New Cross Rangers
Encyclopedia
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
. After closing at the end of the 1961 season they re-opened again under Pete Lansdale and Wally Mawdsley in the Provincial League in 1963, but had to close down before completing the season. New Cross had previously been known as the New Cross Lambs from 1934 to 1935 and then the New Cross Tamers in 1936 .. The track was often referred to as 'The Frying Pan'. It was built inside the greyhound track and had banking all the way round.
Fred Mockford opened Speedway
at New Cross
when he moved his team from the Crystal Palace
in south London. In 1935 Tom Farndon
was killed after crashing at the stadium.
New Cross Stadium was used as a film set for some of the action and crowd scenes for the film "Once a Jolly Swagman
" which starred Dirk Bogarde
.
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 which operated from 1937 until their closure in 1953. The track reopened in 1959 under 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...
for a series of open meetings and then in 1960 and 1961 operated 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...
. After closing at the end of the 1961 season they re-opened again under Pete Lansdale and Wally Mawdsley in the Provincial League in 1963, but had to close down before completing the season. New Cross had previously been known as the New Cross Lambs from 1934 to 1935 and then the New Cross Tamers in 1936 .. The track was often referred to as 'The Frying Pan'. It was built inside the greyhound track and had banking all the way round.
Fred Mockford opened 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 New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
when he moved his team from the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
in south London. In 1935 Tom Farndon
Tom Farndon
Tom Farndon , was a Speedway rider who won the Star Riders' Championship in 1933 whilst with the Crystal Palace Glaziers....
was killed after crashing at the stadium.
New Cross Stadium was used as a film set for some of the action and crowd scenes for the film "Once a Jolly Swagman
Once a Jolly Swagman
Once a Jolly Swagman is a 1949 British film starring Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano, Bill Owen and Sid James. It is centred around the sport of speedway racing, which was at its peak of popularity at the time. The film is based on the 1946 novel by Montagu Slater.The title of the film refers to the...
" which starred Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor and novelist. Initially a matinee idol in such films as Doctor in the House and other Rank Organisation pictures, Bogarde later acted in art-house films such as Death in Venice...
.