speedway_pioneers

Bert Spencer

Starting Out

Introduction

Few Australian riders have been more popular with both spectators and fellow competitors than Bert Spencer. His career, which saw him race in Australia, Great Britain, the United States of America, and on the Continent, spanned four decades.

Having decided to give dirt track racing a go in 1927, Bert struggled at times during his debut season. However, his perseverance paid dividends in the end. Unlike some others who tried the sport in the late 1920’s, Bert had no previous big track or road racing experience.

The Spencer family expressed the wish to find out some detail of Bert’s racing in Australia prior to his departure for England in 1928. This account of the start of his career is especially for them. I naturally haven’t mentioned all of the meetings Bert appeared in during the 1927-28 season, but have included the ones which I consider of particular interest.

I thank the Spencers for providing the accompanying photos which come from their family collection.

Bert Spencer: Starting Out.

When A. J. Hunting introduced small track racing to Brisbane at the Exhibition Grounds in 1926, he was faced with the problem of finding sufficient riders to fill his early programmes. When he opened Davies Park the following year, the exact opposite was the case. The number of riders nominating for the Saturday night programmes far out-numbered the places available. Those keen to try their hand on the dirt track had plenty of opportunity to practise, as Hunting made the track available for such sessions on most days of the week.

During September of 1927, Hunting decided he’d also stage mid-week Davies Park meetings at which the lower graded and novice riders would have the chance to race. In order to make these programmes attractive to the public, he also included a number of races for some of his star performers. To assist in the selection of those to appear in the Second Division Handicap races at the first of these mid-week meetings on September 21, Hunting decided to stage elimination tests, the first of which took place on Thursday night September 15th. One of those to catch the eye on that occasion was a 19-year-old young man from the Brisbane suburb of Red Hill – Bert Spencer.

Young Bert

When the fields were announced for the Second Division Handicap to be contested at the September 21st meeting, Spencer’s name was there. He received a 2 seconds start on the scratch men for his debut meeting. Spencer had three opponents in his heat of this event, his first race on a speedway track. Two of the riders experienced engine problems during the race, which left Spencer to fight out an entertaining duel with Horrie Blakeway. Over the final lap, Spencer drew away on his A.J.S. to win by three lengths. He was unplaced in the semi-final.

At his second meeting on October 5th (now with a 4 seconds handicap), Spencer again won his heat of the Second Division Handicap. On this occasion he finished strongly to beat Ben Unwin by a length. Once again, he failed to make it past the semi-finals.

At his third meeting on Wednesday October 12th, Spencer contested his first final. Having battled for the lead early on, he finished second in his heat of the Second Division Handicap. In his semi-final, he once again had to fight hard in the early stages, but drew away over the final lap to record an impressive victory. However, Spencer’s luck ran out during the running of the final. On the first attempt to stage the race, he fell. Uninjured, he lined up for the restart. A broken chain forced his retirement.

Still riding an A.J.S., Spencer was re-handicapped for his next appearance on October 19th at Davies Park. Following his fine performance at the track the previous week, his start on the Second Division scratch riders was reduced from 4 seconds to 2. He failed to make the semi-finals.

Spencer’s fifth racing appearance was at Davies Park on Wednesday October 26th. Still unable to break into the Saturday programme, he continued to nominate for the mid-week Second Division Handicap event. Starting from a two seconds handicap, Spencer commenced the evening well by winning his heat. Section of my report of this four laps (one mile) race is as follows: -

“Spencer, a rider of great promise, quickly gathered his field, and he had the race well in hand at the end of three laps.”

Another rider showing promise, Len Percival, had a five seconds start on Spencer in his semi-final. Percival won unchallenged, but it was the contest for second place between Spencer and Billy Faber which had the crowd enthralled. Here is how the race was reported:-

“The feature of the race was the daring riding of Spencer who finished second. Several times he nearly fell, but always recovered like a veteran, and settled down quickly.”

Spencer’s second appearance in a final ended in disappointment for him, just as his first had a fortnight previously. At the initial attempt to run the race, he fell and didn’t contest the re-run.

It was at his next racing appearance, at Davies Park on Wednesday November 2nd, that Spencer (from a 3 seconds handicap) won the Second Division Handicap Final. In his heat, he led to the final bend where he made a slight error, which cost him victory by mere inches. In his semi-final, he gave eventual race winner Harold Lillistone 6 seconds start over the one mile journey, and almost caught him.

Following is how that evening’s final of the Second Division Handicap was reported:-

“The race ended disappointingly, Bert Spencer scoring a walkover, as the other three riders fell, leaving him the winner. Spencer would probably have won in any case as he rode well throughout the evening.”

Two nights later, Spencer made his first appearance at Ipswich. Just as he did in his first race at Davies Park, he recorded a first-up victory at Ipswich. On this occasion it was a heat of the A Grade Handicap. He was still riding his A.J.S. and was handicapped with a 5 seconds start on the scratch riders. He was in a winning position in his semi-final when he fell.

The feature event on the Ipswich programme that evening was the contest for the prestigious Golden Helmet. Spencer dead-heated for first in his heat to earn himself a semi-final place. Opposed to the experienced Frank Arthur in his semi-final, Spencer wasn’t disgraced in finishing second.

Spencer returned to Davies Park the following Wednesday, November 9, and turned in a performance in his heat of the Second Division Handicap which showed great courage. His vision became impaired during the race. Here is section of my race report (the “Smith” referred to is “Texas” Smith) :-

“Smith and Spencer provided great racing, the latter doing particularly well, despite the fact that his goggles were all awry, and were troubling him. Smith won by a small margin.”

Spencer failed to advance further than the semi-finals.

During the months of November, December and January, Spencer appeared at Davies Park, at Ipswich, and at the first meeting staged on the new half-mile track at Bundamba.

At the Davies Park meeting on Wednesday November 16th, Spencer won his heat of the Second Division Handicap defeating promising Ipswich youngster Harold Hastings. Hastings turned the tables on Spencer in the semi-final. Spencer finished the evening with a second placing in the final behind Fred Hore. Spencer’s performance that evening was reported in the press as follows: -

“This young rider, who has been improving for weeks, made his best effort to date and rode artistically.”

Bert Spencer (on right) with his friend Fred Hore

Photo taken circa 1930.

At the Wednesday evening Davies Park meeting on November 30th, the track was on the heavy side following recent rain. The racing surface caused difficulties for some of the riders. Spencer started joint back marker with Harold Meston in his heat of the Second Division Handicap. Here is my report of that race:-

“Spencer was not to be denied victory. He caught his field quickly, but in trying to pass them he almost fell in a slippery patch, and lost a considerable amount of ground. A bad skid in the second last lap knocked him back into third place, but at the scoring board he simply flew through on the inside. As he hit the lead he skidded badly, but righting his machine quickly he went on to win brilliantly, to the accompaniment of cheers.”

Spencer’s bike let him down in the semi-final.

The feature event that evening was the contest for the Silver Pennant. During his heat, Spencer fell heavily. The track doctor forbade him to contest the re-run.

On December 17th, Spencer appeared for the first time on a Saturday evening Davies Park programme. He lined up for his heat of the First Division Handicap (with a 6 seconds start on the scratch rider) in a field which included Noel Johnson, Syd Bayley and Billy Lamont. His race ended when he fell.

While gaining racing experience competing on the tracks in and around Brisbane, Spencer was mixing with some of Australia’s foremost riders, and the advice he no doubt received would have been invaluable. It is quite evident that he had indeed shown glimpses of potential. His progress on the track was being hindered by a combination of too many falls during his races, and his unreliable machinery. On a number of occasions during his first four months of racing he either had races won, or was in a position to have a chance of winning, when his bike let him down.

This was also the case during the month of February.

At the Friday March 2nd Ipswich meeting, Spencer started from a 6 seconds handicap in heat 4 of the A Grade Handicap. Here is section of my report of that race:-

“Spencer caused a sensation by partially losing control when he grazed the safety fence opposite the new grandstand. He swerved and missed the timekeeper’s table and a couple of officials by inches.”

Spencer seemed assured of a second placing in his heat of the feature event on the Ipswich programme that evening, the Silver Gauntlet, until his machine let him down yet again.

Two of Spencer’s three appearances on the racetrack during April may have gone unnoticed by many, but what happened on Saturday evening April 14th at Davies Park was spoken about for a long time. He treated those present to a display of riding the likes of which they hadn’t previously witnessed. His performance in winning his heat of the Silver Gauntlet on that occasion was described in the Brisbane press as follows:

“Spencer’s winning ride was the most sensational ever seen on the track. In each of the first and second laps he had hair-raising skids, and how he managed to keep control of his machine was wonderful to see. After getting away badly, he forced his way irresistibly into the lead, but hitting a soft patch near the scoreboard, was unseated. After a series of super-spectacular acrobatics, which made spectators gasp with anxiety, he regained control and nonchalantly commenced the task of again resuming the lead. He did so, but hit the same soft patch again, and sensational as his first exhibition was, his second eclipsed it. Once more he got the upper hand of the out-of-control machine, and went on to win. He was cheered to the echo on his game display.”

Spencer failed to advance further than the semi-finals of this event.

An appearance on the Saturday April 28th Davies Park programme was Spencer’s final speedway meeting of the season. However he did contest one race aboard his A.J.S. on the 1,780 yards grass track at Deagon on Saturday July 21st.

Bert aboard his road bike at Red Hill, Brisbane.
Photo taken circa 1928.

Although he didn’t win a feature event during his debut season, Bert Spencer did provide the speedway-going public with some memorable performances on the track.

It was during May of 1928 that cables began arriving in Brisbane from England bringing news of the success of some of those Spencer had raced against during the season on the tracks in and around Brisbane. During July, the first letters from such as Frank Arthur, Frank Pearce and Vic Huxley began arriving in Brisbane. These letters contained details of their exploits on the English tracks.

Bert Spencer’s life changed forever when an unexpected opportunity came his way during July.

Thanks to Ross Garrigan for this report.