Geoff Pymar
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey 'Geoff' Pymar was a former international motorcycle speedway
rider who rode in the World Championship
final in 1938
.
and rode at the Wimbledon Stadium
for nine seasons until the outbreak of World War II
. In 1938 he was part of the Wimbledon team that won the National Trophy. Also in 1938 he competed in the World Championship Final at Wembley Stadium. In 1934, 1935 and 1939 Pymar represented England
in Test Matches.
After the war he joined New Cross Rangers
and in 1948 was a member of their National League Championship
winning team. In 1949 he joined the Harringay Racers
for a fee of over £1,200. The following season the newly promoted Bristol Bulldogs
paid the Racers £1,000 for Pymar's services.
Pymar stayed with Bulldogs until they closed in 1955 and he was expected to retire. However in 1956 he joined the Norwich Stars
and rode for two seasons. He did not ride in 1958 or 1959 but in 1960 he was signed by the Yarmouth Bloaters
in the newly formed Provincial League
. The Bloaters lasted just one season but Pymar was approached by the Middlesbrough Bears
to ride for them. After starting the season with the Bears, the travelling became too much and Pymar was transferred to the Wolverhampton Wolves
. He had one final season with the Bradford Panthers
in 1962 before he finally retired.
. In 2002 he was voted as President of the Veteran Speedway Riders Association but died whilst in office.
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...
rider who rode in the World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
final in 1938
1938 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1938 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1938 London, Wembley Stadium...
.
Career
Pymar was the son of a farmer. After first racing motorcycles in 1931, he took up speedway in 1933, racing at Norwich that year. Pymar started his career with the Norwich Stars, a non-league outfit, spotted by Wimbledon DonsWimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...
and rode at the Wimbledon Stadium
Wimbledon Stadium
Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England. It also hosts speedway, stock car and other racing events....
for nine seasons until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1938 he was part of the Wimbledon team that won the National Trophy. Also in 1938 he competed in the World Championship Final at Wembley Stadium. In 1934, 1935 and 1939 Pymar represented England
Great Britain national speedway team
The Great Britain national speedway team are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by Poole Pirates manager Neil Middleditch and the captain is Chris Harris of the Belle Vue Aces....
in Test Matches.
After the war he joined New Cross Rangers
New Cross Rangers
The New Cross Rangers were a Speedway team which operated from 1937 until their closure in 1953. The track reopened in 1959 under Johnnie Hoskins for a series of open meetings and then in 1960 and 1961 operated in the National League...
and in 1948 was a member of their National League Championship
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
winning team. In 1949 he joined the Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers was a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The side was founded in 1936 and initially played alongside Harringay Greyhounds at the Harringay Arena. Both sides entered the English National League, which Racers won in 1937/8. After a break during World War II, the...
for a fee of over £1,200. The following season the newly promoted Bristol Bulldogs
Bristol Bulldogs
The Bristol Bulldogs were a British motorcycle speedway team based in the Knowle Stadium, Bristol, England.The club was formed prior to World War II. The track operated a season of challenge matches in 1946 with the team known as Ex-Bristol. They competed in the National League Division Two from 1947...
paid the Racers £1,000 for Pymar's services.
Pymar stayed with Bulldogs until they closed in 1955 and he was expected to retire. However in 1956 he joined the Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.-History:Speedway racing was staged in Norwich both before and after World War II at The Firs Stadium in Aylsham Road, Hellesdon. Pre-War Norwich were members of the National...
and rode for two seasons. He did not ride in 1958 or 1959 but in 1960 he was signed by the Yarmouth Bloaters
Yarmouth Bloaters
The Yarmouth Bloaters are a defunct motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Yarmouth Stadium, Great Yarmouth from 1948 to 1962.-History:...
in the newly formed Provincial League
Speedway Provincial League
The Provincial League was a league competition for speedway teams in the United Kingdom which operated alongside the National League for five years between 1960 and 1964.-History:The Provincial League was formed in the winter of 1959/60...
. The Bloaters lasted just one season but Pymar was approached by the Middlesbrough Bears
Middlesbrough Bears
The Middlesbrough Bears were a British speedway team which operated under various names from 1939 until their closure in 1996.-Brief history:The team was initially nicknamed the Bears in 1939...
to ride for them. After starting the season with the Bears, the travelling became too much and Pymar was transferred to the Wolverhampton Wolves
Wolverhampton Wolves
The Wolverhampton Wolves are a British Speedway team based in Wolverhampton, England. They are sponsored by Parry's International Travel, and have signed a new deal with owner Dave Parry for the 2008 season onwards. The team is managed by Peter Adams and the promoter of the club is Chris Van...
. He had one final season with the Bradford Panthers
Bradford Panthers
The Bradford Panthers were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1960 to 1969.-Odsal:In 1960 the Bradford Tudors renamed themselves the Bradford Panthers. They had one disastrous season at Odsal before leaving for Greenfield Stadium at Dudley Hill...
in 1962 before he finally retired.
World Final appearances
- 19381938 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1938 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1938 London, Wembley Stadium...
-
United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 15th - 7pts
After retirement
Pymar became a golf caddy and was regularly seen on the tour with Tony JacklinTony Jacklin
Anthony Jacklin CBE is an English golfer, who was the most successful British player of his generation. He was also the most successful European Ryder Cup captain ever.-Early life and education:...
. In 2002 he was voted as President of the Veteran Speedway Riders Association but died whilst in office.