Harry Bastable
Encyclopedia
Harry Bastable is a former international motorcycle speedway
rider and promoter.
1949 winter training school when he was signed up by Cradley Heath Heathens
. For experience he was loaned to the 3rd Division National League
Tamworth 'Tams' speedway club for the 1950 season, with occasional rides at reserve for 2nd Division Cradley. He returned full-time to Cradley Heath in 1951 and in 1952 was the Heathens' top scorer.
Following the closure of speedway at Dudley Wood at the end of 1952 the Cradley team amalgamated with 3rd Division neighbours Wolverhamton Wasps to operate in the National League 2nd Division in 1953, but Harry Bastable never liked the track and didn't show his Cradley form, moving to Birmingham Brummies
in August of that year where First Division racing proved hard going. In 1957 Birmingham closed mid-season following the track fatality of Harry's mentor and Brummies skipper Alan Hunt
and the ensuing 'South African Affair.' He then transferred to Leicester to ride for the Leicester Hunters, where he initially found a new lease of life. After much badgering he shocked no one when in 1960 he left the Hunters mid-season to return to ride for his first love, Cradley Heath Heathens
as their skipper in the newly-formed lower level Provincial League
, where he finished his racing career. A highlight of that career was when Harry and Cradley partner Ivor Brown
, became the top two points scorers in the 1961 Provincial League
.
Although announcing his retirement at the end of 1964, Harry Bastable was recalled to make 16 further appearances for the Heathens at senior level racing in the new British League
of 1965 to cover for injuries at Cradley, before fully retiring from riding in that same year. He started a motor-cycle business "Speedaway Motors" in Blackheath, West Midlands, (later to be joined by his son Steve Bastable
, who like his father before him rode as another Cradley number one.)
In 1973 Harry turned to the management side of speedway, to become the manager of the Cradley Heath team, whom he renamed 'Cradley United'. In 1975 he moved into promotion, taking over the license of Stoke Potters with co-promoter Tony Allsop, and in 1976 saved speedway at Cowley Stadium, Oxford by resurrecting Oxford Cheetahs
after the departure of Oxford Rebels to White City under Danny Dunton
.
England London
– Qualifying Rounds – 18 points 29th Place.
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.
Career summary
Harry Bastable's was a novice at the Alan HuntAlan Hunt (speedway rider)
Alan Hunt was an international motorcycle speedway rider who qualified for the Speedway World Championship final four times.-Career:...
1949 winter training school when he was signed up by 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...
. For experience he was loaned to the 3rd Division National League
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...
Tamworth 'Tams' speedway club for the 1950 season, with occasional rides at reserve for 2nd Division Cradley. He returned full-time to Cradley Heath in 1951 and in 1952 was the Heathens' top scorer.
Following the closure of speedway at Dudley Wood at the end of 1952 the Cradley team amalgamated with 3rd Division neighbours Wolverhamton Wasps to operate in the National League 2nd Division in 1953, but Harry Bastable never liked the track and didn't show his Cradley form, moving to Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team, who were reformed in 2006 and then accepted into the Premier League in 2007. The club race at Perry Barr Stadium ....
in August of that year where First Division racing proved hard going. In 1957 Birmingham closed mid-season following the track fatality of Harry's mentor and Brummies skipper Alan Hunt
Alan Hunt (speedway rider)
Alan Hunt was an international motorcycle speedway rider who qualified for the Speedway World Championship final four times.-Career:...
and the ensuing 'South African Affair.' He then transferred to Leicester to ride for the Leicester Hunters, where he initially found a new lease of life. After much badgering he shocked no one when in 1960 he left the Hunters mid-season to return to ride for his first love, 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...
as their skipper in the newly-formed lower level 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...
, where he finished his racing career. A highlight of that career was when Harry and Cradley partner Ivor Brown
Ivor Brown (speedway rider)
Ivor John Brown was a motorcycle speedway rider and captain of Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team during the 1960s. After retiring from riding he became promoter of Long Eaton and Scunthorpe speedway...
, became the top two points scorers in the 1961 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...
.
Although announcing his retirement at the end of 1964, Harry Bastable was recalled to make 16 further appearances for the Heathens at senior level racing in the new 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....
of 1965 to cover for injuries at Cradley, before fully retiring from riding in that same year. He started a motor-cycle business "Speedaway Motors" in Blackheath, West Midlands, (later to be joined by his son Steve Bastable
Steve Bastable
Stephen Henry Bastable is a former Speedway rider, son of Harry Bastable, who had also been a rider...
, who like his father before him rode as another Cradley number one.)
In 1973 Harry turned to the management side of speedway, to become the manager of the Cradley Heath team, whom he renamed 'Cradley United'. In 1975 he moved into promotion, taking over the license of Stoke Potters with co-promoter Tony Allsop, and in 1976 saved speedway at Cowley Stadium, Oxford by resurrecting 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...
after the departure of Oxford Rebels to White City under Danny Dunton
Danny Dunton
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 Rebels1976...
.
World Final appearances
1952 – England LondonLondon
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...
– Qualifying Rounds – 18 points 29th Place.
External links
- http://www.birminghamspeedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.41.1
- http://www.brummiespeedway.co.uk/earlyyears.htm
- http://oxfordspeedway.ossc.me.uk/
- http://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/
- http://www.leicester-lions.co.uk/index.html