Jim Airey, Phil Crump, Billy Sanders and John Boulger are names often mentioned when the stars of Australian Speedway of the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's are spoken of. Those fortunate enough to have witnessed motorcycle speedway in Australia during those years would remember others such as Geoffrey Curtis. Many of today's speedway fans aren't familiar with that name, but he was a star in his own right and deserves to be remembered for his contribution to his chosen sport.... he gave speedway his all. Sadly his life ended following an accident at the Sydney Showground on the evening of December 15, 1973.  Geoff Curtis was just 30 years of age when he died.

 

 

    

     Aged just 16, Geoff Curtis began racing in short circuit events in 1960. In 1963, he finished in second place in the Australian Unlimited Championship. In 1965, aged 22,  Curtis was introduced to speedway, and the following year he appeared in road racing events. As you can see, Geoff Curtis loved to race motorcycles.However, speedway was what he enjoyed most........ and following are some highlights of his all too brief speedway career.

 

     During the 1968/1969 Australian season, an English Lions team toured Australia for a series of five Test Matches. The riders in this touring party were among the best British speedway has produced.......Nigel Boocock, Eric Boocock, Ken McKinlay, Jim McMillan, Dave Younghusband, Mike Broadbank and Bob Kilby. What formidable opposition.

At the conclusion of the Fourth Test, the Series stood at 2-2 with the final and deciding Test to be staged at the Sydney Showground.The Australian selectors gambled somewhat when they named a Test debutant to fill the all important reserve berth for this vital match. That rider was Geoff Curtis.

 

     Curtis was called into action by his Team Manager for his first race at this level of competition as a replacement for Bert Kingston in Heat 7. Curtis lined up at the tapes for Australia to partner the experienced campaigner, Charlie Monk. The English riders in the heat were Eric Boocock and Mike Broadbank. The score at that stage was in Australia's favour 20-16, a slender 4 point lead. This was an important race for Monk and Curtis.

 

     The Showground crowd cheered wildly as the two Australians led their opponents home to record a 5-1 heat result. What had been a four point lead before the race commenced was an 8 point lead when the checkered flag fell. Australia kept the pressure on the visitors over the remaining heats to win the Test 60-48. The Series was Australia's, 3-2. Now a little more on Heat 7. When the tapes rose, it was Geoff Curtis who flew out of the start and was never headed. He had won at his first start in his debut Test Match. The placings in Heat 7....Geoff Curtis, Charlie Monk, Eric Boocock and Mike Broadbank. 

There was an unfortunate occurrence during the running of a later heat which resulted in Curtis being taken to hospital. He was struck in the face by an object thrown up from the track by another rider's back wheel.

 

     It was during this 1968/1969 Australian season that Curtis decided the time was right to try speedway in England. 

The biggest and fastest speedway track in England at that time was the one at Crewe. The circuit was 470 yards in length (about 430 metres). Crewe raced in the Second Division in 1969 and it was at this club that Curtis spent his debut season in British speedway. Sixteen teams competed in the Second Division that year and Crewe finished in seventh place on the League Table. The club's home record was outstanding with wins in 14 of their 15 matches. The problem was with their away record, 1 win and 14 losses.

The 1969 Knockout Cup Final saw Crewe take on Belle Vue. Victory went to Belle Vue 91-65 on aggregate. In Crewe's home leg, Curtis top-scored for his club with 10 points. In the away match, a 9 point return saw him second top performer for Crewe. Over the two legs, Curtis was top scorer for his club.

 

     There haven't been many Australian riders over the years who finished their debut British season with results such as those achieved by Curtis from his League and Cup matches.....he averaged a superb 10.10 from his 33 appearances. Included in those 33 matches were 6 full and 3 paid maximum scores. He topped his club's averages in his debut season !!!

Curtis appeared in the Division Two Riders' Championship in 1969 finishing seventh with 6 points.

 

     Curtis moved up to the top division of British Speedway, the British League, in 1970. He rode for the Newcastle Diamonds.

In his first season racing at this tougher level, Curtis averaged 5.15 from his 38 League and Cup appearances.

 

     On January 6, 1971, a speedway meeting was staged at the Glamis Stadium in Salisbury, in what was then Rhodesia, on the African continent. The crowd attracted to the venue was the biggest to gather at a sporting event in Salisbury in 17 years. The team which was to call this venue home was called the Salisbury Monarchs. This team competed in 10 League matches that season with the top performer being a rising star of British Speedway, Bobby Beaton. He topped the club's averages with 10.82. The rider to finish with the second top average of 9.73 was Geoff Curtis.

 

     Curtis returned to Britain to compete in the 1971 season. The Newcastle licence was transferred to Reading and it was in the Reading Racers colours that Curtis rode that season.Reading competed in the top league. Curtis improved his average to 6.74 for his 36 League and Cup appearances.

The Peter Arnold Memorial Meeting staged at Reading saw Curtis finish second to Ray Wilson. John Louis was third.

Curtis was in the field for the 1971 British Final staged at Coventry. He registered two second placings, two thirds and a last.

 

     Speedway in Rhodesia beckoned again in the British off-season and Curtis returned to ride for the Salisbury Monarchs. He was team captain in 1972.

 

     Geoff Curtis returned for his second season with Reading in 1972. His 37 appearances in League and Cup competition resulted in an average of 7.73 which was the third highest in the club. The 1972 season was a far better one for Reading as the club finished second on the League Table behind winners Belle Vue. Reading made the Semi-Finals of the Knockout Cup but were beaten by just two points by Hackney.The steady scoring by Curtis throughout the season (he didn't miss a single League or Cup encounter) was a significant factor in the club's improved season.

 

     Curtis appeared in three matches for Australia during the Inter Nations Championship staged in Britain during July.

 

     The 1973 season is one the Reading faithful will remember. Having finished runners-up in the League in 1972, Reading took the honours in 1973. The club won 15 of 17 home matches (another was drawn) and 10 of their 17 away encounters.

The club went close to winning the Knockout Cup also. The Final was fought out between Reading and Belle Vue. When the two legs had been completed, the scores were even, 78-78. A run-off between Belle Vue's Peter Collins and Reading's Anders Michanek determined the Cup winner for 1973. Collins won. Geoff Curtis rode in the first leg at Reading scoring 9 points. He didn't appear in the second leg at Belle Vue as he was ill. This was the only occasion Curtis missed a League or Cup match all season. He recorded a 1973 average of 8.23 from his 43 League and Cup appearances for Reading. On nine of those 43 occasions he was unbeaten by an opposing rider. He scored 2 full and 7 paid maximum scores.

 

     Curtis rode for Australia in four matches in the Daily Mirror International Tournament staged during June and July.The match against Poland staged at Oxford on July 1 saw a fine performance from Curtis. Australia won the encounter 54-23. The joint top-scorers for Australia, with 11 points each, were Geoff Curtis and the team's captain John Boulger.  

 

     It was while competing in the New South Wales Championship at the Sydney Showground on the evening of December 15,1973 that Geoff Curtis was involved in the racing accident which claimed his life. In his first two heats that night, Curtis had finished in second place, firstly behind Bill Landels and then behind Bob Valentine. Jim Airey led the field following two rounds of heats having won both of his races.Geoff Curtis came out for his third ride in Heat 11.When the tapes rose, it was Curtis who led and he maintained that position until the accident occurred which resulted in his death. Curtis hit the fence sustaining critical head injuries. He passed away that night.

 

     During his short speedway career, Geoff Curtis entertained speedway followers on three continents. He was held in high regard at his British track at Reading where for nearly three decades visitors have been able to enjoy a drink in the Geoff Curtis Bar, named in his memory. Geoff Curtis is still remembered by those who saw him race during that great era of Australian Speedway.

               

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Many thanks to Jan Grainger, Ronny Bayliss, Barry Forsyth and Stephen Magro, all of whom also have fond memories of Geoffrey Curtis. from Ross.