Hackney Wick Wolves
Encyclopedia
Hackney Wick Wolves speedway opened in 1935 at Hackney Wick Stadium
, Waterden Road, London
, and operated until the outbreak of World War II
in 1939.
closed at the end of the 1934 season and the team moved into Hackney Stadium. The first meeting was held on 26 April 1935 although the first official meeting was a week later on 3 May when Hackney lost to the New Cross Lambs in the National League
.
On 15 May 1936, Hackney rider Dusty Haigh died from a broken skull in a crash at the track after falling whilst in the lead and being struck by another rider's machine.
Captain Dicky Case
qualified for the first ever Speedway World Championship
final at Wembley in 1936
, but decided to retire at the end of the 1937 season.
Crowds were not large enough to support top level speedway so, in 1938, Hackney swapped licenses with the Bristol Bulldogs
and dropped down to the second tier. This meant the big name stars at the Wick went too. However, the Wolves won the National League Division II Championship
that season.
Hackney stadium did not host speedway again immediately after the Second World War until 1963 when the Hackney Hawks
were founded.
Hackney Wick Stadium
Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, in the London Borough of Hackney, was opened in 1932 and was mainly used for greyhound racing and speedway.In 1994, a £12M stand and restaurant was built and the stadium was renamed the London Stadium, Hackney...
, Waterden Road, London
London
London 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...
, and operated 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 1939.
History
The Walthamstow WolvesWalthamstow Wolves
The Walthamstow Wolves were a Speedway team which operated from 1934 and again from 1949 until their closure in 1951.The club opened in 1934 when Lea Bridge were forced to find a new venue. The Wolves competed in the National League but were forced to relocate again at the end of the season due to...
closed at the end of the 1934 season and the team moved into Hackney Stadium. The first meeting was held on 26 April 1935 although the first official meeting was a week later on 3 May when Hackney lost to the New Cross Lambs in the National League
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...
.
On 15 May 1936, Hackney rider Dusty Haigh died from a broken skull in a crash at the track after falling whilst in the lead and being struck by another rider's machine.
Captain Dicky Case
Dicky Case
Roy George Arthur 'Dicky' Case was an international speedway rider who finished sixth in the 1936 Speedway World Championship, the first ever final.-Career:...
qualified for the first ever Speedway 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 at Wembley in 1936
1936 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1936 Individual Speedway World Championship was the first ever Speedway World Championship and was won by Lionel Van Praag of Australia. It was the first of a record 26 times that London's Wembley Stadium would host the World Final with the last being in 1981.*1936 Podium# Lionel Van Praag # ...
, but decided to retire at the end of the 1937 season.
Crowds were not large enough to support top level speedway so, in 1938, Hackney swapped licenses with the 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...
and dropped down to the second tier. This meant the big name stars at the Wick went too. However, the Wolves won the National League Division II 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...
that season.
Hackney stadium did not host speedway again immediately after the Second World War until 1963 when the Hackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks speedway opened in 1963 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London and operated until 1983.-Early days:Originally opened by Mike Parker, the promotion was then sold to Len Silver who was the club's promoter for the next twenty seasons....
were founded.