LONDON SPEEDWAY

(White City)

This site is not an official website for the track shown here and is neither approved or endorsed by the speedway team.

SP Dallison.JPG (24606 bytes) Speedway racing has taken place throughout the City of London since 1928. The famous White City Stadium, on Wood Lane, held its first dirt track meeting on 19th May 1928 when a crowd in excess of 6000 witnessed Frank Arthur win the Golden Helmet. It was to be a brief period of action when the London venue hosted Southern League action for just one year, with the last meeting taking place on 4th October 1929. SP D Case.JPG (24416 bytes)
WC1929.JPG (21714 bytes) WC1976.JPG (18276 bytes) WC1977.JPG (22125 bytes) WC1978.JPG (21015 bytes)
In a stadium built for the 1908 Olympic Games greyhound racing first took place on 20th June 1927. The very first race was won by Charlie Cranston. The White City hosted the Greyhound Derby final from its outset in July 1927, when Entry Badge successfully claimed the £1000 first prize, until the track closed. It also hosted the Cambridgeshire and the Wood Lane Stakes.
View an early programme
Speedway racing did return in 1953, with Open Race action, followed by a brief spell in the British League in 1976 to 78. The final meeting at the White City took place on 13th September 1978 when London beat Bristol by 41-37. London won the League Championship in 1977. Throughout their time they have had just the one nickname of the Rebels.
To view a complete collection of badges choose the relevant link below: 1929-80
This section gives a comprehensive picture of the badges produced for the team throughout the ages, but only provides the briefest of glimpses of its history. For those wishing to read more widely we recommend a visit to

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwgreyhoundd-21   especially

Speedway in London (Paperback)

by Norman Jacobs  ISBN-10: 0752422219

More detailed information is available from "Homes of British Speedway' by Robert Bamford & John Jarvis

A further great source of information is provided on John Skinner's excellent website on Defunct Speedway tracks, with a link given below.
http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/

For all Speedway enthusiasts, John Somerville’s website should always be your first port of call:-https://www.skidmarks1928.com/v/photos/john-somerville-collection
or email johnwslusar@gmail.com for inclusion of your comments and photos of speedway on this website.

1928 1929 1957
   
1958