Frank Varey
Encyclopedia
Frank Varey was a former international speedway
rider who featured in the Speedway World Championship
finals in 1937
and 1938
. He also featured in two Star Riders' Championship
s, the forerunner to the World Championship, in 1932 and 1933.
During the winter of 1929-1930, Varey rode in meetings in Argentina
, where the local fans gave him the nickname of El Dibalo Rojo (The Red Devil) which further established his tough image even further.
Varey was very successful at Belle Vue. After being made captain in 1931 following the retirement of his friend and rival Arthur Franklyn, the team won the National League Championship
four seasons in a row from 1933 to 1936 and were leading in the 1939 season until it was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II
. The Aces also won the National Trophy in those same four seasons.
Varey was selected to ride for England
in the first ever Ashes Test Match series against Australia
and was awarded the captaincy in the test held at Belle Vue.
He continued to ride during the war and in 1944 won the British Wartime Championship.
in Sheffield
, staying as promoter of the Sheffield Tigers
until 1950 before a spell promoting the Edinburgh Monarchs
. Varey restarted speedway at Sheffield in 1960 in the Provincial League
and remained until ill health forced him to relinquish control.
Varey returned to Belle Vue as team manager following the death of Dent Oliver
the previous year but despite ongoing health problems he still helped with track preparation at Sheffield.
Varey died in February 1988.
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 featured in 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 in 1937
1937 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1937 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 2, 1937 London, Wembley Stadium...
and 1938
1938 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1938 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1938 London, Wembley Stadium...
. He also featured in two 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....
s, the forerunner to the World Championship, in 1932 and 1933.
Rider
Varey began his speedway career competing in open meetings in 1928 before signing for the Belle Vue Aces who had joined the newly formed Northern League in 1929. Varey began succeeding quickly but had a reputation of being a hard, uncompromising rider which often led him to disciplinary problems with speedway authorities, confrontations and occasional scuffles with other riders and on several occasions needing police escorts from stadiums after on-track action upset the home fans at other tracks.During the winter of 1929-1930, Varey rode in meetings in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where the local fans gave him the nickname of El Dibalo Rojo (The Red Devil) which further established his tough image even further.
Varey was very successful at Belle Vue. After being made captain in 1931 following the retirement of his friend and rival Arthur Franklyn, the team won the National League Championship
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...
four seasons in a row from 1933 to 1936 and were leading in the 1939 season until it was abandoned due to the outbreak of 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 Aces also won the National Trophy in those same four seasons.
Varey was selected to ride 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 first ever Ashes Test Match series against 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...
and was awarded the captaincy in the test held at Belle Vue.
He continued to ride during the war and in 1944 won the British Wartime Championship.
Promoter
At the end of 1945 he decided to retire from racing and began promoting speedway at the Owlerton StadiumOwlerton Stadium
Owlerton Stadium, sometimes referred to as Sheffield Sports Stadium, is a greyhound racing track in Owlerton near Hillsborough in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The stadium is also home to the Sheffield Tigers Speedway team and hosts BriSCA Formula One stock car racing events. It is operated...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, staying as promoter of 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...
until 1950 before a spell promoting the Edinburgh Monarchs
Edinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
. Varey restarted speedway at Sheffield in 1960 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...
and remained until ill health forced him to relinquish control.
Varey returned to Belle Vue as team manager following the death of Dent Oliver
Dent Oliver
John Walter Denton Oliver was a former international speedway who qualified for the Speedway World Championship finals three times.-Career summary:...
the previous year but despite ongoing health problems he still helped with track preparation at Sheffield.
Varey died in February 1988.
World Final Appearances
- 19371937 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1937 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 2, 1937 London, Wembley Stadium...
-
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 - 15th - 3pts + 8 semi-final points - 19381938 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1938 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1938 London, Wembley Stadium...
- 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 - 17th - 0pts + 5 semi-final points