Danny Dunton
Encyclopedia
Danny Dunton is a former international motorcycle speedway
rider and promoter who reached the finals of the Speedway World Championship
in 1950, achieving 11th place with 30 points. As well as riding, Danny co-promoted Oxford Cheetahs
, then Oxford Rebels and finally White City Rebels
1976. His chief team was Peterborough Panthers
.
, and immediately found himself as a Team Member in his first meeting, a rare if not unique feat.
As well as Harringay Racers
, Belle Vue Aces
, Ipswich Witches
, Oxford Cheetahs
, and Long Eaton Speedway are listed as tracks where he rode as a contracted or loaned rider.
In 1950, in only his second season, he Qualified for the Word Finals and finished 11th – the top three riders were Jack Young
, Graham Warren
and Cyril Brine
.
In 1953, following a crash at New Cross, he used a wheelchair and could not walk for 4 months.
In 1963 Danny Dunton retired from racing at Long Eaton at the end of that year, scoring 127 and a half points from just 17 matches..
1965 saw him buying the Oxford promotion, later to be joined by Bob Dugard.
Following the decision of the British League promoters in November 1967 to run a second division, five promoters from the British League, Danny Dunton, Maury Littlechild, Len Silver
, Ron Wilson
and Reg Fearman
formed the Allied Presentations Limited. This company of promoters opened 3 tracks in 1968, Reading, Middlesbrough and Rayleigh and constructed Crewe in 1969, followed in 1970 by Peterborough. Each track was promoted by one of the APL members and Danny Dunton’s track was Peterborough.
After he retired from riding, he served during the 70's on the committee of the British League and then the National League as its Chairman in 1981, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87 and was honoured by being made the President in 1988.
Danny is active in the World Speedway Riders Association and was the honoured and respected President for the year 2005/06.
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...
rider and promoter who reached the finals of the Speedway World Championship
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 1950, achieving 11th place with 30 points. As well as riding, Danny co-promoted Oxford Cheetahs
Oxford Cheetahs
The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs...
, then Oxford Rebels and finally White City Rebels
White City Rebels
The White City Rebels were a motorcycle speedway team who operated from the White City Stadium, Wood Lane in London.White City were inaugural members of the Southern League in 1929. They re-opened in 1976 but the team closed after only three seasons due to poor crowds levels, despite finishing the...
1976. His chief team was Peterborough Panthers
Peterborough Panthers
The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006...
.
Career summary
Danny Dunton first took his bike in 1949 to Harringay RacersHarringay Racers
Harringay Racers was a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The side was founded in 1936 and initially played alongside Harringay Greyhounds at the Harringay Arena. Both sides entered the English National League, which Racers won in 1937/8. After a break during World War II, the...
, and immediately found himself as a Team Member in his first meeting, a rare if not unique feat.
As well as Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers was a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The side was founded in 1936 and initially played alongside Harringay Greyhounds at the Harringay Arena. Both sides entered the English National League, which Racers won in 1937/8. After a break during World War II, the...
, Belle Vue Aces
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
, Ipswich Witches
Ipswich Witches
The Ipswich Witches are a British speedway club based at Foxhall Stadium near Ipswich, Suffolk. Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm....
, Oxford Cheetahs
Oxford Cheetahs
The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs...
, and Long Eaton Speedway are listed as tracks where he rode as a contracted or loaned rider.
In 1950, in only his second season, he Qualified for the Word Finals and finished 11th – the top three riders were Jack Young
Jack Young (speedway rider)
Jack Ellis Young was a Motorcycle speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1951 and 1952...
, Graham Warren
Graham Warren
Graham Warren was an Australian international speedway rider who finished third in the 1950 Speedway World Championship final.-Career:...
and Cyril Brine
Cyril Brine
Cyril Harry Brine was a former international speedway who qualified for the Speedway World Championship finals twice.-Career summary:...
.
In 1953, following a crash at New Cross, he used a wheelchair and could not walk for 4 months.
In 1963 Danny Dunton retired from racing at Long Eaton at the end of that year, scoring 127 and a half points from just 17 matches..
1965 saw him buying the Oxford promotion, later to be joined by Bob Dugard.
Following the decision of the British League promoters in November 1967 to run a second division, five promoters from the British League, Danny Dunton, Maury Littlechild, Len Silver
Len Silver
Len Silver is a former speedway rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets.-Racing career:Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich Witches in 1960 after a layoff due to injury...
, Ron Wilson
Ron Wilson
Ronald Lawrence Wilson is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He is also the former head coach of the San Jose...
and Reg Fearman
Reg Fearman
Reg Fearman is a former international speedway rider and promoter.-Riding career:He first received his speedway licence on his sixteenth birthday, presented to him in front of a forty thousand strong West Ham crowd at the West Ham Stadium in London...
formed the Allied Presentations Limited. This company of promoters opened 3 tracks in 1968, Reading, Middlesbrough and Rayleigh and constructed Crewe in 1969, followed in 1970 by Peterborough. Each track was promoted by one of the APL members and Danny Dunton’s track was Peterborough.
After he retired from riding, he served during the 70's on the committee of the British League and then the National League as its Chairman in 1981, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87 and was honoured by being made the President in 1988.
Danny is active in the World Speedway Riders Association and was the honoured and respected President for the year 2005/06.
World Final appearances
- 1950 -
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 Stadium - 11th place - 30 points
External links
- http://www.world-sra.org.uk/Riders%20Profiles/Danny%20Dunton/riding_profile_of__danny_dunton.htm
- http://longeatoninvaders.piczo.com/?g=32884255&cr=5
- http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Reg%20Fearman%20part%20three.htm