Pre War Part 1

1929 -31

Newcastle Brough only operated for 4 years before the war. 1929 - 1930 and 1938 - 1939. This page shows a few other items outside the first period 1929 - 1931. Gosforth operated in 1931. Part 2 concentrates on the 2nd period 1938 -1939

I am looking for any good quality pictures of the 3 tracks to include in this section but I suspect the majority of pictures from this era will be from scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings like the ones shown below: -

1929

The card back should read Gordon rode at Middlesbrough in 1928

This is the earliest Newcastle Team line up that I know of.   They rode together at Brough during June 1929. Left to right :  Fred Creasor, Phil Blake, Walter Creasor, Ernie Smith, Tommy Storey and Percy Dunn

Newcastle and Middlesbrough occupying lowly spots in the 1929 Northern League tables.  Boro closed and we inherited their riders and did no better in 1930

Walter and Fred Creasor

Middlesborough born brothers Walter and Fred became Brough Parks first big names when they signed up for the Newcastle outfit's inaugural season 1929. The brothers are reported to have had a butchers business on Teeside and they certainly "carved up" the opposition at Brough and the other northern tracks. 

Above: Courtesy of Colin Greenwell

Middlesbrough's influence in the North East was immense in 1929.   Tees side based riders Walter and Fred Creasor and  Phil Blake were in Newcastle's first team.

Walter Creasor 1931

Picture courtesy of Ernie Crust (of Middlesbrough Motor Club)

Above: Courtesy of Colin Greenwell

Here's Freddie Creasor in 1961 chatting to Newcastle's Peter Lloyd. 

So many of these old riders have died without their memories being recorded.  Many people must have knowledge of their exploits? Their relatives, friends and fans so why not send me details and I will record them here for all to see.  I am not making any profit out of this site and it is being developed out of my love for the sport and to publicise Newcastle Speedway for free so come on if you have anything get in touch and I will show it to the world! John

Another shot  from Brough Park during June 1929, this is an unknown Newcastle rider who had actually over slid and ended up going the wrong way!  A good chance to look at the right hand side of an early bike though.  Notice the hand operated gear lever just in front of the riders knee.  Changing gear in the middle of a broadslide must have been a bit dodgy!

Same period but this time the track is Gosforth Park where Asda's store on Gosforth High Street is now!  This was a heat from The Evening Chronicle Junior Speedway Trophy.  The winner of the trophy was R. Dirkin.  It is a pity that the picture didn't show the bends as the Gosforth track had very high banking on the bends.  This picture is the only one on the site that shows a push start.

Above: Courtesy of Colin Greenwell

Colin obtained the above page from his friends autograph book. 

This is Gosforth's top rider Charles "Tiger" Sanderson. Tiger came from Fencehouses in Co Durham and was the star of the short-lived Whitley Bay venture before the promotion closed the seaside towns track to concentrate on the Newcastle Gosforth venue.  I like the right hand picture which shows Tigers waxed moustache! very cool man!

My friend Colin Greenwell from 'Boro is very good at unearthing old pics and facts.  Keep it up Col.  Your contributions to the auld enemies (Newcastle history website) 35 miles up the A19 is greatly appreciated.  I wish you well and hope Teesside gets back into Speedway soon!

Update! Teeside is to have a speedway again. 2006 will be graced by Redcar Speedway and that is great news for us in the North East of England!

Gordon Byers

Gordon was a member of Newcastle Brough's 1929 team. In fact Gordon was the first rider to win a race at Brough Park when he was 17 years old!  The cigarette card shown above is another source of historical information and pictures from the early days and is kindly supplied by Colin Greenwell. 

I spoke to Gordon (who is now 93 yrs old!) as recently as 2 days ago (13th March 2005), when he was at Brough Park for our ex-riders re-union held March 2005.  I ran him back home and Gordon says he has some pictures from his career and he will send them to me for inclusion on this site.  Good stuff Gordon not many tracks can say they have the track record holder from 75 years ago still around and willing to contribute to a web site.

Here is Gordon's letter to my friend Colin Greenwell. I have obliterated Gordon's address to preserve his privacy. I can say that Gordon lives in Gosforth a suburb of Newcastle.  He is the oldest surviving Newcastle Speedway rider.  I was told by Barry Wallace (Newcastle's Co promoter, announcer and undisputed expert on Newcastle Diamonds) that Gordon is the second oldest living rider in Britain? Jack Ormston being slightly older than Gordon at the time that I record this on the history web site.

I would like to think that this photograph was showing Gordon winning the first ever race at Brough Park but I don't know when it was taken?  It is from Gordon's own collection so many thanks to our most senior rider.

Another of Gordon's pictures.  Gordon is centre at the back, these were his team mates whom toured New Zealand and Australia in 1932 -33.  care to name them anyone?

One of Gordon Byers photographs. I only know 3 names here. Jack Ormston seated in centre, Parker and Johnnie Hoskins so if you can name the rest and say what the occasion was then please get in touch.

Harry Huntly

Gosforth and Brough rider Harry Huntly aboard a Douglas DT with engine protection guards fitted.  Also interesting to note the Newcastle United shirts from 1929.  This picture was taken at Gosforth Super Speedway. All of the photo's and other items featuring Harry are from "The Vast Collection/Ian Huntly"

Gosforths 1929 team Harry Huntly, Jim Holden, Tom (Yank) Harrison and Arnie Cattell on the bike.

The picture was taken at Manchester's White City when Gosforth were the visitors.

Items from a Gosforth programme from 1930 Showing Chester-le-Streets Harry Huntley and a number of other local riders.  The programme notes inform us that Harry had just invested in a new machine, a Rudge so he would have had to adapt to riding foot forward unlike his Douglas which required a leg trailing technique on the corners. Harry was 6ft 6inches tall so his leg would have trailed more than most!  Switching to Rudge was the way forward as the Douglas had had its day so Harry must have had his finger on the pulse of the sport.

Harry heads the Track Championship Table.

At 6ft 8 inches Harry may well be the tallest rider ever built still? Here is an account of his meeting with Wal Lloyd who wasn't very tall!

This is Harry at Gosforth.  Gosforth was famous for it's high banking on the bends and in this shot you can get an impression of the banking.

Also from Gosforth this is Harry in action

1929 was a great year for Harry, here he is with some of his trophies, at home in Chester-le-Street

Here's an offer of a contract for Harry's service at £4.00 appearance money. Anyone care to convert that to the modern equivalent? Harry decided to stay northern based as he was working for his uncle and could get the summer off to concentrate on speedway.

Here's Harry in 1995 celebrating his birthday by sitting once again on a speedway machine, courtesy of Reading Speedway. Sadly Harry passed away later in the year.

Frank Harrison Newcastle Gosforth and Middlesbrough

Leeds rider Eric Langton was a frequent visitor to Tyneside's 3 speedways in 1929, he really put the North East's riders to the test.  Local stars Walter Creasor (Brough), Tiger Sanderson (Gosforth) and Bud Thompson (Whitley Bay) must have been used to the sight of Eric's back wheel.  Riders received many novel trophies in the early days, gold and silver helmets, gauntlets etc. Here Eric is wearing a trophy on his head or maybe he just liked to look different.

Gateshead's Will Lowther

Tyneside went quiet on the speedway front at the end of the 1930 season.  Whitley Bay closed, Gosforth closed and Brough Park closed until 1938.

Want to continue with the History of Newcastle Speedway? then click here Pre War Part 2

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