Ringwood Speedway
| Ringwood Speedway | |
|---|---|
| Club information | |
| Track address | Matcham Park Stadium St Leonards Ringwood Hampshire, BH24 2BU |
| Country | England |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Closed | 1993 |
Ringwood Speedway were a British motorcycle speedway team who operated between 1937 and 1993, they were based at Matchams Park Stadium (modern day Ringwood Raceway) off Hurn Road in Ringwood, Hampshire.[1]
History[edit]
The origins of Ringwood Speedway were solely grasstrack. The Motorcyle and Light Car Club raced grasstrack meetings at the Mount in Poulner. The events from 1929 until the outbreak of World War II were extremely popular.[2] In May 1936, the club moved from the Mount to the Midgham Speedway near Fordingbridge and then later to Corfe Mullen.[3]
After the war, the traditional oval form of racing arrived at a venue in St Leonards, Dorset off the Hurn Road and Matchams Lane.[1] During the 1946 and 1947 seasons the site known as Matchams Park Stadium operated on an open licence.[4]
The track was referred to as a training school in 1950[5] and the stadium was also used for cars in 1950.[6]
Open licence meetings were once again held at the venue from 1951 to 1953 but on a different circuit within the site.[4][1]
A team called the Ringwood Turfs entered league competition for the first time in 1954. Their debut 1954 Southern Area League season ended with a 2nd-place finish, thanks in part to the consistent riding of Ernie Lessiter and Alby Golden.[7][8]
The following season in 1955, the team withdrew in late June and had their results expunged.[9]
Further open meetings and training took place sporadically with a last recorded training and long track meetings in 1993.[1]
Season summary[edit]
| Year and league | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 Southern Area League | 2nd | |
| 1955 Southern Area League | N/A | withdrew, results expunged |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Ringwood Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Fixtures". Western Gazette. 24 July 1931. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Grass track races". Western Gazette. 22 May 1936. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Ringwood". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Motor Cycling". Daily Mirror. 27 July 1950. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Matchams Park Stadium". Western Gazette. 25 August 1950. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
See also[edit]
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