Eric Gregory (speedway rider)
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| Born | March 1911 Worsbrough, South Yorkshire, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 28 April 1990 (aged 79) Natala, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1930 | Wombwell Colliers |
| 1931–1933 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1934–1939 | Wembley Lions |
| 1934 | West Ham Hammers |
| Team honours | |
| 1933 | league champion |
| 1933 | Knockout Cup winner |
Eric Waterson Gregory (March 1911 – 28 April 1990) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned two international caps for the England national speedway team.[1]
Biography
[edit]Gregory, born in Worsbrough, South Yorkshire, rode in the pioneer years of British speedway, beginning his British leagues career riding for Wombwell during the 1930 Speedway Northern League.[2] He made an immediate impact working his way into the main team by July.[3]
The following season he rode for Wombwell, Belle Vue reserves and a Manchester team who raced their home fixtures at Belle Vue. The volatile situation whereby new speedway ventures were being set up and closing down just as quick contributed to this.[4]
In 1932, he beagn racing on the Leeds track but then during the first season of the new National League, he found some stability by riding for Belle Vue Aces, enjoying a solid season and recording 7.15.[5] One year later, he helped Belle Vue win the league and cup double, during the 1933 Speedway National League season.[6]
He moved to London in 1934 to join the Wembley Lions[7] but spent most of the season on loan with the West Ham Hammers before returning to Wembley in 1935. From December 1936 to February 1937, Gregory was part of the England team that visited Australia[8] and he also spent some time racing in Sweden.
After breaking a collar bone during 1937, Wembley signed Gus Kuhn as a replacement, although he did return before the end of the season. He then broke his arm in early 1939, forcing him to miss what was left of the season before World War II curtailed the season.[9]
Towards the latter part of the war he returned to ride individual and exhibition meetings in 1944 and 1945 but following a crash and another injury (hip) he retired from the sport.
References
[edit]- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "1930 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Wombwell Speedway". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 1 July 1930. Retrieved 3 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1931 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Speedway". Daily Herald. 9 February 1934. Retrieved 3 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "England riders in action today". Daily News (London). 12 December 1936. Retrieved 3 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "No wonder Eric is West Ham hero". Daily Mirror. 23 May 1939. Retrieved 3 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.