leaning over to get a better view of the racing. Luckily although he had some bad cuts and bruises it seems no serious damage was done. Cort went on to win, as Reg West also later fell, leaving Clem the last rider in the heat 

The next meeting saw the much awaited match race clash between Cort and West. It also saw a great advert for sportsmanship in the scratch race final.

According to the report

'... Cort, Cantwell, Simpkin and Denham to fight out the final and they staged a remarkable race. Cort sent his fast Douglas to the front at the gun and Simpkin tacked on. The Victorian was too cunning at the Aquarium bend, and Cort lost ground. Simpkin passed him shortly afterwards, but Cort did not allow him to get too far away, and he raced a length behind. Meanwhile Cantwell had drawn away from Denham and was racing 5 lengths behind Cort.

It was when Cantwell turned into the straight for the first time that the fun commenced. Cantwell got his Rudge into a tremendous skid (he was riding very recklessly) and was unable to recover. So he staged a spectacular crash. Denham though was following and he appeared certain to hit either Cantwell or the machine, but with great presence of mind he threw his machine down.

The crowds cries of dismay changed to cries of admiration at Denham's wonderful act.

The race- and a furious one it was now, remained to Cort and Simpkin. The last named was riding with great daring and skill and he kept the Englishman at bay. It did not take them long to circle the track and when Simpkin "broadsided" into the straight the second time , two attendants, Denham and his machine were still on the track. Simpkin was doing easily 50 m.p.h at the time and Cort was only a length behind him.

The Victorian did not see Simpkin and the attendants until he had taken the bend and then he was only a few yards away from them. Simpkin was quite equal to the occasion, however, and he too threw his machine down just in time.

But Cort was still to be reckoned with for he had no chance of seeing the crash because of the dirt thrown up by Simpkin. When it did clear the Englishman was in an impossible  position and he could not stave off a crash. He hit Simpkin's Rudge, in fact many of the onlookers thought he also ran over Simpkin, who was lying dazed on the track.

Cort was thrown over the handlebars of his machine. but beyond a shaking, was uninjured. and was able to take his place in the re-start. Simpkin was in a worse way, and he was too ill to ride in the re-start. It was bad luck for Simpkin, who looked certain of success when he came down.

The crowd had just recovered from those thrilling episodes when the re-start took place. Thistoo was packed with thrills.

Denham's machine refused to go, being choked with dirt, so Cantwell and Cort  were left to fight it out. It was a duel right from the gun and both dare-devils "let it go". Cort was riding recklessly and he gained an advantage in the back straight. He had too much pace on for the turn into the straight and he skidded wide. Cantwell took full advantage of this, and there was a roar as he cut through on the inside. Meanwhile Cort was trying desperately to avoid hitting the fence and also to get out of the skid, but he failed and another crash resulted.

Cantwell, at this stage, showed great sportsmanship, for he could have gone on and won, but he pulled off the track and signalled that he was prepared to allow a re-start. Off they went again and this time Cantwell fell. The Victorian came down at the same spot. It was Corts opportunity to reciprocate Cantwell's sportsmanship and he took advantage of it.

Another re.start was required- the 4th. Cort took the lead at the start, but he did not hold it long, for Cantwell, with a with a delightful piece of riding passed him on the dangerous Aquarium bend. There are very few riders who will attempt that at high speed, and the crowd showed its appreciation of Cantwell's skill and pluck. Once in the lead he resisted all Cort's challenges and eventually won a most hectic race by barely two lengths. Cantwell's time was one minute and 22 secs.

The long awaited match race between West and Cort was wn by the Victorian in the deciding heat. The first heat was a thriller, the contestants  racing neck and neck throughout the four laps. West was much more skilful on the turns and he showed "wizardry" in controlling his Rudge.  But what Cort lost in the skidding he made up in the straights and so it was level pegging. Entering the straight for the last time West taking a big risk with his "broadsiding"  got away and won by little more than a length in 1 minute 22s.

The second heat was a repetition of the first with the positions reversed at the finish. Cort won this time by two lengths only. When the time came for the decider Cort was very tired and his riding lacked "fire". So West had matters all his own way and he won easily' 

Edited February 16, 2020 by iris123