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Post by ovaltrack on Mar 1, 2021 20:49:17 GMT 1
Known dates... Sunday 01-Jul-51, California-in-England (Skirrows)Saturday 07-Jul-51, Pebsham Aerodrome, HastingsSunday 26-Aug-51, Ringwood (Matchams 31-27 Northampton)Tuesday 04-Sep-51, Southampton Friday 12-Oct-51, Bristol (Bristol v Northampton) Saturday 27-Oct-51, Coventry Saturday 03-Nov-51, BirminghamSaturday 10-Nov-51, HalifaxFriday 23-Nov-51, Newcastle v NorthamptonSaturday 01-Dec-51, Coventry (Midland League) Saturday 08-Dec-51, Leicester (Midland League) Saturday 15-Dec-51, Cradley Heath (Midland League) Wednesday 26-Dec-51, Leicester (Midland League) Midland League: Administrator's Article | News Articles | A Winter Disaster
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Post by ovaltrack on Mar 1, 2021 21:50:32 GMT 1
Saturday 10 November 1951. Shay Stadium, Halifax
Bradford Observer, Wednesday 31 October 1951 Midget car racing trial for Halifax
MIDGET car racing is to be given a trial on the Halifax speedway track to test the reaction of the public to the sport. The date fixed is Saturday night 10 November. The racing would have been at Odsal, but Halifax and Odsal speedways director-manager, Bruce Booth, informed "The Yorkshire Observer" last night that would be unwise to remove Bradford Northern's turf from the corners at this time of the year. At the moment the Speedway Control Board are not in favour of midget cars, but are not raising objection to tracks being used for the purpose In the winter months. The promoters are hopeful that If these try-outs are a success the Speedway Board might consider mixture of speedway and midget car racing next season. A trial at Bristol has proved successful.
The 1,000 c.c. cars have a four wheel drive, and are capable of 100 mph, but on the speedway circuites speeds are similar to those of the motor-cycles. At the moment there are only 16 first-class cars, but more will be produced if the sport captures the public's imagination. At Halifax none of the speedway riders will drive the cars, which be manned by professional drivers from Northampton.
In the interval of the Halifax meeting there will be a pony trotting exhibition in which Arthur Forrest (Halifax rider) and his father will take part.
Halifax Evening Courier Midget car racing for Shay
It was confirmed yesterday, that midget car racing is to be held at the Shay speedway. There are to be 16 cars in the first such meeting which is scheduled to be held at The Shay on Saturday November 10 starting at 7pm. These cars, which are 1,000cc, (exactly twice the power of a speedway bike) put up times only; slightly slower than motor-bikes. They have four-wheel drive, and all driver who are to take part in the event are experienced in the sport. "This is only a trial to see how the public like it." said Halifax speedway promoter Bruce Booth this afternoon. " The cars we are outting on are the best in the country." All races will be rolling start affairs, and there will be approximately 20 events in a two hour programme. The cars will go round the track in the same direction as the speedway bikes, and races will consist of eight or 12 laps.
In the interval Arthur Forrest, Halifax speedway star, who bought his first machine with prize money won at pony trotting and other gymkhana events (he had won over 700 before he started speedway racing) will give a demonstration of pony trotting along with his father, Mr R. Forrest.
Halifax Evening Courier, Monday 12 November 1951 15,000 crowd sees midget car racing at Shay
The new-type four-wheel drive 1,000cc Skirrow midget cars which made their first appearance in Halifax at the Shay speedway on Saturday night, attracted a crowd of about 15,000. A team of experienced drivers formed by Dave Hughes, a Northampton master-baker, who was joint promoter in the venture with Halifax speedway promoter Bruce Booth. took part in handicap and individual championship events, the races varying from four to eight laps.
A last minute inclusion in the team, owing to the indisposition of Arch Hanscombe, a 38-year old Northampton motor mechanic, was Odsal speedway rider Eddie Rigg. Only on the Saturday morning had Rigg had his first trial in the cars and he, like Oliver Hart, defied the Speedway ruling that no rider should take part in midget car events. Both the Odsal men held their own against the seasoned drivers.
In the first race, a six lap handicap in which six cars took part, Rigg came through from his second row starting position to lead easily all the way. In a second similar race, Hart was an easy second to "ace" driver Spike Rhiando.
The six individual championship races in which there were four cars per race saw Hart unbeaten for six points, but here Rigg was unfortunate, in both his rides finding only one cylinder in action.
In the individual races, Rhiando collected full points on each occasion, driving through in masterly fashion from second-row starting places, but in the final was unable to overtake Ron Major and former speedway rider Bob Sivyer.
Rhiando won his match race with Jimmy James, and Rigg, in beating Northampton motor salesman Wilf Davies in a similar match race clocked 1min16.2 seconds faster than Rhiando's time.
There were crashes in the first race of the night and the last. Roy Pulford, chasing Rigg on the last bend in the first six car handicap, hit the fencing, smashing some four yards of it down, and when he rebounded his car was struck by that of Davies.
In the "Flying Eight Handicap" Davies touched the first bend fencing and as he came through hard on the inside Rhiando's car became involved. Following immediately after, Oliver Hart hit Rhiando's machine broadside on and came to rest after turning completely round. Hart was disqualified for previously having driven well over on the grass. Despite his shaking, Rhiando found his way through in the sixth lap of the re-run.
During interval and before the motor racing commenced. American harness horse-racing events were staged by Arthur Forrest, Halifax speedway rider, his father, Robert Forrest, young sister, Jean Forrest, David Ross and Stanley Hughes (father of Halifax rider, Jack Hughes).
Results
Warming-up handicap heat 1: K. Rigg. Warming-up handicap heat 1: S. Rhiando. Individual championship final: 1. Major; 2, Syvier; 3, Rhiando. Match race heat 1. Rhiando: Match race heat 2. Rigg. Flying Eight handicap: Rhiando.
Daily Mirror, Monday 12 November 1951 A TEN-SECOND THRILL-AND LUCKY ESCAPE
OLIVER HART, thirty eight-year-old Bradford speedway rider, gave a 15,000 crowd their biggest ten-second thrill at the Halifax midget-car race meeting on Saturday. Racing at 50 m.p.h., Hart's car suddenly swerved off the track across the grass centre, careered back to the track only to skid up the banking as the other seven drivers took evasive action. Hart's car came to a dead stop after skidding off the white bordered fence. He escaped with only a severe shaking. In the individual championship earlier Ron Major won from Bob Syvier, Mobbed by an enthusiastic crowd after the meeting, Halifax chief Bruce Booth promised another fixture in the near future.
MIDLAND LEAGUE COVERAGE
Saturday 1 December 1951, Coventry
Coventry Evening Telegraph - Tuesday 20 November 1951 MIDGET CAR RACING AT BRANDON
BRANDON STADIUM will feature midget car racing during the winter months as Coventry are participating in a Midlands League, which has been recently formed. Other tracks taking part in this competition will include Leicester. Birmingham and another speedway venue, either Oxford. Cradley Heath, or Halifax. Meetings will be held on Saturday afternoons. starting at Leicester on December 8.
Leicester 36 (Williams 9, Handscomb 9, King 8, Burton 5, Taylor 5) Coventry 32 (Major 8, Tailby 8, Reason 7, Hughes 2) Birmingham 21 (Davis 8, Pulford 7, Watling 3, J Tolley 2, Hunt 1)
Saturday 8 December 1951, Leicester
Coventry 37 (Reason 10, Tailby 10, Mackereth 9, Major 5, Hughes 3) Leicestser 34 (Taylor 12, Williams 7, Sivyer 7, Handscomb 6, Burton 2) Cradley Heath 18 (D Tolley 7, J Tolly 6, Perry 4, Johnson 1, Wright 0)
Wednesday 26 December 1951, Leicester Attendance 3,677
Leicester Evening Mail, Friday 21 December 1951 Midget Car Racing at the Stadium again
Leicester undertake their second home meeting of the Midland Midget Car Winter League at Blackbird Road on Boxing Day (2:45pm), receiving a visit from Birmingham and Coventry. For this match, Squib Burton is standing down, and speedway rider Ron Wilson comes into the team. Len Williams will captain Leicester. Alan Hunt, who led Birmingham against Leicester three weeks ago, is not travelling and Birmingham will be captained by Phil Hart, the promoter and ex-Speedway star. Members of the Leicester Hunters' team will be at Blackbird-road to receive their Kemsley Cup medals. Teams for Boxing Day are:
Leicester: Len Williams (captain) end Arch Handscomb; Ron Wilson and Bob Syvier; Ted Taylor
Birmingham: Phil Hart (captain) and Roy Pulford; Lionel Watling and Wilf Davis; Jim Tolley.
Coventry: Derrick Tailby (captain) and Johnnie Reason; Walter Maekereth and Dave Hughes; Johnny Young.
Results:
Birmingham 38 (Pulford 10. Watling 8, Hart 7, J Tolley 7, Davis 6) Coventry 28 (Reason 12, Hughes 5, Young 5, Tailby 4, Mackereth 2) Leicester 18 (Handscomb 8, Williams 6, Wilson 4, Sivyer 0, Taylor 0)
Wednesday 26 December 1951, Leicester Attendance 3,677
Leicester Evening Mail, Friday 21 December 1951 Midget Car Racing at the Stadium again
Leicester undertake their second home meeting of the Midland Midget Car Winter League at Blackbird Road on Boxing Day (2:45pm), receiving a visit from Birmingham and Coventry. For this match, Squib Burton is standing down, and speedway rider Ron Wilson comes into the team. Len Williams will captain Leicester. Alan Hunt, who led Birmingham against Leicester three weeks ago, is not travelling and Birmingham will be captained by Phil Hart, the promoter and ex-Speedway star. Members of the Leicester Hunters' team will be at Blackbird-road to receive their Kemsley Cup medals. Teams for Boxing Day are:
Leicester: Len Williams (captain) end Arch Handscomb; Ron Wilson and Bob Syvier; Ted Taylor
Birmingham: Phil Hart (captain) and Roy Pulford; Lionel Watling and Wilf Davis; Jim Tolley.
Coventry: Derrick Tailby (captain) and Johnnie Reason; Walter Maekereth and Dave Hughes; Johnny Young.
Results:
Birmingham 38 (Pulford 10. Watling 8, Hart 7, J Tolley 7, Davis 6) Coventry 28 (Reason 12, Hughes 5, Young 5, Tailby 4, Mackereth 2) Leicester 18 (Handscomb 8, Williams 6, Wilson 4, Sivyer 0, Taylor 0)
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