Blackpool, Highfield Road 1928

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Claude Poole
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1 Blackpool, Highfield Road 1928 Meeting results compiled by Bob Ozanne Saturday 21/04/1928 Attendance 4,000. Opening meeting organised by the North Manchester Motor Club and the Blackpool and Fylde Motor and Aero Club. The surface was composed of 75% sand and 25% earth. The organisers were confident that this would be much better for broadsiding than cinders or ash. However the surface was packed too hard. No broadsiding took place before the Unlimited event. The track had loosened up considerably by then. Also the races were held in a clockwise direction at this meeting. The track was a half mile long. All races 6 laps. Sydney Cup There were 3 heats of 5 riders. 1 H.Shelton (Raleigh) C. Needham (Rex-Acme) broke down in the lead. The bike was equipped with spiked tyres. 2 Ginger Lees (New Imperial) R.Sumner fell. 3 Eric Langton (New Hudson) H.Mitchell fell. Final Ginger Lees (New Imperial), H.Shelton (Raleigh), Eric Langton (New Hudson) 4m 8.2, m.p.h. Melbourne Cup There were 6 heats of 4-6 riders. 1 Wilf Mc Clure (Scott) 3m 52.2 Final Wilf Mc Clure (Scott), A.Mitchell (Raleigh), Eric Langton (Scott), Alec Jackson (Rudge) 3m 54.4, m.p.h. Oliver Langton went out in the semis with a burst tyre. 750 c.c. Adelaide Cup 2 McClure won a very close race from Lees. Final Wilf Mc Clure (Scott), Eric Langton (Scott), A.Mitchell (Raleigh), Alec Jackson (Rudge) 3m 54.8, m.p.h. Unlimited c.c. Brisbane Cup 4 Oliver Langton 4m 1.2 Final Oliver Langton (Scott), A.Mitchell (Raleigh), Gordon Baxter (Rudge) 4m 1.4, m.p.h. Other riders in the final:- Wilf Mc Clure (Scott), Ginger Lees (New Imperial), Chris Tattersall (Sunbeam). Oliver Langton was broadsiding beautifully in this event. The track had been too hard earlier. Mc Clure retired after clouting a fence post and breaking a piece off. The Golden Helmet and Canberra Cup were awarded to the fastest man of the day Wilf Mc Clure (Scott) 3m McClure was Hon.Secretary of the NMMC. The veteran " Pa" Cowley rode at this meeting. Rumoured by some sources to be in his seventies, Cowley was only given as being 65 at this meeting. Just a youngster!

2 Saturday 23/06/1928 Attendance 10,000. The North Manchester Motor Club dropped out leaving Blackpool and Fylde Motor and Aero Club to run the show. The local clubs negotiated use of the track for 11 meetings originally, However 2 of them were lost to the weather. Practice took place on Wednesday 20 June. Races were in the conventional anti-clockwise direction from this meeting on. 1 J.A.Smith (Cotton), Cliff Mawson (A.J.S.) 4m C. Needham (Rex-Acme), George Reynard (Royal Enfield) 4m T.E.Wilshaw(Rex-Acme), T.Howarth (Gerrard) 4m 36.8 Final George Reynard (Royal Enfield), J.A.Smith (Cotton), Cliff Mawson (A.J.S.) C. Needham (Rex-Acme) had a major break down and was out of the meeting. 1 J.A.Smith (Cotton), Arthur Wilcock (Rudge) 4m Frank Charles (Sunbeam), Cliff Mawson (A.J.S.) 4m George Reynard (Royal Enfield), J.Gregson (Ivy) 4m R.Sumner (Raleigh), P.Starkey (Norton) 4m A.Higginbottom (Ariel), Charlie Hornby (A.J.S.) 4m 30.8 Semi-Fnl 1 George Reynard (Royal Enfield), Arthur Wilcock (Rudge) 4m 9.2 J.Gregson had a big crash when the front forks snapped. He was lucky to escape unhurt. Semi-Final 2 R.Sumner (Raleigh), P.Starkey (Norton) 4m 38.0 Final Arthur Wilcock (Rudge), P.Starkey (Norton), George Reynard (Royal Enfield) 4m 9.8 Wilcock rode a machine that was ready for the road, complete with large front headlamp. Clad in leather trousers, strong boots and a pudding basin helmet with peak he relied on a thick looking pullover for upper body protection. This was a different world from the glamour of the ISL tracks with the riders on the latest DT machines, wearing padded leathers and smart silk body colour jackets. 1 H.L.Stephenson (New Hudson) only finisher. 2 N.H.Buckley (Scott), H.Hutchinson (Norton) 4m 35.2 Final H.Hutchinson (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott), H.L.Stephenson (New Hudson) 4m 34.6 Saturday 30/06/1928 Final R.Sumner (Raleigh), Cliff Mawson (A.J.S.), A.Mitchell (Raleigh) 3m 59.2 Final Eric Langton (Scott), J.A.Smith (Cotton), R.Sumner (Raleigh) 3m 50.2 Eric Langton (Scott) won heat 2 in the record time of 3m 49.8, 47 m.p.h. Final N.H.Buckley (Scott), H.Warburton (Norton) Saturday 14 July 1928 Attendance 2, c.c. - 1 C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), J.A.Smith (Cotton) 4m J.Gregson (Ivy), Cliff Mawson (A.J.S.) 4m 34.0

3 T. Sumner (Raleigh) fell. Mawson was following close behind but in mechanical trouble. He also came down. Final Awarded to C.E. Needham 6 laps in 4m 14.6 secs In the final Mawson and Smith crashed. J.Gregson (Ivy) broke down. 1 C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), Frank Charles (Sunbeam) 4m Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), Eric Langton (Scott) 4m Norman Nelson (Sunbeam), Oliver Langton (Scott) 4m 29.8 Final C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), Frank Charles (Sunbeam), Oliver Langton (Scott) 3m 58.8 Needham was only 9 seconds off the track record over 3 miles. The record was held by Eric Langton on a Scott. Needham rode a 350. He got almost 3 seconds closer in the"golden Ace". Needham became one of the unsung heroes of the early days at this little known venue. He was a track specialist, never really shining elsewhere. He was a great favourite of the home crowd battling away with the 500 machines on his 350. This victory over Frank Charles and Oliver Langton shows why. H.Warburton (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott), H.Hutchinson (Norton) 4m 27.4 "Golden Ace" C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme) 3m 56.0 This competition was for a golden helmet. It was open only to riders whose homes were within 10 miles of Blackpool Town Hall. Needham's day of succes earned him 30. Approximately 1400 nowadays. Not a bad afternoon's work. Saturday 21 July 1928 Attendance 3,000. It is always a great boost for speedways when dignitaries of the area give their approval by attending. The honoured guest at this meeting was the Lord Mayor of Blackpool, Coun. T.G.Lumb J.P. The Mayor praised the skill and courage of the riders and by all accounts thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon's sport. 350 c.c. - 1 C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme) only finisher 4m 48.6 Machine problems put paid to the opposition. 2 R.Sumner (Raleigh), Cliff Mawson (A.J.S.) 4m 14.4 Final C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), R.Sumner (Raleigh) 3m Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), J.Gregson (Ivy) 4m Frank Charles (Sunbeam), C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme) 3m Norman Nelson (Sunbeam), R.Sumner (Raleigh) 4m 15.8 Final Frank Charles (Sunbeam), C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), Norman Nelson (Sunbeam) 3m 51.0 Heat Winners - H.Jackson (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott). Final H.Jackson (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott) 4m 16.4 "Golden Ace" Unfortunately a big crash brought the local event to a halt. Norman Nelson fell in front of P.Starkey who missed the rider but struck the bike. The machines were thrown, one somersaulting through the air but lucklily the

4 injuries were not serious. Local star Needham was just behind but skilfully escaped the carnage. The bikes and riders were not fit for a restart and rhe race was called off. Saturday 04/08/1928 Attendance 5, C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), H.Mitchell (Raleigh) 3m J.Gregson (Ivy), A.Mitchell (Raleigh) 4m 12.8 Final C.E.Needham, J.Gregson, H.Mitchell 4m Frank Charles (Sunbeam), E.R.Kinley (New Henley) 4m 18 2 Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), R.Sumner (Raleigh) 4m C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme), Arthur Wilcock (Rudge) 4m 17.4 Final Frank Charles (Sunbeam), Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), Arthur Wilcock (Rudge), C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme) f/rm 4m 1.8 Lancashire v Yorkshire c.c. 1 Arthur Atkinson (Rudge), A.Mitchell (Raleigh) 4m C.E. Needham (Rex-Acme) 4m Frank Charles (Sunbeam), Cyril Wilcock (Rudge) 4m 12.0 The above 5 riders qualified for the final along with Cliff Mawson, fastest loser. Final Frank Charles (Sunbeam), Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), A.Mitchell (Raleigh) 4m 9.4 Charles represented Lancashire. No details available of any scoring system used. 1 N.H.Buckley (Scott), E.Hollingworth (Brough) 4m H.Jackson (Norton), H.L.Stephenson (New Hudson) 4m 34.4 Final H.L.Stephenson (New Hudson), H.Jackson (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott) 4m 12.4 Saturday 11/08/1928 Attendance 8,000. Sunday Chronicle Dirt Track Trophy This Trophy was contested by all the tracks in the British Dirt Track Association group. Blackpool's track champion, decided in the Final event later. would progress to the Grand Finals at Manchester White City. Further rounds were to come at future meetings culminating in the Blackpool Track Finals. Final Norman Nelson (Sunbeam), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea), C.Tattersall (Sunbeam) 4m 6.2 Up to Heat Winners C.E.Needham, Arthur Wilcock, R.Sumner, Norman Nelson. Final Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea), Norman Nelson (Rex-Acme), C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme) 3m 58.4 Novices up to 500c.c. Heat Winners E.W.Greenwood, G.B.leslie, A.Airey, Joe Abbott. Final A.Airey (Rudge), Joe Abbott (Rudge), G.B.Leslie (New Hudson) 4m 10.0 N.H.Buckley (Scott), H.L.Stephenson (New Hudson) 4m 1.8 Record Frank Charles crashed and sprained his ankle in one of the finals.

5 Saturday 25/08/ R.Sumner (Raleigh), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea) 3m J.Gregson (Rex-Acme), G.B.Leslie (New Hudson) 4m 27.4 Final R.Sumner (Raleigh), J.Gregson (Rex-Acme) Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea) 3m 47.0 Handicap 1 J.Gregson (Rex-Acme) (10), Joe Abbott (10) (Rudge) 3m R.Sumner (Raleigh) (5), A.Airey (9) (Rudge) 3m Norman Nelson (Sunbeam) (4), Cyril Wilcock (Rudge) (9) 3m 47.6 Final Norman Nelson (Sunbeam), J.Gregson (Rex-Acme), R.Sumner (Raleigh) Sunday Chronicle Dirt Track Trophy 1 P. Starkey (Norton), C. Wilcock 3m Norman Nelson, Frank Charles (Sunbeam) 3m R.Sumner, J. Gregson 3m 58.6 Final Norman Nelson, Frank Charles, P. Starkey, 3m 46.6 Record 1 N.H.Buckley (Scott), P. Starkey (Norton) 3m 55.4 Record 2 H.Jackson (Norton), R.B.Talbot (New Hudson) 3m 52.4 Record, m.mph. Final H.Jackson (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott), R.B.Talbot (New Hudson) 3m 57.8 Saturday 08/09/1928 This meeting was advertised but there was no report. The sports pages generally described the weather as a day of heavy rain. Sports meetings were cancelled and it is likely that the speedway was one of them. Saturday 22/09/ C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme), J.Gregson (Rex-Acme) 3m R.Sumner (Raleigh), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea) 3m 52.0 Final C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea), J.Gregson (Rex-Acme) 3m 49.4 Handicap 1 C.Newman (Sunbeam) (14), H,Yates (Norton) (8) 4m Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea) (5), Frank Charles (Sunbeam) (Scr) 3m Cyril Wilcock (Rudge) (9), P.Starkey (Norton)(7) 4m 13.4 Final Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), C.Newman (Sunbeam), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea) 3m 48.4 Frank Charles excluded for jumping the start. Needham fell in his heat. Sunday Chronicle Dirt Track Trophy (Track Final) 1 Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), H,Yates (Norton) 3m R.Sumner (Raleigh), Frank Charles (Sunbeam) 3m C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea) 3m 49.6 Final Cyril Wilcock (Rudge), C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme), H,Yates (Norton) 3m 48.2 Frank Charles failed to get away at the start. Cyril Wilcock became the Blackpool Track Champion and represented his club in the grand finals at White City Manhester. He is not named in the WCM reports but did not reach the Final which was won by Sprouts Elder representing Rochdale. H.L.Stephenson (New Hudson), H.Warburton (Norton), W.Heyworth (Rudge) 4m 2.6

6 Track Record Attempt (Holder Norman Nelson 3m 46.6) C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme) 3m 44.8 Record from a flying start. Saturday 06/10/1928 The closing meeting of the season. A further meeting was scheduled for 20 October but was not held due to bad weather. Final C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme), J.Gregson (Rex-Acme) 4m 5.4 Handicap Final Frank Charles (Sunbeam) (Scr), C.Newman (Sunbeam) (10), R.Sumner (Raleigh) (6) 3m 48.4 Scratch Frank Charles (Sunbeam), Arthur Wilcock (Chater-Lea), C.E.Needham (Rex-Acme) 3m 45.0 H.Warburton (Norton), H.Jackson (Norton), N.H.Buckley (Scott) 3m 57.0 Track Record During the meeting Frank Charles did the 6 laps in 3m He did this from a clutch start and equalled Needham's TR which was done from a flying start.

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