Ashfield Giants
Encyclopedia
Ashfield Giants were a motorcycle speedway
team based at Saracen Park, Glasgow
, Scotland between 1949 and 1952. The track operated on an open licence in 1953.
, known as 'The White Ghost'. Ken (real name Francis) was the star man in his white painted leathers and led the Giants 1949 and 1950. Ken was the first of 3 Scottish based riders to compete in a Final of the World Championship.
Ken was killed in a track crash in his native Australia in early 1951; this prompted massive scenes of public grief at the stadium.
Co-promoters Johnnie Hoskins
and Norrie Isbister presided over a colourful team with a rider in red leathers - Aussie Merv Harding, a rider in blue leathers - Aussie Keith Gurtner and a rider who rode in yellow and black - Scotsman Willie (the wasp) Wilson. Eric Liddell joined the fun with silver leathers. All this in a time when most riders wore the standard black leathers.
The Giants were never very successful and the change of race night to a Saturday in 1952 saw a significant decline. Norrie Isbister soldiered on in 1953 but could not prevent the demise of the Giants.
A greyhound racing
track replaced the shale for many years before speedway returned in 1999.
Saracen Park is now the home of both the Glasgow Tigers
speedway team and Ashfield F. C..
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team based at Saracen Park, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland between 1949 and 1952. The track operated on an open licence in 1953.
Brief history
The original Giants team were the rump of the Newcastle team of 1948. Tuesday nights 1949 to 1951 were "Giants Night" and arguably their most famous rider was Ken Le BretonKen Le Breton
Francis James "Ken" Le Breton was an international speedway rider who was nicknamed "The White Ghost" due to his wearing white racegear.-Early career:...
, known as 'The White Ghost'. Ken (real name Francis) was the star man in his white painted leathers and led the Giants 1949 and 1950. Ken was the first of 3 Scottish based riders to compete in a Final of the World Championship.
Ken was killed in a track crash in his native Australia in early 1951; this prompted massive scenes of public grief at the stadium.
Co-promoters Johnnie Hoskins
Johnnie Hoskins
Johnnie S. Hoskins MBE is the man who is considered to have 'invented' motorcycle speedway. If it cannot be established he invented the sport, he certainly played the largest role in promoting the sport in the United Kingdom.-Early life:He left school at thirteen and worked on a farm and then as...
and Norrie Isbister presided over a colourful team with a rider in red leathers - Aussie Merv Harding, a rider in blue leathers - Aussie Keith Gurtner and a rider who rode in yellow and black - Scotsman Willie (the wasp) Wilson. Eric Liddell joined the fun with silver leathers. All this in a time when most riders wore the standard black leathers.
The Giants were never very successful and the change of race night to a Saturday in 1952 saw a significant decline. Norrie Isbister soldiered on in 1953 but could not prevent the demise of the Giants.
A greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
track replaced the shale for many years before speedway returned in 1999.
Saracen Park is now the home of both the Glasgow Tigers
Glasgow Tigers (speedway)
The Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British Premier League...
speedway team and Ashfield F. C..
Notable riders
- Ken Le BretonKen Le BretonFrancis James "Ken" Le Breton was an international speedway rider who was nicknamed "The White Ghost" due to his wearing white racegear.-Early career:...
- Alec (Farmer) Grant
- Gruff Garland
- Bruce Semmens
- Cyril Cooper
- Larry (John) Lazarus
- Jack Gates
- Ron Phillips
- Willie Wilson