Bristol Bulldogs
Encyclopedia
The Bristol Bulldogs were a British motorcycle speedway
team based in the Knowle Stadium, Bristol
, England
.
The club was formed prior to World War II
. The track operated a season of challenge matches in 1946 with the team known as Ex-Bristol. They competed in the National League Division Two
from 1947. The team was promoted to National League Division One
in 1950 after back to back Championship titles. The Division One Bulldogs team featured most of the Division Two men and as a result they reverted to Division Two for the 1954 season.
Bristol's team of 1949 has a rare record in that it whitewashed the visiting Glasgow Tigers
70 -14 in a fourteen heat National League fixture.
The Bulldogs were founder members of the Provincial League
but the track closed for the site to be re-developed and the team operated out of Plymouth
for 1961 as Plymouth Bulldogs
.
Speedway returned to Bristol and Eastville Stadium
in 1977 in what was effectively the Newport Wasps
becoming the Bristol Bulldogs for one season. The track operated in 1978 but was closed due to planning matters. Stars of the former team included Australian Phil Crump
, father of world champion Jason Crump
.
The Bristol Speedway Supporters Club (BSSC) hold regular events and trips for Bristol fans and back Bristol Speedway Ltd the campaign group to actively return speedway to Bristol in 2012.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team based in the Knowle Stadium, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The club was formed prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The track operated a season of challenge matches in 1946 with the team known as Ex-Bristol. They competed in the National League Division Two
Speedway National League Division Two
The National League Division Two was the second tier of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom. The competition was founded in 1938 following a competition named "The National Provincial League". Following World War II the second tier of racing was entitled "The Northern League" in 1946...
from 1947. The team was promoted to National League Division One
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
in 1950 after back to back Championship titles. The Division One Bulldogs team featured most of the Division Two men and as a result they reverted to Division Two for the 1954 season.
Bristol's team of 1949 has a rare record in that it whitewashed the visiting Glasgow Tigers
Glasgow Tigers (speedway)
The Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British Premier League...
70 -14 in a fourteen heat National League fixture.
The Bulldogs were founder members of the Provincial League
Speedway Provincial League
The Provincial League was a league competition for speedway teams in the United Kingdom which operated alongside the National League for five years between 1960 and 1964.-History:The Provincial League was formed in the winter of 1959/60...
but the track closed for the site to be re-developed and the team operated out of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
for 1961 as Plymouth Bulldogs
Plymouth Devils
The Plymouth Devils are a speedway team in the British Premier League. The club was re-formed after a gap of thirty-six years in 2006 by former St Austell Gulls rider Mike Bowden....
.
Speedway returned to Bristol and Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium, also known as Bristol Stadium and Bristol Stadium – Eastville, was a stadium in Eastville, a northern suburb of the English city of Bristol....
in 1977 in what was effectively the Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
becoming the Bristol Bulldogs for one season. The track operated in 1978 but was closed due to planning matters. Stars of the former team included Australian Phil Crump
Phil Crump
Philip John "Phil" Crump in Mildura, Victoria is a retired Australian Motorcycle speedway rider who attained 3rd place in the 1976 World Championship...
, father of world champion Jason Crump
Jason Crump
Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:...
.
February 2010
Bristol Speedway Ltd lodged a pre-application for planning permission to build a Speedway track on the Former Shell Tankers site, Avonmouth, Bristol.February 2011
There are still a number of fans keen to see the return of speedway to Bristol.The Bristol Speedway Supporters Club (BSSC) hold regular events and trips for Bristol fans and back Bristol Speedway Ltd the campaign group to actively return speedway to Bristol in 2012.