Roy Trigg
Encyclopedia
Roy Trigg is a former motorcycle speedway
rider.
He was noticed as a teenager by the Wimbledon Dons
management who signed him up but immediately loaned him out to lower league Poole Pirates
. In 1964 the new Hackney Hawks
promoter Len Silver
signed him on a full transfer. He stayed with the Hawks for two seasons but was forced out of the team when Bengt Jansson
was signed.
After leaving the Hawks
he spent a season with the Oxford Cheetahs
before moving on to Cradley Heath
where he spent the next five seasons. It was with Cradley he was threatened with a gun by Garry Middleton
. Garry tried to forcefully dive under Roy but Roy saw him and slowed down, leaving Middleton to shoot straight past him into the safety fence. Middleton then went into the pits into his toolbox and pulled out a handgun. He had to be dragged from the pits to avoid further trouble.
In 1970 he finished third in the British Speedway Championship
final. For the last two seasons of his career Roy rode with the Newport Wasps
. After he retired he emigrated to New Zealand
.
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.
He was noticed as a teenager by the Wimbledon Dons
Wimbledon 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...
management who signed him up but immediately loaned him out to lower league Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
. In 1964 the new 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....
promoter Len Silver
Len Silver
Len Silver is a former speedway rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets.-Racing career:Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich Witches in 1960 after a layoff due to injury...
signed him on a full transfer. He stayed with the Hawks for two seasons but was forced out of the team when Bengt Jansson
Bengt Jansson
Bengt Gustaf Jansson is a former Swedish international speedway rider."Banger" was runner up in the 1967 World Final to fellow countryman Ove Fundin after losing a race-off and finished third in 1971, again after a run-off.He rode in Britain for West Ham Hammers, Edinburgh Monarchs, Hackney Hawks,...
was signed.
After leaving the 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....
he spent a season with the Oxford Cheetahs
Oxford Cheetahs
The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs...
before moving on to Cradley Heath
Cradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens are a defunct motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England.-History:Cradley Heath speedway team was formed in 1947 and first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 after a number of away appearances prior to the opening of the newly built stadium...
where he spent the next five seasons. It was with Cradley he was threatened with a gun by Garry Middleton
Garry Middleton
Garry David Middleton is a former international speedway rider.-Career:He first came to Britain in 1967 a rode for a short time with the Belle Vue Aces and the King's Lynn Stars before getting a permanent ride with the Wimbledon Dons. He stayed with the Dons for the 1968 season but in 1969 he...
. Garry tried to forcefully dive under Roy but Roy saw him and slowed down, leaving Middleton to shoot straight past him into the safety fence. Middleton then went into the pits into his toolbox and pulled out a handgun. He had to be dragged from the pits to avoid further trouble.
In 1970 he finished third in the British Speedway Championship
British Speedway Championship
The British Speedway Championship is an annual motorcycle speedway competition open to British national speedway riders. The winner of the event becomes the British Speedway Champion. It has been open in the past to riders from British dominions and was dominated in its early years by riders from...
final. For the last two seasons of his career Roy rode with the Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
. After he retired he emigrated to 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...
.