West Ham Hammers
Encyclopedia
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
.
The track opened in 1928 and staged a few meetings during the early war years.
Meetings were staged in 1945 but the Hammers re-opened in 1946 and ran until 1955. However dwindling crowds saw the promotion close. It did not re-open until 1964 and ran a further eight seasons until 1971 when they were informed that the stadium was being sold by the Greyhound Racing Association
to make way for building development. The Romford Bombers
moved into the stadium for the 1972 season, racing under the name West Ham Bombers.
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, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929.. They operated from the West Ham Stadium
West Ham Stadium
West Ham Stadium was a stadium that existed between 1928 and 1972 in Custom House, in east London...
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...
under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of 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...
.
The track opened in 1928 and staged a few meetings during the early war years.
Meetings were staged in 1945 but the Hammers re-opened in 1946 and ran until 1955. However dwindling crowds saw the promotion close. It did not re-open until 1964 and ran a further eight seasons until 1971 when they were informed that the stadium was being sold by the Greyhound Racing Association
Greyhound Racing Association
The Greyhound Racing Association is a private company involved in the management of sports venues.It currently operates five sites:*Oxford Stadium*Wimbledon Stadium, London*Hall Green Stadium, Birmingham*Perry Barr Stadium, Birmingham...
to make way for building development. The Romford Bombers
Romford Bombers
The Romford Bombers were a speedway team which operated from 1969 until their closure in 1971. They had originally started the season at Rochester in Kent and entered the league as the Rochester Bombers...
moved into the stadium for the 1972 season, racing under the name West Ham Bombers.