SandSpeedWales

We are currently seeking & further creating content for this section, we always need anecdotal or graphic Archival Data to add here. Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!, Rob Allender's fine History of Swansea Motor Club can supply you further information http://www.swanseamotorclub.co.uk click address to visit from here.

(Kindly loaned by Gary Gregor to be scanned in) Entrants printed on the programme: 1, H M Tucker>Scott 596cc. 3,E A Fox>Norton 490cc. 7, Don Jones>Scott 596cc. 9, W Roe>Rudge 249cc. 10, Sid Davies>BSA 349cc. 13, J Prytherch>Rudge 499cc. 14, F Fitt>HRD 490cc. 16, Gordon Bennett>Douglas 596cc. 17, Jim Davies>Douglas 494cc. 18, N Treseder>AJS 349cc. 20, George Gregor>Douglas 494cc. 22, Edwin Thomas>Rudge 499cc. 27, G V Cooper>Sunbeam 498cc. 39, V Jones>AJS 349cc. Other late entrants were noted including No 41 who can be seen with Nick Carter & No 25 L V Thomas of Bishopston.

The way down to the Speed Trial Venue

Oxwich Speed Trials 1931, for the Swansea Motor Club Challenge Bowl and also The Challenge Cup, BOTH HANDICAP RACES, Handel Davies Trophy however was a scratch Race of 8 laps with Cash Awards of 10 shillings, 6 shillings, and 4 shillings for first second and third...with Three Cliffs Bay profile distinguishable in the background & BP's connection well shown far left. International Speedway http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ can be clicked to from here & under Internationals & Test Matches since 1928 there thanks to Brian Collins you can find what Gary Gregor was delighted to learn of.

(Also kindly loaned by Gary Gregor) further on you'll Find mention of CARDIFF SPEEDWAY 1929 & even the WALES v England Speedway Test Matches, thanks to Brian Collins & his Superb International Speedway website

Oxwich nowadays on a cool October afternoon!, markings on Three Cliffs end of the beach seen in the start picture are still the same.

View from Pennard of that same Venue, this is thought to be another of M A Clare's prints.

Officials:- ACU Steward, Henry A Enoch, Esq.,M.A. Judge:-F. N. Dayson, Esq., Chief Marshal:-T. A. J. Phillips, Esq., Clerk of the Course, :-J. T. Lewis, Esq., Starter & Handicapper, :-H. W. James, Esq., Timekeeper,:-P. L. Phillips, Esq., Competitor's Marshal, :-V. Ragione, Esq., Organiser,:-E. Gordon Bennett, Esq., Secretary of Meeting, :-Vincent Thomas, Esq., Lap Scorers, :-Members of the Club.

1931! To give a balanced comparison of Britain & the World at the times of Oxwich Races here is am old advertisment by Vickers proudly announcing their newest creation not a great time over a decade from a harsh developments of cruel forms of destructive transport & machinery, communications, man & mail could travel further & speedier & development of peaceful use for airtravel progressed. There are times when finding what else was emerging in the world helps us assess matters.

Swansea Motor Cycle & Light Car Club 1931 pic. (kindly loaned by Mike Evans) some of those in view were involved in setting up & also competing in a variety of Swansea Originating events. that TG 21 registration Douglas is a puzzle.

Swansea Motor Club Challenge Cup Handel Davies Trophy...Handel Davies pics can be seen on the Homepage plus Pendine section, he was after all a Swansea Club member.

SOUTH WALES DAILY POST reported on the event in its 7th April print. Column was headed Competitors in the rain, beneath that Plucky Riding at Oxwich was aligned & Beneath that MOTOR CLUB stood starkly above the report. Swansea Motor Club was reported to have carried through their Easter Monday Speed Trials with success despite the day's drenching downpour. Plotting a marked course to race upon against rain which did not ease until early afternoon had been a difficult accomplishment with fears at one stage of having to abandon the venture. Riders too were reported to be plucky to agree to compete in such conditions. When Races commenced they were proudly declared to have been carried through without a hitch. THRILLING RIDING headed descriptions of an exhibition of riding & cornering at high speed by G. Gregor on his Douglas with comments on his very successful performances in the major events. Gordon Bennett on his Douglas & also Sid Davies on his BSA were reported to providing thrills for spectators. Sand & water splashes were reported to have played havoc with many riders by causing several machines to temporarily "pack up". A large number of spectators braved the elements & saw a great exhibition of riding.

L. V. Thomas at Oxwich 1931 Races. with Oxwich Point in the background prior to the wreck coming to rest there during WW2. (M A Clare's unmistakable marking is again distinct on the negative we developed this print from)

At Oxwich George Gregor had just returned from Speedway riding at Singapore even in riding for England in a clash with Jack Sharp billed in the Malaya Tribune he had won Cardiff Speedway's Golden Jacket, Golden Helmet and Golden Gauntlet outright. The 4 Wales v England Speedway Test Matches of 1929 took place

L V Thomas & his Norton viewed from the other direction with Swansea Club Officials and other entrants, note the soft sand surface letting the Scott front wheel sink in.

Results:-Club Challenge Bowl: 1, Sid Davies (BSA) : 2,W. Roe (Rudge). (Handicap Race)

Club Challenge Cup : 1, E. Thomas of Cowbridge (Rudge): 2, Sid Davies : R. W. James (AJS) : 4, G Gregor (Douglas). (Handicap Race)

Handel Davies Trophy Race (Scratch Race) : 1, Donald Jones (Scott) : E. Thomas : 3, G. V. Cooper of Pontardawe (Sunbeam).

Ten Miles Solo Race (Scratch Race) for Unlimited Class Machines : 1, G. Gregor : 2, H. M. Tucker (Scott) : E. G. Bennett (Douglas).

350cc Class: 1, Sid Davies : 2, N. Treseder (AJS) : 3, W. Roe (Rudge).

20 Miles Solo Scratch Race : 1, G. Gregor :2, E. G. Bennett : 3, N. Treseder.

George Gregor 's skill and experience can be gathered from the following assembled data relating to his International Speedway Racing career.

(Copy, again kindly Loaned by Gary Gregor, son of George Gregor) & what the heck!, I know its OXWICH but lots of things led to who & what arrived to compete here, so Gary's dad riding at White City Speedway Grangetown Cardiff simply has to go in below!. George started at Cardiff Speedway using the same Rudge he rode at Newport Grass Track in 1928 & he found himself in Singapore with faster machinery riding for England against Australia, later we shall add the pieces of coverage from Malaya Tribune. Plus the 4 Test Matches between England & Wales which took place during 1929. Wales won 2, England also won 2, 5th event decider on 8th August at Perry Barr, Birmingham was rained off & honours remained even. First event at Cardiff, 17 July White City, was classed as unofficial & ended with 38 points to Wales & 25 to England. The next became 'official' on 18th July at West Ham & England gained revenge with 43 points to 20 victory. next on 02nd Sept at Wimbledon England again won with a 40 to 23 points difference on the 11th of September back at Cardiff's White City, Wales gained a 48 points to 16 score which delighted Taffies galore. Heat Scoring was the normal 4-2-1-0. A Canada resident ROGER STEVENS helped contribute the data plus pics of Programmes >to visit from here just click on > http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/intspeedway/engvusa.htm you can go also from there a Brian Collins huge brilliant speedway site.

Cardiff Motor Cycle & Car Club's entry the friday they left for Buxton to compete in M.C.C's Inter Club Team Trials. Left to right front row, Messrs. R. S. Bevan (Cpt.) C. Upham, G.Gregor, H. Granger, M.K. Roberts. back row, Messrs. J Mills (Hon. Sec.) Alex Thom (President) A.B. Wade (Vice President)

George Gregor, seen leading here is listed in the teams in that Programme above. Zeal of Newport plus Nick Carter of Brynmawr whom you shall see further on were parts of Cardiff's Speedway scene, George Gregor was the only one in the Speedway team who did not have a nickname, perhaps due to a Windsor Family Prince of that name!! whom he resembled strikingly! (later Prince George became King George 6th after this racing period. (thanks again to George's son Gary who has helped immensely & who himself bears a definite likeness to the previous King George 5th, NO JOKE!)

Here is the Programme for the first unofficial England V Wales Test Match. the Cardiff team apart from George Gregor had nicknamessuch as Ronnie "Whirlwind" Baker, Fred "Hurricane" Hampson, Ray "Sunshine" Cannell, Jack "Lightning" Luke, "Champ" Upham, "Genial" Jimmy Hindle, Walter "Nobby" Key. Nick "Trick" Carter another popular character at This time Speedways existed at Tredegar & Bristol. I shall be adding accounts of the Test Races thanks to Roger Stevens of Canada & Brian Collins. George Gregor's son Gary only found about the England v Wales Test Races yesterday to his great delight.

The prog. from that final & deciding Wales V England Test series at Cardiff, A lot more data will be added here as time on the web allows!. The two Cardiff programmes (above) reveal that the Wales teams contained some "unusual" names! Ron "Whirlwind" Baker, Jack "Lightning" Luke, C.F "Champ" Upham, Nick Carter, and Nobby Key, Jimmy Hindle represented Wales in both Cardiff matches. "Hurricane" Hampson completed the team on 17.07; Len Parker and George Gregor on 11.09.
The England team for the 1st match was programmed as Jack Adams, Ivor Creek, Don Durant, Les McGuire, Harold "Tiger" Stevenson, and Don Taylor. The 2nd.match featured Jim Kempster, Reg Pointer, Eric Spencer, Alf Medcalf, Clem Cort, Harold Crook, and Stan Spencer. With Thanks to Nick Stevens & Brian Collins two mines of Speedway info.

Welsh Speedway Team believed circa 1935! thanks to Dave Martin:- NAMES & LOCATION PLUS DATA PLEASE?

Mick Callaghan, Australian star of CARDIFF DRAGONS in 1940's & 50's, this is an original treasured Autograph Card, still retained by his daughter Helen Wheatley who contacted us & has kindly allowed us to place online, much obliged to Helen.

In 1951 a Test Match with England "C" team Series against USA riders took Place with one round at Cardiff
England "C" won series 3-2
04.09 : Cardiff (Penarth Road), Wales England C 64 America 44
06.09 : Poole England C 46 America 62
09.09 : Dublin (Shelbourne Park), Ireland England C 42 America 66
12.09 : Aldershot England C 76 America 32
14.09 : Swindon England C 57 America 48 with thanks to Brian Collins & Roger Stevens without whom snips of History could not be supported or used here.

Matchless had earlier made vee twin motors for Brough Superior and Morgan as options against JAP devices & hoped to get into a constant Speedway 500 single market, few noted this attempt signal though, Dave Martin in USA though picked this scarce ad out for us. I actually rode in a couple of the televised Grandstand Races in the early 1960's & never even knew of this attempt by the Plumstead lot ESO took up the baton, made a far more modern motor than JAP & it was quickly taken over by a Nationalised JAWA concern, what a shame this did not getinto the fight.

Let us go forward a little in time before coming back down to earth, Cardiff plus Newport and even Neath Abbey Speedway came to life again post WW2 & some evidence remains!, Website Builder and Speedway Programme Collector Paul Richardson came to the rescue & scanned in a Neath Versus Plymouth Programme from stock there if you go to his website you could see whether he has exactly what you are looking for. many Thanks to Paul. www.speedwayprogrammes.com click on this to go straight to the Speedway Programme site.

Attached copy of Neath Abbey v Plymouth programme 23rd June 1962, hard to
take photo as staple in a strange place. NEATH ABBEY SPEEDWAY.

Australian Trevor Redmond promoted Speedway at Neath Abbey in 1962 - he was also
captain of the team plus team manager!, A lot to do for an Australian far from home nearing the end of a great Speedway Riding career, commercially a venture has to be researched really well plus doubly certain to be profitable with calculated expenditure facilities, location, locally attractive factors & definite financial figures, (I spent some years managing a USA based outfit at Dubai & had to be more cautious than I had ever imagined) Anyway> Wolverhampton were scheduled to be the
first opponents of the "Welsh Dragons" on 21 April, sadly it became cancelled as
rained off & Sheffield were instead their first opposition in a challenge
meeting 28 April, Neath won 41-37. A lack of floodlighting and congested
fixture list caused Neath to run four of their Provincial League fixtures at
St Austell. Despite opening to a 3000 crowd against Sheffield the required volume of fans didn't get behind the venture, 'final Speedway meeting staged at the Abbey was
on 1 Sept 1962 - again against Sheffield in the league, Neath winning 41-36.
Within sight of the ruins of Neath Abbey, the site is now covered with an
industrial estate having been redeveloped in the late 1960's. (Thanks to Paul Richardson for the valuable info.) Grass Track Racing Plus Scrambles of the day saw motorcycle Racing fans have plenty to see with the local & regional riders racing against National Works riders, rather than 'imported' jobbing Speedway only riders, the Abbey itself remains in finely kept plus restored in parts form & you could never really notice it had been even 'touched ' by Speedway. A fine venture & a great effort by Trevor but prior research could have brought LOCAL aspects requirements of a venture to be essential for competing against a Holiday area of Wales.

Races within Carmarthen Park Were Advertised in National plus Local Press with widely placed Posters around West Wales at garages motorcycle shops biker cafe's, areas starved of decent racing, Speedway Races, held in the Centre of a Large Town fed by buses & trains from the entire area & would usually follow earlier races within West Wales & Grass track racers versus Scrambles, civic Dignitaries, media found it attractive to sales, convenient to attend near their town offices, photographers & reporters then get copy in & settle to a pleasant evening etc take a look at the 1963 picture of speedway Racing competitors at Carmarthen Park on the Homepage & you will see the JAPs & well known Speedway riders too, performing in a perfect oval track with spectators in a grandstand plus on concrete surrounding surfaces just a step into the Park peering down into that 'oval bowl', it was just too good a natural facility to outdo or compete with, Neath Abbey Speedway from outside the area had to be prepared to compete with the traditional Rugby interest of Llanelli Neath Swansea Aberavon Maesteg & Bridgend over their catchment area too. (In to Carmarthen, off the bus or train, a short stroll on good surfaces & a great high place to see the event from then chips? a couple of pints & off to the local hop if a lift home was available. A hard to compete with venue even owned by the local Council & kept spruce by Parkies & Gardeners.

NEATH ABBEY SPEEDWAY SUPPORTERS BADGE, my tryout there as a 'callow youth' riding my own methanol fuelled Triumph Tiger Cub of only 200cc in a DOT frame saw me receive a don't call us we may call you from Trevor Redmond as he stared at probably the most unsuitable machine ridden there!, 'amazing what a youth will do trying to get a ride!, hardly noticeable as a driver at Neath Abbey when the Stockcars later came in, a noticeable racer there was a diminutive Bernie Ecclestone whom you see as gaffer of Formula 1 (F1) nowadays.

This was a period in which racing on sand, grass, cinders, and road surfaces had all who could take part able to use machines in more than one type of competition Newport too without a beach to use was involved with Grass Track racing, much the same riders were involved all over Wales.

E G Bennett left, & George Gregor, of Gregor Bros. whose yellow wood/timber distributing lorries were familiar around the Swansea & Aberdare regions, first & second placed men in Oxwich 1931 20 miles race. (you can note M A Clare's unique white marking identifying the place & date & event, with thanks to R Clare) There is so very much more to George Gregor's background, when you realise that in June the previous year he had been riding Speedway at Singapore, plus in early 1929 he was riding Speedway at White City Speedway on Sloper Road, Grangetown, Cardiff!.

The result of the race can be seen above.

Nick Carter, Of Brynmawr on his Speedy 350cc Matchless (another of M A Clare's marked pics.) with coastline again identifiable, Nick an experienced Speedway rider at Cardiff's White City Stadium & elsewhere competed & won at least his class events at BOTH the Cefn Sidan Speed Trials of 1927, plus was second place rider in the Oxwich event on July 16th 1927 which may well account for the white marking at lower left of the pic..(Mumbles Photographer M A Clare's mark can be seen at lower left)

In this program George Gregor is listed to be riding in the "Borneo" Handicap race off 'Scratch' AND winning with Jack Sharp second, Event #9 Listed a record attempt by George Gregor & his record Lap Speed time of 20 and 3/5ths seconds plus his time for 4 Laps at 1 min. 23 and 4/5ths are shown originally written in on the page below.

Borneo Handicap race, the originally written in result can be seen.

The Swansea man in the Oxwich winners pic with resemblance to King George VI actually setting single Lap record & 4 Laps record at Singapore Speedway then returning to win at Oxwich, there is so much more than a thousand words in a researched picture?.

It was a 4 page programme so I could not resist not leaving the back page out.

Swansea's Club in 1931 at a meeting on Friday Mayday! (1st) established Speedway Racing at Home Farm at Penllergaer Involving Carmarthen Motor Club, Gwendraeth Valley Motor Cycle & Light Car Club plus the Tawe Motor & Motor Cycle Club & on that weekend held their pre arranged event. This picture kindly supplied by Myrddin, webmaster of Penllergaer village website which puts any info or images concerning the village to good use we shall add his website address shortly, anything motorcycle related will be appreciated here too.

Swansea's Club in 1931 at a meeting on Friday Mayday! (1st) established Speedway Racing at Home Farm at Penllergaer Involving Carmarthen Motor Club, Gwendraeth Valley Motor Cycle & Light Car Club plus the Tawe Motor & Motor Cycle Club & on that weekend held their pre arranged event. This picture kindly supplied by Myrddin, webmaster of Penllergaer village website which puts any info or images concerning the village to good use we shall add his website address shortly, anything motorcycle related will be appreciated here too. Jim Davies listed below raced his winning Douglas at Oxwich too.

After the weekend media announced 'Successful Speedway at Penllergaer'. Trophies listed were The Swansea Motor Club Cup plus Swansea Motor Club Bowl. Results of first event: Heat 1/Jim Davies Heat 2/W Rowe Final won by 1/Jim Davies on his Dirt Track Douglas machine in a time of 2 mins. 10 secs. 2/W Rowe, 3/B Prosser. Second Event: 1/Jim Davies in new time of 2min 4 sec, 2/W Rowe, 3/B Prosser, 4/Frank Harries.

Another recorded Speed Trials held at Oxwich. On a day when the sun was out 'in all its glory was noted to be reported in South Wales Daily Post on race day, the course itself however described as being hard but rather wet. However on 15th July a forecast for the event had a listed entry of 130 which included TT racers & New Hudson Works rider A. Harry. Several TT Riders, Well known reliability Trials rider G. Gregor's had entered a Rudge & was reputedly likely to break Parker's one mile sprint record at Oxwich. Even a Mystery Machine had been entered & it is left for us to consider whether this was a jocular reference to this 'Davies Special' entered naturally by J. Davies. SWDP columnist "Camshaft" confidently believed spectator attendance likely to equal if not eclipse the preceding Easter Monday event. 130 entries included established Racing stars inc. Alex Grey of Cardiff on his Cotton were announced to be entrants along with Nick Carter of Brynmawr plus the well known racer trio of Swansea's L.V.Thomas, Port Talbot's Tom J. Phillips & Mumbles's E. W. Thomas were to continue their 3 way ontrack duel. 11 Events had been declared. from One Mile Sprints to 50 Miles races with an average entry of 8 per event with racing to commence at 2.00 pm. Coverage with Results carried a bold SWANSEA MAN WINS FIRST EVENT . 1000 spectators were estimated to have arrived by the time 7 riders lined up for the first event. The first One mile Sprint for 350 cc machines was to use just over one straight leg of the 2 miles course & L.V. Thomas (Velocette) & Nick Carter (Matchless) vied for the lead until T.J. Phillips (Zenith) took the lead to hold it almost to the flag when L.V. Thomas swept by to win.1/L.V. Thomas, 2/Tom J. Phillips (Zenith) 3/A. Harry (New Hudson). One Mile Sprint for 500cc machines: 11 Riders lined up for this & finishers were 1/ L.E. Griffiths of Bridgend on his Norton 2/E.W. Thomas of Mumbles (Norton) 3/C. Bowles of Morriston (Sunbeam). A false start had been alleged & protests followed, Marshalls had no option but to order a rerun!! & murmers went around spectators & tension mounted & Final result became: 1/Nick Carter, with 2 tieing for second! Alex Grey on a Matchless this time with L.E. Griffiths sharing second. Unlimited Machines One Mile sprint: The Speedy 1000cc of R.E. Thomas of Glogue whom you can see with E.W. Thomas in the Cefn Sidan part of this website ran away with first here. 1/R.E.Thomas (Brough Superior. 2/L.E. Thomas (Norton) 3/E.W. Thomas, >to be contd.

L E Griffiths at Oxwich, research through Programmes & race reports shows number 20 to be the race number he used at the 1926 and 1927 events, he is not on the Pendine Programme, his subsequent number went to the number one he coveted then later 'two ones' (eleven!).

Going back in Time, Speed Trials were held at Broughton Bay too! & in the Programme we learn of forthcoming races to be held at Clyne Valley Race track!. Mystery over this begins to unfold. Of the listed 12 Events in the Programme only 5 were completed on a day when 2 hours were lost over difficulty selecting the course itself. A fair numbers of spectators were reported!. Conditions gently declared to be far from perfect. Results: I Mile for 350cc Machines:1/E W Thomas (Swansea) on his Velocette. 2/N Carter (Brynmawr) Matchless. 3/ O S M Williams (Swansea) Sunbeam. Four Miles for Unlimited capacity Machines: 1/L V Thomas (Swansea) Velocette. 2/E W Thomas (Mumbles) Norton. 3/G E Gregor (Swansea) Rudge Whitworth. One Mile Sprint for Unlimited Machines 1/A Williams (Killay) Douglas. 2/L V Thomas (Swansea) Norton. 3/G E Gregor (Swansea) Rudge Whitworth. Ten Miles for Unlimited Machines 1/ E G Bennett (Gorseinon) Scott. 2/G E Gregor, Rudge Whitworth. 3/O S M Williams (Swansea) Sunbeam. L V Thomas RETIRES springs to you when reading SWDP's report which then continued with the big event THE OLSEN CHALLENGE CUP presented by a senior Swansea & D MCC Club Official. 25 Miles for Unlimited machines. :1/E G Bennett (Gorseinon) Scott. 2/G E Gregor, (Swansea) Rudge Whitworth. 3/H C Ellis (Swansea) Velocette. The race had been described as a duel between L V Thomas and E Gordon Bennettt who swapped the lead 'alternately' until his machine was noted to be slowing & he subsequently retired at the halfway stage. G E Gregor's neat & remarkably fast cornering was commented upon but also that his machine was slower on the straights than both leaders, indeed it was referred to as a feature of the meeting.

Swansea Club however held far more Speed Trials & Races even 1926 at Oxwich is recorded

Swansea & District Motorcycle Club. Start of the Charles Cup reliability Trial of 1925 with No 1 George Gregor between Nos 2 & 24. It was won by E Williams on a Rudge, second was Bill James on a Norton, third was B Ellis & George Gregor came fourth on a Royal Enfield. The location is believed to be Townhill & the School can be seen before the present housing complex appeared.

George Gregor, at a circa 1925? Swansea related event possibly that Fairyhill or similar & the same casual pose though as when he won at Oxwich 1931. (many thanks for this to Gary Gregor)

At this point let us look at this Old poster showing another form of Transport on 'The Gower'.(Dudley Godfrey & Paul of the Jenkins family which started this still work that same Northway Garage, all absolutely great people & this poster is by their courtesy)

Mumbles Professional Photographer, the late M A Clare's white text visible in this plus several other images used in this website.(with the kind permission of his grandson Richard Clare)

Swansea Club again, with L V Thomas in his warmest driving coat.

Swansea Club held all manner of events such as scrambles & trials, here is Road Racer J E F Phillips still of Tycoch riding in a trial at the hills around Penybanc Farm Clydach

Swansea Motor Club members 1967 sharing a machine!, Really though, this shows one of the Finest Motorcycle Racers in Britain, Peter Atkinson sitting on his first & over deserved Cotton WORKS machine, he & his mum who was no mean Car Speed exponent show herself, show humorous regard. Peter had to put up with those cantankerous VILLIERS STARMAKER motors with notorious ignition timing choosings, as per used by Derek Minter in Road Race machines. In his first start Peter's motor had started in the reverse rotation when started on the line so when time came to drop the clutch & charge away the whole machine running in reverse charged into Peter! whose tale on the result can also bring water to the eyes of any listener!!!

Later Oxwich event

B (Brian) V M Jenkins showing how its done

A view to show more of the corner. (Literature plus these 2 pics appear by courtesy of Brian Jenkins who was competing in this car!)

Again, this & the pic of the car on which more text shall be added =(by courtesy of Rob Allender)