Charlie Spinks speedway pioneer

[iris123]

Charlie had I think the longest career of those early Australian pioneers

Not sure when he started though I think it must have been 1924( a G.Spinks was riding in the same meeting as US stars Ralph Hepburn and Johnny Seymour). By early 1925 he as being named as one of the riders appearing in a meeting, so I guess he had made a bit of a name for himself by then

He went on to appear for Australia as late as the 1950s !! He was also one of the Australians who stayed on in the UK during the war and joined the RAF

Edited May 11, 2020 by iris123

[iris123]

Not too sure what went on in the early days. Is a report of a Charlie Spink from South Brisbane falling down the hold of a ship and injuring both ankles. Then in July 1925 Charlie Spinks(Brisbane) fell and fractured his arm in a meeting in Bundaberg.

In February of 1926 he was competing at Cessnock alongside the Datson brothers and Billy Galloway, but was plagued with bike problems . Then all of a sudden it seems he alongside Frank Pearce were named as joint favourites to win the Golden Helmet at the opening meeting at the Ekka. He had another night of misfortune, falling twice at the same spot on the track. Once just as he had made up his handicap on Vic Huxley and passed him with 'a furlong to go'. He finished 4 lengths behind Pearce in the final of the Golden Helmet, so the two pre-meeting favourites came 1st and 2nd. Not a bad tip

A week later the tables were turned and Spinks managed to beat Pearce in the final of the Silver Gauntlet

Edited May 15, 2020 by iris123

[iris123]

The next meeting saw another win for Charlie. This time in the Silver Sash. His main rival though, Frank Pearce couldn't compete as they limited the competition to bikes with a bhp of 2.75 or under, and Pearce's Douglas was over the limit

Spinks made it 3 on the trot with a somewhat lucky win the next week in the Silver Armlet !! Frank Pearce I guess hadn't received his new under the limit, bike, so although in the meeting, didn't compete for the main prize. Arthur Yenson was well in the lead after Spinks made a bad start, but his bike packed up on the 3rd lap, leaving Spinks to take yet another prize ahead of ever improving Vic Huxley. All watched by a crowd of 18,000

25,000 turned up at the next meeting for the Golden Helmet, which Pearce would defend as there was no bhp limit in this competition. In the end though it wasn't Pearce who ended Charlie's run, but Yenson, winning by 25 lengths with Spinks another 25 ahead of Pearce. Frank Arthur having dropped out of the final with mechanical problems

An interesting note is that both Pearce and Yenson were English by birth 

[steve roberts]

On 5/12/2020 at 7:35 AM, gustix said:

Australia, West Ham and Newcastle legtrailer Charlie Spinks.

Great Image!

[steve roberts]

On 5/12/2020 at 7:48 AM, gustix said:

An early career action photo of Charlie Spinks.

Ditto!

[iris123]

Over the next few weeks Charlie battled it out for the titles with Pearce and Yenson and they thrilled the ever increasing crowds until the night which I went into some detail about when a record 35,000 turned up only to see a few riders go on strike, including Pearce and Spinks

 

Spinks of course was banned in Brisbane and set off for Sydney where he was instantly a success, beating Tommy Benstead in a handicap final, but losing out to 18 year old sensation Billy Lamont in another competition. Seems most riders in Sydney were on bigger bikes than Spinks  Harley. The meeting also saw the debut at the Showground of US star 'Sprouts' Elder. Charlie met and beat Elder in the next meeting, in which he was having a successful night winning a few heats in the Golden Gauntlet until disaster struck and he had a spectacular fall, his bike somersaulting, was knocked out and badly shaken. It didn't stop him though and he could get in a couple of meetings a week with the Royal and Showground running