Bruce Penhall
Encyclopedia
Bruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway
racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion
in 1981
and 1982
and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens
speedway team in the United Kingdom
. He retired from speedway racing the night he won his second World Championship in 1982 in front of his home crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
.
in 1978 by Dan McCormick and Derek Pugh.
On his Dudley Wood
debut against Sheffield
in a challenge match, he notched just a single point. Never again in his British career would he score less than four for the Heathens. In his second match - his league debut - he scored nine; within a month he clocked double figures and topped the scorechart for the first time with 13; in July he took over as club captain following the departure of Bruce Cribb
and hit his first Heathens maximum; and by the end of the year he had achieved a season average
of over 9.00 points per match.
In 1979 he won the Master of Speedway competition around Europe, as well as becoming the first American holder of the Golden Helmet match race championship. He was runner-up to John Louis in the British League Riders Final and led Cradley to Inter-League Cup success and their highest ever league position. By 1980 there were more cup victories, along with SWAPA Overseas Rider of the Year, American National Champion, a first World Final
appearance (scoring nine points).
The 1981 season was Penhall's all conquering year. At the World Final at London
's Wembley Stadium, 92,500 people witnessed Penhall come from behind to pip both former World Champion Ole Olsen of Denmark
and later another Dane
Tommy Knudsen
on the finish line. His only loss of the night was finishing second to England
's Kenny Carter
when he only needed to finish third to clinch the title. Also in 1981 Penhall partnered fellow American Bobby Schwartz
to win the World Pairs Championship
in Poland
and alongside fellow 1981 World Finalist Erik Gundersen
of Denmark led Cradley all the way to their first ever league title victory, topping the individual league averages on the way. On top of a clean sweep of all the SWAPA personality awards was a special citation from US President Ronald Reagan
.
However, he had less than one year left in speedway before moving on, firstly to the world of Hollywood movies
and later to powerboat racing
(where he would become a world champion again). In 1982
he won the World Team Cup
with the USA
at the White City Stadium
in London.
Penhall caused a stir at the 1982 Overseas Final, also at White City. Heat 19 of the event involved 4 riders from the USA (Kelly Moran
, Dennis Sigalos
, Shawn Moran
and Penhall). Penhall deliberately finished last in the heat (ending his chance of winning the meeting) to allow Kelly Moran and Sigalos to qualify for the World Final in Los Angeles. English
commentator Dave Lanning
called it a circus but also noted that it wasn't an unprecedented happening. Penhall then went on to achieve his one last speedway ambition which was to win the Individual World Final on his home soil in America. He did this by winning his last 4 rides (after finishing 2nd in his first) and finishing with 14 points for the night. He then did what many expected and effectively retired from international speedway on the podium as reigning World Champion.
television series CHiPs
and in the role of Bruce Christian in the 1989 film Savage Beach
and five of the movie's sequels. Penhall reprised his role as Officer Bruce Nelson in the 1998 TNT
television movie CHiPs '99
and has made guest appearances on shows such as Just Men!
, The Facts of Life
and Renegade
.
In 1999, Penhall was inducted into the A.M.A.
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
. In 2008, Bruce took over as joint promoter, along with Jeffrey Immediato, of speedway racing events at 'The Grand at Industry Hills' race track in City of Industry, California
.
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...
racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
in 1981
1981 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship.1981 was the last of a record 26 times that London's famous Wembley Stadium hosted the World Final.-World final:*September 5, 1981 London, Wembley Stadium*Referee: Sam Bass-Heat Results:...
and 1982
1982 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship.1982 was the only time the Individual World Final was held outside of the United Kingdom or Europe before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix series in 1995.-World final:...
and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens are a defunct motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England.-History:Cradley Heath speedway team was formed in 1947 and first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 after a number of away appearances prior to the opening of the newly built stadium...
speedway team in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He retired from speedway racing the night he won his second World Championship in 1982 in front of his home crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
.
Speedway career
Bruce first rode Speedway when he was 16 at Irwindale Raceway on the American west-coast. From novice status, he quickly established himself in the US National Championships, twice finishing in the top three positions. In 1976 he toured Israel and in 1977 Australia and New Zealand, before being lured to Cradley Heath HeathensCradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens are a defunct motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England.-History:Cradley Heath speedway team was formed in 1947 and first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 after a number of away appearances prior to the opening of the newly built stadium...
in 1978 by Dan McCormick and Derek Pugh.
On his Dudley Wood
Dudley Wood Stadium
Dudley Wood Stadium on Dudley Wood Road in Dudley, West Midlands, England was opened in 1947 and was mainly used for greyhound racing and speedway. The stadium was demolished in 1998 by the new owners , despite not receiving planning permission for their home development project.-Speedway:Cradley...
debut against Sheffield
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
in a challenge match, he notched just a single point. Never again in his British career would he score less than four for the Heathens. In his second match - his league debut - he scored nine; within a month he clocked double figures and topped the scorechart for the first time with 13; in July he took over as club captain following the departure of Bruce Cribb
Bruce Cribb
Bruce Brian Hoani Cribb in Palmerston North, New Zealand, is a former speedway rider who rode in the UK for several teams in a career spanning over twenty years. He began riding at Palmerston North, before joining the Poole Pirates in 1965. In 1969 and 1970 he represented New Zealand in tests with...
and hit his first Heathens maximum; and by the end of the year he had achieved a season average
Calculated Match Average
Calculated Match Averages are calculated for every motorcycle speedway rider.The CMA is calculated from the following:\left \times4...
of over 9.00 points per match.
In 1979 he won the Master of Speedway competition around Europe, as well as becoming the first American holder of the Golden Helmet match race championship. He was runner-up to John Louis in the British League Riders Final and led Cradley to Inter-League Cup success and their highest ever league position. By 1980 there were more cup victories, along with SWAPA Overseas Rider of the Year, American National Champion, a first World Final
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
appearance (scoring nine points).
The 1981 season was Penhall's all conquering year. At the World Final at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Wembley Stadium, 92,500 people witnessed Penhall come from behind to pip both former World Champion Ole Olsen of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and later another Dane
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
Tommy Knudsen
Tommy Knudsen
Tommy Knudsen is a former Speedway rider who became Speedway World Pairs Champion in 1995 with Erik Gundersen. Tommy was also World Under-21 Champion in 1980...
on the finish line. His only loss of the night was finishing second to 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...
's Kenny Carter
Kenny Carter
Kenneth 'Kenny' Malcolm Carter , was a world class speedway rider. He rode for Newcastle Diamonds , Halifax Dukes and Bradford Dukes ....
when he only needed to finish third to clinch the title. Also in 1981 Penhall partnered fellow American Bobby Schwartz
Bobby Schwartz
Robert Benjamin 'Bobby' Schwartz is a professional speedway rider in the United States. He became World Pairs Champion with Bruce Penhall in 1981 and Dennis Sigalos in 1982....
to win the World Pairs Championship
1981 Speedway World Pairs Championship
The 1981 Speedway World Pairs Championship was the twelfth FIM Speedway World Pairs Championship. The final took place in Chorzów, Poland. The championship was won by United States first time...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and alongside fellow 1981 World Finalist Erik Gundersen
Erik Gundersen
Erik Gundersen was a speedway rider in the late 1970s and 1980s. Gundersen was the Speedway World Championship on three occasions, a two time Long Track World Champion and a seven time World Team Cup winner with Denmark.-Career:Gundersen rode for the Cradley Heath Heathens from 1979 until 1989...
of Denmark led Cradley all the way to their first ever league title victory, topping the individual league averages on the way. On top of a clean sweep of all the SWAPA personality awards was a special citation from US President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
However, he had less than one year left in speedway before moving on, firstly to the world of Hollywood movies
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
and later to powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing is racing by large, specially designed ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.Probably one of the largest, most dangerous, and most powerful racing machines of all, the extreme expense of the boats and the fuel required to participate make it an expensive...
(where he would become a world champion again). In 1982
1982 Speedway World Team Cup
- Qualification :- Tournament :...
he won the World Team Cup
Speedway World Team Cup
The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
with the USA
United States national speedway team
The United States national speedway team are an international speedway team from the United States who compete in the annual major international speedway competition, the Speedway World Cup. They are managed by David Joiner and the current captain is 1997 World Champion Greg Hancock...
at the White City Stadium
White City Stadium
White City Stadium was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics, often seen as the precursor to the modern seater stadium and noted for hosting the finish of the first modern distance marathon. It also hosted speedway and a match at the 1966 World Cup, before the stadium was...
in London.
Penhall caused a stir at the 1982 Overseas Final, also at White City. Heat 19 of the event involved 4 riders from the USA (Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran was a professional speedway rider who rode for a number of British clubs and also represented USA....
, Dennis Sigalos
Dennis Sigalos
Arthur Dennis Sigalos is a professional speedway rider in the United States. He became World Pairs Champion with Bobby Schwartz in 1982 and appeared in the 1982 and 1983 Speedway World Finals, finishing in third place in 1982 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum...
, Shawn Moran
Shawn Moran
Shawn Moran is a retired former professional speedway rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers who also represented USA....
and Penhall). Penhall deliberately finished last in the heat (ending his chance of winning the meeting) to allow Kelly Moran and Sigalos to qualify for the World Final in Los Angeles. English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
commentator Dave Lanning
Dave Lanning
Dave Lanning is a retired English sports commentator and journalist.-Broadcasting career:...
called it a circus but also noted that it wasn't an unprecedented happening. Penhall then went on to achieve his one last speedway ambition which was to win the Individual World Final on his home soil in America. He did this by winning his last 4 rides (after finishing 2nd in his first) and finishing with 14 points for the night. He then did what many expected and effectively retired from international speedway on the podium as reigning World Champion.
Acting
Penhall was well known for his role as Cadet/Officer Bruce Nelson in the final season of the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
and in the role of Bruce Christian in the 1989 film Savage Beach
Savage Beach
Savage Beach is a 1989 action adventure film starring Dona Speir, Hope Marie Carlton, John Aprea and Bruce Penhall. It was written and directed by Andy Sidaris.-External links:*...
and five of the movie's sequels. Penhall reprised his role as Officer Bruce Nelson in the 1998 TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
television movie CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99 is a film reunion of the 1977-1983 American television series, CHiPs. It was directed by Jon Cassar and shown on Turner Network Television in the USA on October 27, 1998.-Cast:*Larry Wilcox as Capt...
and has made guest appearances on shows such as Just Men!
Just Men!
Just Men! was a game show that aired on NBC Daytime from January 3 to April 1, 1983. The show starred Betty White, who won an Emmy award for her work on the show, with Steve Day announcing.-Gameplay:...
, The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life (TV series)
The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' premise focused on Edna Garrett as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School, a prestigious...
and Renegade
Renegade (TV series)
Renegade is an American television series that ran for 110 episodes spanning 5 seasons between September 19, 1992 and April 4, 1997.The series stars Lorenzo Lamas as Reno Raines, a police officer who is framed for a murder he didn't commit. Raines goes on the run and joins forces with Native...
.
In 1999, Penhall was inducted into the A.M.A.
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
. In 2008, Bruce took over as joint promoter, along with Jeffrey Immediato, of speedway racing events at 'The Grand at Industry Hills' race track in City of Industry, California
Industry, California
Industry is an industrial suburb of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Home to over 2,500 businesses and 80,000 jobs, but only 219 residents at the 2010 census - down from 777 residents as of the 2000 United States census - the city is almost entirely industrial...
.
World Final appearances
- 19801980 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1980 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 5, 1980 Göteborg, Ullevi...
-
Sweden Göteborg, UlleviUlleviUllevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
- 5th - 9pts - 19811981 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship.1981 was the last of a record 26 times that London's famous Wembley Stadium hosted the World Final.-World final:*September 5, 1981 London, Wembley Stadium*Referee: Sam Bass-Heat Results:...
-
United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley - Winner - 14pts - 19821982 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship.1982 was the only time the Individual World Final was held outside of the United Kingdom or Europe before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix series in 1995.-World final:...
-
United States Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
- Winner - 14pts
Filmography
- CHiPs '99CHiPs '99CHiPs '99 is a film reunion of the 1977-1983 American television series, CHiPs. It was directed by Jon Cassar and shown on Turner Network Television in the USA on October 27, 1998.-Cast:*Larry Wilcox as Capt...
(1998) (TV) - The Dallas ConnectionThe Dallas ConnectionThe Dallas Connection is a 1994 action adventure film starring Bruce Penhall, Mark Barriere and Julie Strain. It was written and directed by Christian Drew Sidaris and is part of the "Triple B" film series produced by Andy Sidaris.-External links:...
(1994) - Fit to KillFit to KillFit to Kill is a 1993 action adventure film starring Dona Speir, Roberta Vasquez, Cynthia Brimhall, Julie Strain, Bruce Penhall, Chu Chu Malave and Geoffrey Moore. It was written and directed by Andy Sidaris....
(1993) - Enemy GoldEnemy GoldEnemy Gold is a 1993 action/adventure film starring Bruce Penhall, Mark Barriere and Suzi Simpson. It was directed by Christian Drew Sidaris and written by Wess Rahn and Christian Drew Sidaris....
(1993) - Hard HuntedHard HuntedHard Hunted is a 1992 action/adventure film starring Dona Speir, Roberta Vasquez, Cynthia Brimhall, Bruce Penhall and Geoffrey Moore. It was directed by Christian Drew Sidaris and written by Andy Sidaris.-The Triple B Series by Andy Sidaris:...
(1992) - Do or DieDo or DieDo or Die is an American rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp", Produced by The Legendary Traxster off of their...
(1991) - GunGunA gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s (1990) - Savage BeachSavage BeachSavage Beach is a 1989 action adventure film starring Dona Speir, Hope Marie Carlton, John Aprea and Bruce Penhall. It was written and directed by Andy Sidaris.-External links:*...
(1989) - Picasso TriggerPicasso TriggerPicasso Trigger is a 1988 action adventure film starring Steve Bond, Dona Speir, Hope Marie Carlton, Roberta Vasquez, Cynthia Brimhall, and Harold Diamond. It was written and directed by Andy Sidaris.-The Triple B Series by Andy Sidaris:...
(1988) - Camping del terroreCamping del terroreCamping del Terrore is a 1987 slasher/horror film directed by Ruggero Deodato and filmed in Italy....
(1987) - CHiPsCHiPsCHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
(1982–1983) (TV series)