Hackney Wick Wolves

Hackney Wick Wolves
Club information
Track address Hackney Wick Stadium
Waterden Road
Hackney
London
Country England
Founded 1935
Closed 1939
Team captain Dicky Case
Frank Hodgson
League National League
Club facts
Colours Black and White (1935-1937)
Champagne and Claret (1938-39)
Track size 310 metres (340 yd)
Major team honours
National Div II Champions1938
London Cup1936

Hackney Wick Wolves speedway opened in 1935 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London, and operated until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.[1]

History

The Walthamstow Wolves closed at the end of the 1934 season and the team moved into Hackney Stadium.[2] The first meeting was held on 26 April 1935 although the first official meeting was a week later on 3 May when Hackney lost to the New Cross Lambs in the National League.

On 15 May 1936, Hackney rider Dusty Haigh died from a broken skull in a crash at the track after falling whilst in the lead and being struck by another rider's machine.[3]

Captain Dicky Case qualified for the first ever Speedway World Championship final at Wembley in 1936,[4] but decided to retire at the end of the 1937 season.

Crowds were not large enough to support top level speedway so, in 1938, Hackney swapped licenses with the Bristol Bulldogs and dropped down to the second tier.[3] This meant the big name stars at the Wick went too. However, the Wolves won the National League Division II Championship that season.

Hackney stadium did not host speedway again immediately after the Second World War until 1963 when the Hackney Hawks were founded.

Notable riders

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. ↑ Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2221-9
  3. 1 2 Fenn, C.(2003). Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2737-7
  4. ↑ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5


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