Speedway racing in the 1944- Did you know ?
The war was nearly at its end and world peace will soon be back, and every ones lives will have changed for ever, but what about Speedway ?
What was going to happen to that, now that the Speedways big wigs of the period were looking to bring it back to the fans but will they be able to do it with all the rationing, lack of money and new taxes bought into place by the government.
Mr A.J Elvin the Managing Director of Wembley Stadium (1944), was hoping to get Speedway started again in the Summer.
Elvin had concerns that with the long period of time that the riders have not been able to ride, they would be a little rusty and thus the return of the sport to the 1000’s of fans per match would not be great spectacle until the riders had dusted off the ring rust. As well as the new Entertainment tax that the government had bought in to play which would amount to a 43% tax of the gross of the gate revenue. Things were not looking good.
The more mature riders prior to the start of the war will of course be bough back and training up new raw talent will be possible as Elvin had arranged a deal with Dick Case to lease the old track at Rye House, where Alex Jackson will take care of this setup and start training new talent.
After much hardwork of people such as: Mr A.J Elvin, Disk Case, Alex Jackson, Mr E.O. Spence (Managing Director of Belle Vue), Mr Fred E. Mockford (joint Managing Director of New Cross Speedway), Mr Victor Martin (Managing Director of Westham Speedway). The sport was now back.
All these names and others should be remembered as the guys that bought the great sport back to life.
Written by Stuart Slaney