Dicky Case
Encyclopedia
Roy George Arthur 'Dicky' Case (7 June 1910 Toowoomba, Australia
- 1980) was an international speedway
rider who finished sixth in the 1936 Speedway World Championship
, the first ever final.
. He finished third in the 1932 Star Riders' Championship
, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship
and also represented Australia
in several Test Matches. In 1933 he joined the Coventry Bees
, In 1934 he joined the Walthamstow Wolves
and stayed with them when the promotion transferred the operation to Hackney Wick Stadium
and becoming the Hackney Wick Wolves
at the start of the 1935 season. He was the Wolves captain and top points scorer in 1935 and repeated the feat in 1936, as well as riding in the inaugural Speedway World Championship
final at Wembley.
In 1937 Case was beaten to the top spot in the Hackney team by Cordy Milne
but announced he was retiring from the sport. However in 1938 Case joined the Wembley Lions
but had a poor season due to injuries and did actually retire.
The Wolves dropped down a division in 1938 and after injury to the captain Frank Hodgson in the 1939 season, they announced that Case would be making a combeack to cover for the injured skipper. However after a fall in his first ride which left him with an injury to force him to withdraw from the meeting, although he did complete his second ride, he retired from speedway for the final time.
, operating under the name of the Hackney Motor Club. The school operated until 1938 when Rye House entered the Sunday Dirt-track League.
During World War II
, most speedway racing had ended but Rye House managed to promote several. 1940 saw 'Dick Case's Speedway' run six meetings and another fourteen in 1942.
After the war ended, Case continued to run a training school at Rye House. He also owned the local public house
that was next door to the track.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- 1980) was an 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...
rider who finished sixth in the 1936 Speedway World Championship
1936 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1936 Individual Speedway World Championship was the first ever Speedway World Championship and was won by Lionel Van Praag of Australia. It was the first of a record 26 times that London's Wembley Stadium would host the World Final with the last being in 1981.*1936 Podium# Lionel Van Praag # ...
, the first ever final.
Career
Case first came to the UK in 1930 and joined the Wimbledon DonsWimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...
. He finished third in the 1932 Star Riders' Championship
Star Riders' Championship
The Star Riders' Championship was the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship and was inaugurated in 1929. The competition was sponsored by The Star, which was a London evening newspaper at that time....
, the forerunner to 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...
and also represented Australia
Australia national speedway team
Australia are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by former rider, three time Australian Champion and 1994 World #3 Craig Boyce and captained by three time Speedway World Champion Jason Crump...
in several Test Matches. In 1933 he joined the Coventry Bees
Coventry Bees
The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane...
, In 1934 he joined the Walthamstow Wolves
Walthamstow Wolves
The Walthamstow Wolves were a Speedway team which operated from 1934 and again from 1949 until their closure in 1951.The club opened in 1934 when Lea Bridge were forced to find a new venue. The Wolves competed in the National League but were forced to relocate again at the end of the season due to...
and stayed with them when the promotion transferred the operation to Hackney Wick Stadium
Hackney Wick Stadium
Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, in the London Borough of Hackney, was opened in 1932 and was mainly used for greyhound racing and speedway.In 1994, a £12M stand and restaurant was built and the stadium was renamed the London Stadium, Hackney...
and becoming the Hackney Wick Wolves
Hackney Wick Wolves
Hackney Wick Wolves speedway opened in 1935 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London, and operated until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.-History:The Walthamstow Wolves closed at the end of the 1934 season and the team moved into Hackney Stadium...
at the start of the 1935 season. He was the Wolves captain and top points scorer in 1935 and repeated the feat in 1936, as well as riding in the inaugural 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...
final at Wembley.
In 1937 Case was beaten to the top spot in the Hackney team by Cordy Milne
Cordy Milne
Cordy Milne was an American international motorcycle speedway rider who finished third in the 1937 Speedway World Championship final, behind his brother Jack and second placed Wilbur Lamoreaux...
but announced he was retiring from the sport. However in 1938 Case joined the Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions (speedway)
The Wembley Lions were a motorcycle speedway team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. Their track was located at Wembley Stadium, London. The original stadium which hosted speedway has been redeveloped.-Pre-war:...
but had a poor season due to injuries and did actually retire.
The Wolves dropped down a division in 1938 and after injury to the captain Frank Hodgson in the 1939 season, they announced that Case would be making a combeack to cover for the injured skipper. However after a fall in his first ride which left him with an injury to force him to withdraw from the meeting, although he did complete his second ride, he retired from speedway for the final time.
World final appearances
- 19361936 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1936 Individual Speedway World Championship was the first ever Speedway World Championship and was won by Lionel Van Praag of Australia. It was the first of a record 26 times that London's Wembley Stadium would host the World Final with the last being in 1981.*1936 Podium# Lionel Van Praag # ...
-
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 Stadium - 6th - 17pts
Training school
Whilst at Hackney, Case set up a training school at Rye HouseRye House Stadium
Rye House Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Rye House near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It is situated adjacent to the River Lea Navigation.-The stadium:...
, operating under the name of the Hackney Motor Club. The school operated until 1938 when Rye House entered the Sunday Dirt-track League.
During 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...
, most speedway racing had ended but Rye House managed to promote several. 1940 saw 'Dick Case's Speedway' run six meetings and another fourteen in 1942.
After the war ended, Case continued to run a training school at Rye House. He also owned the local public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
that was next door to the track.