Ron Clarke (speedway rider)
| Born | 26 March 1914 Oxford, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 June 1981 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1938 | Lea Bridge |
| 1939 | Crystal Palace Glaziers |
| 1946-1957 | Odsal Boomerangs/Bradford Tudors |
Sidney Ronald Clarke (born 26 March 1914 in Oxford, England[1] - 12 June 1981[2] ) was a former international speedway who qualified for the Speedway World Championship finals twice.[3][4]
Career[edit]
Clarke started his career in British leagues with Lea Bridge during the 1938 Speedway National League Division Two season.[5] The following season he joined the Crystal Palace Glaziers but the team withdrew from the league mid-season, shortly before the outbreak of World War II.[6]
In 1944, he was deemed to be the British champion after winning an event advertised as the British Championship but many riders were not involved because of the war.[7]
In 1946 after the war, he joined Odsal Boomerangs of Bradford and would spend the rest of his career with Bradford.[8]
Clarke qualified for two World finals in succession in 1949 and 1950 and at retirement he had earned 9 international caps for the England national speedway team.[4][9]
World final appearances[edit]
- 1949 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 8pts - 1950 - London, Wembley Stadium - 14th - 3pts [3]
References[edit]
- ^ Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited
- ^ "Ron Clarke". national-speedway-museum. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Crystal Palace Speedway". Daily News (London). 16 June 1939. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Exeter Speedway Racing". Western Morning News. 21 May 1945. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Speedway Test team". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 1 February 1950. Retrieved 28 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.