Ken Le Breton
Encyclopedia
Francis James "Ken" Le Breton (15 August 1924 Sydney
, Australia
– 6 January 1951) was an international speedway
rider who was nicknamed "The White Ghost" due to his wearing white racegear.
, Ken took part in novice trials at the Sydney Sports Ground
but failed to impress and was turned away. He then took part in trials at the West Maitland Showground in New South Wales
and was immediately noticed by everybody as he appeared with all white leathers and bike. Ray Duggan
was at the meeting took an interest in Ken and helped him get established back at the Sydney Sports Ground
where Ken rode in all white as "The White Ghost."
for the New Cross Rangers
in 1947 but things did not go so well so the Newcastle Diamonds
signed him in exchange for Jeff Lloyd and £1000. He moved with the Newcastle promotion to Glasgow
with the Ashfield Giants
1948 and completed three season there until 1950.
where he first rode a speedway bike. He was representing Australia in the 2nd England v Australia Test match of the 1950-51 season. In heat eighteen, he was attempting to pass England's Eddie Rigg
on the last bend, looking to gain third place when he cut into Rigg's rear wheel. Ken's bike locked and he hit the safety fence hard and straight on. He died the next day in St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney
due to severe head injuries including a fractured skull. He had also punctured his lung.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
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...
– 6 January 1951) 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 was nicknamed "The White Ghost" due to his wearing white racegear.
Early career
After World War IIWorld 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...
, Ken took part in novice trials at the Sydney Sports Ground
Sydney Sports Ground
The Sydney Sports Ground was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surrounded by a grass covered hill, giving it a capacity of more than...
but failed to impress and was turned away. He then took part in trials at the West Maitland Showground in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and was immediately noticed by everybody as he appeared with all white leathers and bike. Ray Duggan
Ray Duggan
Raymond 'Ray' Duggan was an international Speedway first rode in the UK with the New Cross Lambs...
was at the meeting took an interest in Ken and helped him get established back at the Sydney Sports Ground
Sydney Sports Ground
The Sydney Sports Ground was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surrounded by a grass covered hill, giving it a capacity of more than...
where Ken rode in all white as "The White Ghost."
UK career
He rode in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for the New Cross Rangers
New Cross Rangers
The New Cross Rangers were a Speedway team which operated from 1937 until their closure in 1953. The track reopened in 1959 under Johnnie Hoskins for a series of open meetings and then in 1960 and 1961 operated in the National League...
in 1947 but things did not go so well so the Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Premier League. The club has a reputation of importing young foreign talent and have given starts to the British careers of six times World Champion Ivan Mauger, three times World Champion Ole Olsen, 1974 World Champion...
signed him in exchange for Jeff Lloyd and £1000. He moved with the Newcastle promotion to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
with the Ashfield Giants
Ashfield Giants
Ashfield Giants were a motorcycle speedway team based at Saracen Park, Glasgow, Scotland between 1949 and 1952. The track operated on an open licence in 1953.-Brief history:...
1948 and completed three season there until 1950.
World Final Appearance
- 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 - 13th - 4pts
Death
Ken was involved in a crash on 5 January 1951 at the Sydney Sports GroundSydney Sports Ground
The Sydney Sports Ground was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surrounded by a grass covered hill, giving it a capacity of more than...
where he first rode a speedway bike. He was representing Australia in the 2nd England v Australia Test match of the 1950-51 season. In heat eighteen, he was attempting to pass England's Eddie Rigg
Eddie Rigg
Edward Rigg was a former international speedway who finished twice finished seventh in the Speedway World Championship final.-Career summary:...
on the last bend, looking to gain third place when he cut into Rigg's rear wheel. Ken's bike locked and he hit the safety fence hard and straight on. He died the next day in St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
due to severe head injuries including a fractured skull. He had also punctured his lung.