Johnnie Hoskins
Encyclopedia
Johnnie S. Hoskins MBE
(1892 Waitara
, New Zealand
– 1987 Kent
, England
) 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 (and Stock car racing
) in the United Kingdom
.
and ended up at West Maitland near Sydney
, after working as a telegraph operator at Wagga Wagga and then onto Sydney
.
After running low on funds in Sydney he got on at train with enough money to get as far as West Maitland. When he arrived he met a couple of friends who helped him set up a charity sports programme including boxing and street stalls which he ran with some success. He was duly elected Charity Carnival organiser for the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society. The secretary resigned as a matter of principle so Johnnie accepted his job too.
"Motor cycle races will be a novel feature of the sports carnival to be held on December 15 on the Show Ground. The track is in splendid order, and it is expected that over 40 entries will be received for the different motor cycling events. This will be the first time that motor cycling races have been held on the Show Ground, and the events should therefore prove of great interest."
In his capacity as Secretary to the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society, Hoskins organized a Sports Charity Carnival which was staged on the Maitland Showground on 15 December, 1923. The Electric Light Carnival was staged to benefit the local orphanages and the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society. The programme of events staged that night consisted of cycling events, horse events, trotting, athletics and motorcycle racing.
This was the first occasion motorcycle racing had been staged at the venue and it is this date that is widely recognised as the day on which motorcycle speedway
in its current form was born. He ran speedway at Maitland for two years and then moved onto Newcastle, Australia.
racing when he became Secretary of promotional company (Newcastle Speedway Co. Ltd.) at Newcastle
in New South Wales. He also promoted speedway
at the Sydney Showground
during the first season of racing there in 1926-1927, but a very wet summer made the venture a flop and almost bankrupted Hoskins. He then moved to Western Australia
where he began promoting at the Claremont Showgrounds
near Perth
in 1927. Within a month he had made almost £1000.
and set sail on the Oronsay, arriving in the UK
without a track.
, the chairman of Wembley Stadium asked Hoskins to promote speedway
at the stadium in the 1929 season. He accepted and the Wembley Lions
team were born.
went broke so Hoskins acquired the promoting rights for the West Ham Hammers
and ran the club for nine successful seasons until the outbreak of World War II
.
In 1933, whilst with West Ham, Hoskins appeared in the British film Money for Speed
which starred John Loder
, Ida Lupino
, Cyril McLaglen
and Moore Marriott
. Ginger Lees
, Lionel Van Praag
and Frank Varey
also featured.
speedway. His last involvement was with Canterbury Crusaders
which he founded in 1968 aged seventy-five, continuing until he was eighty-five years old.
He has been involved at:
in the 1979 New Years Honours list for his services to speedway and received his award at the investiture on 27 February 1979.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(1892 Waitara
Waitara, New Zealand
Waitara is the name of a town and a river in the northern part of the Taranaki Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Waitara is located just off State Highway 3, 15 km northeast of New Plymouth....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
– 1987 Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is the man who is considered to have 'invented' motorcycle speedway
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...
. If it cannot be established he invented the sport, he certainly played the largest role in promoting the sport (and Stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life
He left school at thirteen and worked on a farm and then as a postman. He decided to try his luck in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and ended up at West Maitland near Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, after working as a telegraph operator at Wagga Wagga and then onto Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
After running low on funds in Sydney he got on at train with enough money to get as far as West Maitland. When he arrived he met a couple of friends who helped him set up a charity sports programme including boxing and street stalls which he ran with some success. He was duly elected Charity Carnival organiser for the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society. The secretary resigned as a matter of principle so Johnnie accepted his job too.
First speedway meeting
He was a keen motorcycle enthusiast and tried to convince the committee to allow motorcycles to race round the showground trotting track. Regular Carnivals were staged at that time on the Maitland Showground by various bodies as a source of revenue raising.Electric Light Carnival
On 1 December, 1923, the following appeared in the Maitland Daily Mercury:-"Motor cycle races will be a novel feature of the sports carnival to be held on December 15 on the Show Ground. The track is in splendid order, and it is expected that over 40 entries will be received for the different motor cycling events. This will be the first time that motor cycling races have been held on the Show Ground, and the events should therefore prove of great interest."
In his capacity as Secretary to the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society, Hoskins organized a Sports Charity Carnival which was staged on the Maitland Showground on 15 December, 1923. The Electric Light Carnival was staged to benefit the local orphanages and the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society. The programme of events staged that night consisted of cycling events, horse events, trotting, athletics and motorcycle racing.
This was the first occasion motorcycle racing had been staged at the venue and it is this date that is widely recognised as the day on which motorcycle speedway
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...
in its current form was born. He ran speedway at Maitland for two years and then moved onto Newcastle, Australia.
Newcastle, Sydney and Claremont
In 1925, Hoskins continued with motorcycle speedwayMotorcycle 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...
racing when he became Secretary of promotional company (Newcastle Speedway Co. Ltd.) at Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
in New South Wales. He also promoted speedway
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...
at the Sydney Showground
Sydney Sports Ground
The Sydney Sports Ground was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surrounded by a grass covered hill, giving it a capacity of more than...
during the first season of racing there in 1926-1927, but a very wet summer made the venture a flop and almost bankrupted Hoskins. He then moved to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
where he began promoting at the Claremont Showgrounds
Claremont Showgrounds
The Claremont Showgrounds were built in 1905 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. The Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. They were also the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval....
near Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1927. Within a month he had made almost £1000.
Speedway in the United Kingdom
In 1928, Hoskins decided he would promote speedway in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and set sail on the Oronsay, arriving in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
without a track.
Wembley
Sir Arthur ElvinArthur Elvin
Sir Arthur Elvin MBE left school at the age of fourteen. After a few different jobs joined the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Elvin was shot down over France and was a prisoner of war for two years...
, the chairman of Wembley Stadium asked Hoskins to promote speedway
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...
at the stadium in the 1929 season. He accepted and the Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions (speedway)
The Wembley Lions were a motorcycle speedway team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. Their track was located at Wembley Stadium, London. The original stadium which hosted speedway has been redeveloped.-Pre-war:...
team were born.
West Ham
In 1930 the promotion at the West Ham StadiumWest Ham Stadium
West Ham Stadium was a stadium that existed between 1928 and 1972 in Custom House, in east London...
went broke so Hoskins acquired the promoting rights for the West Ham Hammers
West Ham Hammers
The West Ham Hammers were a speedway team, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929.. They operated from the West Ham Stadium until the outbreak of World War II under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of Johnnie Hoskins....
and ran the club for nine successful 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 1933, whilst with West Ham, Hoskins appeared in the British film Money for Speed
Money for Speed
Money for Speed is a 1933 British film starring John Loder, Ida Lupino, Cyril McLaglen and Moore Marriott. It is centered around the sport of speedway racing, which was at its peak of popularity at the time....
which starred John Loder
John Loder (actor)
John Loder was a British-American actor. He was born William John Muir Lowe in London.-Early life:Loder's father was General W. H. M. Lowe, the British officer to whom Patrick Pearse, the leader of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, Ireland, surrendered...
, Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino was an English-born film actress and director, and a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed seven others, mostly in the United States. She appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes...
, Cyril McLaglen
Cyril McLaglen
Cyril McLaglen was a British actor who appeared in a variety of films between 1920 and 1951. He was born in London in 1899 and made his film debut in the 1920 film The Call of the Road. He was the younger brother of the actor Victor McLaglen...
and Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
. Ginger Lees
Ginger Lees
Harry Riley Lees was a former international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the first ever Speedway World Championship final in 1936. He was born in Bury, England.- Career summary :...
, Lionel Van Praag
Lionel Van Praag
Lionel Maurice Van Praag, GM was an Australian motorcycle speedway champion, who won the inaugural Speedway World Championship in London on 10 September 1936.-1932 UK National League Champion:...
and Frank Varey
Frank Varey
Frank Varey was a former international speedway rider who featured in the Speedway World Championship finals in 1937 and 1938...
also featured.
After the war
Hoskins promoted or co-promoted many clubs and was a real force in promoting BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
speedway. His last involvement was with Canterbury Crusaders
Canterbury Crusaders (speedway)
The Canterbury Crusaders were a motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Kingsmead Stadium, Kingsmead Road, Canterbury.In 1977 the promoters Johnnie Hoskins and Wally Mawdsley had to go to court in order to keep the track open after complaints of noise from local residents. However, the team...
which he founded in 1968 aged seventy-five, continuing until he was eighty-five years old.
He has been involved at:
- Ashfield GiantsAshfield GiantsAshfield 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.-Brief history:...
- Canterbury CrusadersCanterbury Crusaders (speedway)The Canterbury Crusaders were a motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Kingsmead Stadium, Kingsmead Road, Canterbury.In 1977 the promoters Johnnie Hoskins and Wally Mawdsley had to go to court in order to keep the track open after complaints of noise from local residents. However, the team...
- Belle Vue AcesBelle Vue AcesThe Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
- Odsal BoomerangsBradford DukesThe Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated from the Odsal Stadium in Bradford from 1986 until their closure in 1997.-History:...
- Edinburgh MonarchsEdinburgh MonarchsThe Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
- Fife Lions (Cowdenbeath Speedway)
- New Cross RangersNew Cross RangersThe 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...
- Newcastle DiamondsNewcastle DiamondsNewcastle Diamonds are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Premier League. The club has a reputation of importing young foreign talent and have given starts to the British careers of six times World Champion Ivan Mauger, three times World Champion Ole Olsen, 1974 World Champion...
- Glasgow TigersGlasgow 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...
- West Ham HammersWest Ham HammersThe West Ham Hammers were a speedway team, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929.. They operated from the West Ham Stadium until the outbreak of World War II under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of Johnnie Hoskins....
- Open meetings at Brighton Hove Greyhound Stadium.
MBE
Hoskins was awarded the MBEMBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in the 1979 New Years Honours list for his services to speedway and received his award at the investiture on 27 February 1979.