speedway_pioneers

Australian Speedway Pre-War History 1920's - 1930's
1929 - Bluey Wilkinson Stars At Bathurst The 1928-29 Bathurst Season – Part 2.
Bobby Blake was the star attraction at Bathurst on Saturday February 2nd. The previous Saturday evening at the Sydney Showground, he had defeated Lionel Van Praag by less than a wheel in a thrilling feature match race. The week prior to that, he had registered his first major success at that track when he won the final of the Big Nine scratch event. Blake once again showed his liking for the Bathurst circuit by winning his heat and the final of the feature scratch race. Bluey Wilkinson won his heats of both the A Grade and B Grade Handicaps. There were two good reasons to be at the Bathurst track the following week. One was the return of Lionel Van Praag who, the previous week, had won the coveted Golden Helmet at the Sydney Showground. The other big attraction on the Bathurst programme was the first appearance at the track of lady riders, one of whom (a Mrs. Hampton) was successful in a heat of the B Grade Handicap. Both Van Praag and Wilkinson won their heats of the A Grade Handicap. In both the semi-final and final of this event, Wilkinson and Van Praag clashed. The local lad won on both occasions, with Van Praag finishing second. Van Praag won his heat of the feature scratch event, whilst Wilkinson was placed second in his. It was Van Praag who won the final from Harry Meyers. Three wins (including two victories over Van Praag) and two second placings on the night for Wilkinson.

“Bluey” Wilkinson (on left) and a young Lionel Van Praag.
On Saturday February 16th, the Team Ogden riders, Bobby Blake and Jack Patman, raced at Bathurst. Van Praag was again on the programme. I’ve mentioned the success Blake had been experiencing. As for Patman, he had a night to remember at the Sydney Showground on January 19th when he won his heat, semi-final and final of both the feature handicap and the Flying Threes scratch event. Six victories for Patman. The final of the scratch race at Bathurst on the 16th was considered to be the best race yet witnessed at the ground. Van Praag won a thrilling encounter from Blake and Patman. During the running of the final of the A Grade Handicap, Blake and Lithgow rider Frank Weldrick came into contact – both were thrown to the track, their machines smashing into the safety fence. Unfortunately, several spectators were injured as a result of this horrific accident. A 15 year-old boy was struck in the face and lost several teeth. Blake was transported to hospital. Patman won the final from Van Praag. Wilkinson won the B Grade Handicap, having won his heat and been placed second in his semi-final. The following week saw much activity in Bathurst. The touring England cricket team played a two-day match (Thursday and Friday) at the Bathurst Sports Ground (also the site of the Bathurst Speedway track) against a Combined Western Districts side. For the England X1, Harold Larwood’s bowling figures in the home side’s first innings were 5/17 from 8 overs. Les Ames scored 123 runs with the bat for the Englishmen. The tourists won by an innings and 111 runs. On the evening of the first day of the match, a speedway meeting was staged at the ground. Many of those who had travelled to Bathurst to see the cricket took the opportunity to witness the racing conducted on that Thursday evening. Several of the English cricketers were also present. Bobby Blake made a swift recovery following his accident of just five nights previously. He, together with fellow visitors Jack Patman, Jack Sweeney, Gus Clifton and Lionel Van Praag, raced on the programme. Another to attract considerable interest was visiting British lady rider, Fay Taylour. The one-lap record for the Bathurst track was lowered on two occasions during the evening - firstly by Gus Clifton, and then by Van Praag. Clifton won his heat, semi-final, and the final of the A Grade Handicap. Van Praag won the feature scratch race from Blake and Patman. Two nights later, Blake was in superb touch at Bathurst. He won his heat, semi-final and final of the handicap, and was also victorious in the scratch race final.
The early (and somewhat controversial) finish to the Sydney Showground season on March 2nd resulted in a number of Sydney riders seeking opportunities to race at other tracks. Ten nominated to appear at Bathurst on March 23rd. Of the visitors, Paddy Dean and Bobby Blake were by far the most successful. The Western Districts riders made the boys from Sydney fight hard in every race in which they appeared. Blos Bromfield, Harry Meyers and Bluey Wilkinson didn’t disappoint their many fans that evening. Although beaten, Bromfield put up a bold showing in his match race against Dean. Wilkinson had performed well when Dean had raced at Bathurst in early January. Once again, the red-haired local lad rose to the occasion on this visit. Wilkinson won his heat, semi-final and final of the A Grade Handicap. Dean finished second to Wilkinson in the final. The popular visitor did have some success on the programme winning the feature scratch race. Wilkinson’s appearances on the night included four wins and a second placing.
The Bathurst promotion scheduled two meetings for the Easter holiday weekend. On the Saturday March 30th programme, Wilkinson once again demonstrated his exciting potential in winning his semi-final and final of the A Grade Handicap. Having won his heat of the Big Nine scratch event, Wilkinson fell during the running of the final when victory seemed assured. Harry Meyers also demonstrated his considerable talent when he reduced Lionel Van Praag’s flying mile track record by 0.60 seconds. Newcastle visitor Eric Whittle recorded three race victories and two second placings on the night. Whittle had been a revelation during the season’s racing conducted at the Newcastle Sports Ground. The Easter Monday Bathurst programme was staged to raise funds for the ambulance service and the two local hospitals. On an evening which featured an outstanding riding display from Wilkinson, an unfortunate racing accident occurred which resulted in 22 year-old Malcolm John Brown being critically injured. He passed away the following morning. In a performance which was greeted with much jubilation by the crowd and his fellow competitors, Wilkinson won the scratch race final in 1 minute 16 seconds. It was announced that this time bettered the Australian record for one mile on a quarter mile track. What made this feat even more outstanding was the fact that, at one stage during the race, Wilkinson lost control of his machine momentarily and slowed noticeably. Meyers finished second, with Bromfield in third place. These three stars dominated the racing on the programme – Meyers winning the A Grade handicap final from Bromfield and Wilkinson. The improvement seen in Wilkinson’s riding during the first three months of 1929 had been nothing short of sensational. The advertisement below for the April 6th meeting appeared in the Bathurst press. To be mentioned in such a manner in a promotional item alongside Huxley and Van Praag clearly demonstrates the giant strides Wilkinson had made in the sport since appearing on the racetrack for the first time just six months previously.

The Bathurst promotion arranged for officials of the A.C.U. to be present for the meeting to assure there would be no problem with official recognition of record times should any be set on the night. Unfortunately for Wilkinson, the time he had recorded on Easter Monday (1 minute 16 seconds for the mile) wasn't recognized by the A.C.U. “Blos” Bromfield won his heat and the final of the B Grade handicap at the April 6 meeting. He also finished runner-up to Van Praag in the A Grade handicap final. Another rider showing improvement at the track was Ken Kirkman. He recorded three race victories on the night. The main attraction of the evening was the scheduled match race between Wilkinson and Van Praag. Soon after the start of the race, Wilkinson took both the inside running and the lead. The further the race progressed, the further Wilkinson increased his lead. His winning time for the mile journey (recorded in the presence of the A.C.U. officials) was 1:16.40, which was an Australasian record for a mile on a quarter-mile track. Later in the evening, Wilkinson made an attempt on the lap record. His time of 18.80 seconds equalled the Australian record for a lap on a quarter-mile track. The other rider to have recorded 18.80 seconds was none other than Vic Huxley. In the advertisement above, it is noticeable that Van Praag's first name appears as Les and not Lionel. Les was the name he used in speedway circles at that time. Unfortunately, that April 6th appearance was Wilkinson’s last of the season at Bathurst. The Bathurst promotion had experienced a couple of problems during the season, one of which was riders encroaching on the cricket playing surface on the inside of the racetrack. That and the water restrictions were only minor hiccups compared to what happened in the lead-up to the commencement of the Thursday April 11th meeting. Wilkinson had reached “star status” at Bathurst and he was becoming a major drawcard at the track. Both he and Bromfield, another very popular rider, were advertised to appear on the 11th. Many of those who paid admission that evening (the crowd was huge as the meeting was staged during the Bathurst Show) were most upset when neither appeared. I’ll explain what transpired: - According to Mr. L. J. Mockler, Chairman of Directors of the speedway, certain riders demanded a 20 pound appearance fee just prior to the commencement of the meeting. When the promotion refused, the riders withdrew their services. Mockler was quoted in the Bathurst press as having said, “As there were Sydney riders present who were not getting appearance money, and no such money had ever been paid to local riders, the demand was refused. It was a case of putting the gun at our heads and we refused to allow the riders to supersede the directors in control of the speedway. As a matter of fact, the best riders at Speedway Royal only get 3 pounds appearance money.” Mockler added that, as a result of the action taken by the riders concerned, the directors had decided to end the racing for the season. On the Saturday (April 13th), a letter written by Bromfield appeared in the Bathurst press. He wrote that the speedway management was informed of the demand for appearance money at 11.30 on the Thursday morning (the day of the meeting) and they advised that the matter would receive attention. The riders, having heard nothing further, approached the management on the evening of the meeting. Bromfield wrote: - “Looking at the case on its merits, I venture to say that the management were at fault. Ample time was given for advising the public; besides, our case was a just one. A. Wilkinson has proved himself the best quarter-mile dirt track rider in Australia (his times show it); yet he doesn’t get enough money to keep his machine in order.” It was a shame the first season of racing at Bathurst should have ended in that manner. Those who had attended the meetings staged there that season had witnessed the emergence of a rider who became a speedway legend. Arthur George “Bluey” Wilkinson would become one of the most popular riders to ever grace a speedway track. He reached the pinnacle of his career when he won the World Championship at Wembley Stadium in England in 1938.
The following concerns two of the Western Districts riders who became firm favourites at the Bathurst track during the 1928/1929 season – Bluey Wilkinson and Harry Meyers. On Monday June 3, 1929, a speedway meeting was staged at Dubbo. The Silver Helmet, the feature event on the programme, was won by the star of the meeting - Harry Meyers. He was in such fine form that he also set a new track record on the day. The rider to finish runner-up to Meyers in the Silver Helmet final was Bluey Wilkinson. This proves that Wilkinson didn’t arrive in England during May of 1929 as some speedway authors have written. While researching the 1928/29 season’s racing at Bathurst, I became puzzled as to why I had never seen reference to the very talented Harry Meyers in meeting results during the following seasons. I discovered the reason why when I came across the following item in a July 13, 1929 New South Wales country newspaper: - “As the result of an accident on the Western-road yesterday afternoon, Harold Meyers, the well-known Orange racing motor-cyclist, died from extensive injuries. Meyers was riding from Orange (his home town), to Sydney, and when at Hazelbrook, swerved to avoid a car. The machine crashed into a culvert, inflicting extensive injuries from which the young cyclist died almost immediately. In the sidecar was another Orange resident, Albert Chivers, who, however, was unhurt. ……………….. Meyers was only nineteen years of age, but had already progressed far in the speedway racing game in the country."
Thanks to Ross Garrigan for this report.