Fred Wilkinson (speedway rider)
Fred Wilkinson (8 June 1906 – September 1978) was a motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the early years of the sport, including riding for England against Australia in 1931.
| Born | 8 June 1906 Coalville, Leicestershire, England |
|---|---|
| Died | September 1978 (aged 72) Leicestershire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Career history | |
| 1929–1931 | Leicester Super |
| 1929, 1931 | Coventry |
| 1932 | Belle Vue |
| 1932 | Sheffield |
| 1933 | Nottingham |
Biography
Wilkinson was born in Coalville, Leicestershire in 1906, his father a miner at a local colliery.[1] The family moved to Binley and then Seend in Wiltshire, with Wilkinson starting his racing career in grasstrack races.[1] His early speedway experience was at the Gorse Hill Autodrome in Swindon, and at Bristol.[1] In 1929 he signed for the Leicester Super team, also riding for Coventry, settling in Syston, where he ran a garage.[1] He captained the Super team in 1930, and stayed with the team until it closed in 1931.[1]
Wilkinson rode for England in the second Test match of 1931 against Australia, staged at Leicester Super Speedway, scoring three points.[2] He was selected at reserve for the fourth test at Belle Vue but did not score from his one ride.[1]
Wilkinson moved on to ride for Belle Vue in 1932.[1]
He was commemorated by an event in the 1980s that bore his name; The Fred Wilkinson Trophy match was staged at Leicester Stadium between 1980 and 1983, with a further staging at Peterborough in 1985.[1]
References
- Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Pre-War Years, Automedia, p. 193
- Foster, Peter (2005) A History of the Speedway Ashes, Tempus, ISBN 0-7524-3468-3, p. 23-5