TALES FROM THE LATE 1920's.
Featuring Frank Arthur, Bert Spencer and Fay Taylor. |
| The “Late”
Frank Arthur. |
Motorcycle racing enthusiasts in the
Brisbane area were well catered for on Saturday August 13, 1927. During the
afternoon, the Brisbane Motor Cycle Club staged the 25 Mile Solo Championship of
Queensland on the grass track at Deagon (1 lap = 1,780 yards). That evening
there was a speedway meeting at Davies Park. Although they had been advertised
to appear, two of the crowd’s favourite riders were missing from the Davies Park
fields that evening. Vic Huxley had injured a foot in a garage accident during
the week. As for Frank Arthur’s absence, word had spread that he had died
following a crash at Deagon that afternoon.
Some well-performed riders were on the programme at the afternoon Deagon meeting
– Frank Pearce, Charlie Spinks, Frank Arthur and Billy Lamont to name four.
Lamont lowered the 1 lap record, while Frank Pearce took out the 25 Mile Solo
Championship.
Frank Arthur’s accident happened during the running of the 5 lap Sidecar
Handicap. Arthur, in second place aboard his Indian outfit, was entering the
stand straight on the second lap when the wheel flew off his sidecar. The Deagon
track was known for the high speeds attained by competitors on its wide-open
spaces. Arthur’s outfit immediately capsized, catapulting him into the air. He
crashed headfirst to the track. As if that spectacle wasn’t frightening enough,
the sidecar wheel, as it spun through the air, missed competitor Ernie Odlum by
a few inches. Such was Arthur’s speed at the time of the accident that the
sidecar wheel went spinning across the racetrack, beneath the fence, and into
the enclosure. It continued on, bouncing over logs and stumps, at times shooting
seven or eight feet into the air. The wheel came to rest 200 yards from the
scene of the crash. How fortunate it was that the projectile injured neither
spectators nor other riders.
As for Arthur, he lay motionless on the track as assistance reached him. He was
placed into an ambulance and transported to hospital. Word soon spread at the
track that it was suspected he had fractured his skull. Fears were held for the
popular rider’s well being.
“Skip” Rees, the secretary of the Davies Park Speedway, announced over the
public address system that evening at Davies Park that Arthur was resting in
hospital. His injuries weren’t nearly as serious as at first thought. Those
present at the track were very relieved to hear this news.
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| Frank Arthur |
This photo shows the design
of sidecars raced
in Australia in the late 1920's. |
| Thanks to Ross Garrigan for the
above story |
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