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Post by administrator on May 9, 2014 19:51:48 GMT 1
Birmingham Speedway Saturday November 3 1951 "The Flying Leathernecks Trophy" Some famous names in the drivers list. Programme source: THE MIKE KEMP COLLECTION.
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Post by administrator on May 9, 2014 23:16:32 GMT 1
Thanks to haflinger121, these are the individual scores at the meeting: Jim James 11, Arch Hanscomb 8, Roy Pulford 8, Bob Sivyer 8, Walt Perry 7, Jim Martin 6, Ron Major 6, Wilf Davis 5, Ted Taylor 5, Spike Rhiando 4, Dave Hughes 3, Squib Burton 1.
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Post by administrator on May 10, 2014 7:20:25 GMT 1
Only one thing puzzles me about the scorers - I am unfamiliar with the name of the meeting winner Jim James. I wonder if he was a Birmingham speedway rider driving under an assumed name for the meeting? And if so, who was he?
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Post by ovaltrack on Jan 20, 2021 11:49:36 GMT 1
Birmingham Daily Gazette, Monday 5 November 1951 Stars alter names to beat midget cars ban
SPEEDWAY riders, annoyed by a new ruling of their association stating that they must not take part in midget car meetings, are driving in races under assumed names. The name " Jimmy James," winner of the Midland Midget Car Championship at Perry Barr Stadium, Birmingham, on Saturday, cloaked the identity of a well-known Midland Speedway rider. He scored 11 points out of a possible 12. Midland riders now " resting" in the speedway close season may be given further chances to "change their identity" this winter, when Mr. Les Marshall, who promotes Birmingham speedway meetings in the summer, extends his experiment in midget car racing and organises regular team meetings in Birmingham. The league, which may be formed before speedway returns in April, would include Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester. Speedway riders. said Mr. Marshall last night, would be ideal drivers in the midget car teams. "I think the sport has a great future," he told the Birmingham Gazette, "and although the meeting on Saturday was not altogether a success we learned a lot. "Bad weather turned the track into a quagmire, drivers couldn't see because of the mud on their goggles and speeds were kept down to 40 mph. In organised team riding we shall have six drivers, competing in pairs, in each heat. "With the cars spaced out. there would be less mud and higher speeds. Team racing provides more skilful racing and more thrills, and I am sure that the sport will catch the public's fancy." Despite the mild reception given by the crowd of 23,000 to Saturday's meeting—the first of its kind held in the city—Mr. Marshall hopes that speedway promoters in neighbouring Midland cities will co-operate in forming an unofficial inter-city league.
Rugeley Times, 10 November 1951
Twenty eight year old Jimmy James won the Midland Midget Car championship at the first such meeting staged in the city for thirteen years, on Saturday at the Perry Barr speedway track. Although there were four men in each heat the racing could not compare with a normal speedway meeting. Times were much slower, as the Promoter, Mr. Les Marshall said the drivers did not get a fair trial because after continuous rain the track was in a terrible condition.
Six and then eight cars took part in handicap events in the second half of the programme. These were interspersed with motor cycle combination events. The two favourites for the meeting, Spike Rhiando, who made a big name for himself by driving Cooper midgets at Silverstone, and Squib Burton, who is the Leicester speedway manager, were troubled both by track, conditions and engine failures. Although the meeting was a novelty, the fans numbering over 20,000 went home appearing to be rather disappointed. On more than occasion cynical cheers broke out.
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