Trevor Redmond
Encyclopedia
Trevor Redmond - died 1997) was a speedway
rider who mainly rode for the Aldershot Shots
, and the Wembley Lions
. Redmond also opened a speedway track in Neath
, Wales
in 1962.
. He moved to the UK when he won a team place with the newly formed Aldershot Shots
in 1950. He was successful enough to attract the Wembley Lions
to sign him in 1952, where he remained until their closure in 1956. Whilst with the Lions, Redmond qualified for two World Championship finals
.
A season in non-league speedway followed in 1957 but in 1958 he did not ride at all, instead he opened a track in Cornwall
at St Austell
. He returned to racing for a spell with the Swindon Robins
and moved onto the Bristol Bulldogs
in 1960. The Bristol track closed at the end of that season and in 1961 Redmond had a brief spell with the Wolverhampton Wolves
. In subsequent years he was rider and promoter of league teams at Neath,(1962,) St.Austell,(1963) and Glasgow,(1964-65.) He was one of only 2 riders to appear in all 5 Provincial League Riders Championship Finals, being winner in 1960, and a disappointed Runner-Up in 1961 after a broken chain in his final ride cost him the title.
, Wales
. The team was named the Neath Welsh Dragons and operated in the Speedway Provincial League
. The team finished in second place, which was considered a remarkable achievement by the speedway press. Neath folded at the start of the 1963 season, so Redmond took the St Austell Gulls
into the Provincial League
. In 1964 he continued to both ride and promote, but this time with the Glasgow Tigers
, which he reopened and operated from the White City Stadium. He stopped finally riding in 1964, but continued to promote the club until the start of the 1967 season. In 1970, Redmond was influential in the reopening of speedway at Wembley Stadium, with the return of the Wembley Lions
. He was later a member of the FIM
and was involved in the administration of international speedway, and he managed New Zealand speedway teams. He died at his home in Glastonbury in 1997.
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 mainly rode for the Aldershot Shots
Aldershot Shots
Aldershot Shots were a speedway team representing Aldershot, England.-Brief history:They first competed in the National League Division Three in 1950 and were based at Tongham Greyhound Stadium...
, 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:...
. Redmond also opened a speedway track in Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1962.
Rider
Redmond started riding speedway in 1949 at the Aranui track in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. He moved to the UK when he won a team place with the newly formed Aldershot Shots
Aldershot Shots
Aldershot Shots were a speedway team representing Aldershot, England.-Brief history:They first competed in the National League Division Three in 1950 and were based at Tongham Greyhound Stadium...
in 1950. He was successful enough to attract 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:...
to sign him in 1952, where he remained until their closure in 1956. Whilst with the Lions, Redmond qualified for two World Championship finals
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...
.
A season in non-league speedway followed in 1957 but in 1958 he did not ride at all, instead he opened a track in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
at St Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
. He returned to racing for a spell with the Swindon Robins
Swindon Robins
The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League....
and moved onto 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...
in 1960. The Bristol track closed at the end of that season and in 1961 Redmond had a brief spell with 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...
. In subsequent years he was rider and promoter of league teams at Neath,(1962,) St.Austell,(1963) and Glasgow,(1964-65.) He was one of only 2 riders to appear in all 5 Provincial League Riders Championship Finals, being winner in 1960, and a disappointed Runner-Up in 1961 after a broken chain in his final ride cost him the title.
Promoter
In 1958 Redmond promoted at St Austell, on an open licence. and in 1961 he also promoted open meetings in Dublin (Shelbourne). In 1962 he opened a track in NeathNeath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The team was named the Neath Welsh Dragons and operated in the Speedway 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 team finished in second place, which was considered a remarkable achievement by the speedway press. Neath folded at the start of the 1963 season, so Redmond took the St Austell Gulls
St Austell Gulls
The St Austell Gulls were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1964 at the Cornish Stadium at Par, St Austell in Cornwall...
into the 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...
. In 1964 he continued to both ride and promote, but this time with the Glasgow Tigers
Glasgow 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...
, which he reopened and operated from the White City Stadium. He stopped finally riding in 1964, but continued to promote the club until the start of the 1967 season. In 1970, Redmond was influential in the reopening of speedway at Wembley Stadium, with the return of 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:...
. He was later a member of the FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
and was involved in the administration of international speedway, and he managed New Zealand speedway teams. He died at his home in Glastonbury in 1997.
World final appearances
- 19521952 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1952 Individual Speedway World Championship.Speedway riders from Sweden, Scotland and Republic of South Africa was starters in World Championship first time.# Jack Young # Freddie Williams # Bob Oakley...
-
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 - Res - Did not ride - 19541954 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1954 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 15, 1954 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 - 13th - 5pts