Dent Oliver
Encyclopedia
John Walter Denton Oliver (born April 13, 1918 in Crook, County Durham
, England
) was a former international speedway
who qualified for the Speedway World Championship
finals three times.
. In 1946 he joined the Belle Vue Aces
. After an impressive first two seasons he was called up to race for England
in the 1947-1948 Ashes test series in Australia.
In 1949 Oliver reached the first of his three World final appearances but in 1951 he announced his retirement. In 1952 he was tempted into riding again by the Bradford Tudors
. Belle Vue signed him up again at the start of 1952 but he later rejoined the Tudors and remained there until he retired in 1954. He came out of retirement in 1956 to ride nine meetings for the Tudors but again retired.
In 1963, at the age of forty-five he returned to racing for the Sheffield Tigers
in the Provincial League
following a call from Frank Varey
. He stayed there for two seasons until 1965 when the Belle Vue Aces
used him for a few matches that season. He finally retired at the end of 1965 but reamiend onm the staff at Belle Vue. He became team manager and in 1970, 1971 and 1972 the team won the British League
.
In 1973 Dent suffered a serious deterioration in his health and died in the December.
Crook, County Durham
Crook is a market town in County Durham, England. It is situated about 10 miles south-west of Durham.Crook lies a couple of miles north of the River Wear, on the A690 from Durham...
, 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...
) was a former international speedway
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...
who qualified for 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...
finals three times.
Career summary
Oliver started speedway in 1945 and was given guidance and support from pre war rider Bob HarrisonBob Harrison (speedway rider)
Robert Edwin Harrison was a former international speedway rider who featured in the first Speedway World Championship in final in 1936.-Career summary:...
. In 1946 he joined 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...
. After an impressive first two seasons he was called up to race for England
Great Britain national speedway team
The Great Britain national speedway team are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by Poole Pirates manager Neil Middleditch and the captain is Chris Harris of the Belle Vue Aces....
in the 1947-1948 Ashes test series in Australia.
In 1949 Oliver reached the first of his three World final appearances but in 1951 he announced his retirement. In 1952 he was tempted into riding again by the Bradford Tudors
Bradford Tudors
The Odsal Tudors were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1950 to 1956.-History:At the end of July 1950 the Odsal Tudors replaced the Odsal Boomerangs. At the time it was said that the name change was due to the riders hating the Boomerang nickname, or maybe they believed...
. Belle Vue signed him up again at the start of 1952 but he later rejoined the Tudors and remained there until he retired in 1954. He came out of retirement in 1956 to ride nine meetings for the Tudors but again retired.
In 1963, at the age of forty-five he returned to racing for the Sheffield Tigers
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 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...
following a call from Frank Varey
Frank Varey
Frank Varey was a former international speedway rider who featured in the Speedway World Championship finals in 1937 and 1938...
. He stayed there for two seasons until 1965 when 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...
used him for a few matches that season. He finally retired at the end of 1965 but reamiend onm the staff at Belle Vue. He became team manager and in 1970, 1971 and 1972 the team won the British League
Speedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
.
In 1973 Dent suffered a serious deterioration in his health and died in the December.
World final appearances
- 19491949 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1949 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Qualification:# August 8, 1949 - London, Wimbledon Stadium# August 10, 1949 - London, New Cross Stadium# August 22, 1949 - Birmingham, Perry Barr Stadium# August 25, 1949 - London, Wembley Stadium...
-
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 - 16th - 0pts - 19501950 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1950 Individual Speedway World Championship.Speedway riders from New Zealand, Wales and Republic of Ireland was started in World Championship first time.:# Freddie Williams# Wally Green# Graham Warren-Qualification:...
- 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 - 6pts - 19531953 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1953 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*17 September 1953 London, Wembley Stadium...
- 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 - Res - 1pt