Cycle speedway
Origins
The origins of cycle speedway are obscure. It existed by the 1920s[1] but appears to have taken off in the wreckage of post-war cities in Britain. With tracks cleared through the rubble, on bikes not otherwise roadworthy, and under the influence of motorcycle speedway, cycle speedway grew haphazardly as a way for young people to enjoy themselves in cities.
London, with most bomb sites, led in organising races, in 1945.[2] There were more than 200 clubs in East London by 1950,[3] with more than 20 in Walthamstow alone. The sport spread across the country. The Birmingham league had 22 teams in its first season. Coventry, Leicester, Wolverhampton and Cradley Heath followed.
Intercity matches began in 1946. They were hampered by inconsistent rules, a problem resolved with the formation in 1950 of the National Amateur Cycle Speedway Association (NACSA). Consistent rules opened the way to national competitions and championships and then to international tournaments.
Ten thousand watched the first international between England and the Netherlands at the Empress Hall,
Enthusiasts tried to revive the sport in 1958 and organised a tournament billed as a world championship, with riders from the Netherlands, Sweden and Poland. The sport then became divided by an administrative civil war, a situation resolved with the formation in 1971 of the British Cycle Speedway Council.[5]
Modern administration
Today the sport is managed and administered by
UK competitions are run annually, world championships biannually, alternating with the European championships. There are approximately 40 clubs in the UK.
Races
Cycle speedway is raced by individuals, pairs or teams. Each race is contested by up to four riders, and a match normally consists of eight to twenty-four races. Points are awarded for placings in each race. A race day fixture might take in up to two, three or more matches. In a team event, the winning team is the one with most points at the end of the day.
Races involve up to four riders racing anticlockwise round four laps of the track, the winner being the first across the line. The number of laps varies with the age of the riders but is usually 4 laps for a single race. Competitors use a lightweight single-speed bicycle equipped with a freewheel but without brakes, often a stripped-down mountain bike frame is adequate for beginners although specialist machines are used by the top racers. Riders slide their left foot along the track as they race round turns. Physical contact is legal and often necessary; clothing usually covers the whole body from the neck down, with padding for knees, elbows and hips; helmets are also required since their introduction in 1999.[citation needed] There has never been an accident in cycle speedway resulting in serious injury or death.[citation needed]
The bike
Cycle speedway bikes are simple and robust. Steel and aluminium still rule in cycle-speedway. No suspension, upright handlebars, a low, single gear with a freewheel and 26 inch wheels (
Tyre and inner tube
Tyre widths below 26 × 1 3/8 (
Components
Cycle chain
The
Indoor races
Races are sometimes held in sports halls and other venues. The events are the same but the solid and smooth surface makes speeds higher. A sectional track is taken around sports centres in Britain for national events. Centre sections are added or removed to fit locations.
International aspect
Countries affiliated to the International Cycle Speedway Federation include England, Scotland, Wales, Poland, Australia, the Netherlands and the United States. Cycle speedway also exists in Sweden, Ukraine and Russia. Riders from other countries including Austria, Germany and Malta have tried cycle speedway, and Ireland is regularly represented at full international level.
Many of the sport's international riders go on to compete in other competition. Olympic gold medalist Brett Aitken is arguably the sport's most famous expert, with European gold medallist Jess Varnish linked to the sport through her father James 'Jim' Varnish who was World Cycle Speedway Champion in 1985.
See also
References
- ^ "History". Archived from the original on 2007-04-07. Retrieved 2008-10-10. , retrieved January 2008
- ^ "The Veteran Cycle Speedway Riders Association". www.cyclespeedwayvets.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ Sports Reporter, 19 May 1950
- ^ 50 Years of Cycle Speedway(1997) BCSC, UK
- ^ 50 Years of Cycle Speedway (1997) British Cycle Speedway Council
- ^ "Cycle-Speedway Latest News". Archived from the original on 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
External links
- An introduction to cycle speedway
- Spokesman-Online "First for Cycle Speedway News" (Updates Daily)
- Cycle Speedway Directory
- Catalogue of the British Cycle Speedway archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
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