Neil Street
Encyclopedia
Neil Street, OAM
(15 January 1931 – 6 October 2011) was an international motorcycle speedway
rider, manager and engineer, who first came to Britain in 1952 to ride for the Exeter Falcons
. Street was born in Melbourne
, Australia.
He rode for the Swindon Robins
and the Newport Wasps
before retiring from racing in 1976. He made international appearances for Australia, Australasia, Great Britain and one for Norway! In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Australia
in the Australia Day
'Motor Sport' Awards for his services to speedway.
. When they closed in 1984 he became manager of the Poole Pirates
and was still team manger there in 1999 when he handed over to current Great Britain speedway team manager Neil Middleditch
. In 1984 he was also the team manager of the Exeter Falcons
. In 1997 he also took over as manager of the Newport Wasps
and stayed in charge there until 2005.
Street was also manager of the Australia speedway team and was in charge when they won the World Team Cup
in 1999
and the Speedway World Cup
in 2001
and 2002
. In 2009, Street returned to take charge of the Newport Wasps for after the club returned to racing following the death of promoter Tim Stone in 2008.
rider Phil Crump
and his grandson, Jason Crump
, has won the World Speedway Championship three times, in 2004
, 2006
and 2009
.
came to prominence. Street had always built his own frames and tuned his engines. Ivan Tighe designed a four valve head for the Jawa engine, with input from Neil Street. The engine was off the drawing board and into manufacture in just four weeks. The engine was taken to Newcastle for a meeting there the night before the Australian championships, but the meeting was rained off, so the engine was yet to complete one lap.
Phil Crump
used the engine in the Australian Championships at Sydney and, with the increased power
, took nearly 3 seconds off the track record held by Jim Airey
immediately. This was considered more remarkable feat considering the fact that the engine was straight from of the workshop and used in a top class speedway
meeting. Crump had been given the option of his normal 2-valve engine, but after trying the 4-valve refused to get off the motorcycle.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(15 January 1931 – 6 October 2011) was an international motorcycle 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, manager and engineer, who first came to Britain in 1952 to ride for the Exeter Falcons
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team which operated from 1947 until their closure in 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. The track first operated in 1929.-Track:...
. Street was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia.
He rode for the Swindon Robins
Swindon Robins
The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League....
and the Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
before retiring from racing in 1976. He made international appearances for Australia, Australasia, Great Britain and one for Norway! In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in the Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
'Motor Sport' Awards for his services to speedway.
Management
In 1981 he was appointed team manager of the Weymouth WildcatsWeymouth Wildcats
The Weymouth Wildcats are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Weymouth, England who race in the National League. The Wildcats won the first Conference League Championship in their history in 2008 after winning the Conference League play-offs.-History:...
. When they closed in 1984 he became manager of the Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
and was still team manger there in 1999 when he handed over to current Great Britain speedway team manager Neil Middleditch
Neil Middleditch
Neil Middleditch is a former Speedway rider and the team manager of the Poole Pirates. His father Ken was a former rider with the Poole Pirates...
. In 1984 he was also the team manager of the Exeter Falcons
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team which operated from 1947 until their closure in 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. The track first operated in 1929.-Track:...
. In 1997 he also took over as manager of the Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
and stayed in charge there until 2005.
Street was also manager of the Australia speedway team and was in charge when they won the World Team Cup
Speedway World Team Cup
The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
in 1999
1999 Speedway World Team Cup
-Venue : Veenord, Holland:Holland, Austria and Croatia to Quarter-Final-Venue : Lonigo, Italy:Australia to Semi-Final-Venue : Abensberg, Germany:Germany to Semi-Final-Venue : Poole, England:Great Britain to World Final...
and the Speedway World Cup
Speedway World Cup
The Speedway World Cup is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The first edition of the competition in the current format was in 2001 and it replaced the old World Team Cup competition.-Format:...
in 2001
2001 Speedway World Cup
The 2001 Speedway World Cup was the 1st FIM Speedway World Cup season. The Final took place on 7 July 2008 in Wrocław, Poland. The tournament was won by Australia and they beat host team Poland , Sweden , Denmark and United States in the Final.-Qualification:The two group winners and runners-up...
and 2002
2002 Speedway World Cup
The 2002 Speedway World Cup was the 2nd FIM Speedway World Cup season. The Final took place on August 10, 2002 in Peterborough, Great Britain...
. In 2009, Street returned to take charge of the Newport Wasps for after the club returned to racing following the death of promoter Tim Stone in 2008.
Family
His daughter Carole married motorcycle speedwayMotorcycle 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 Phil Crump
Phil Crump
Philip John "Phil" Crump in Mildura, Victoria is a retired Australian Motorcycle speedway rider who attained 3rd place in the 1976 World Championship...
and his grandson, Jason Crump
Jason Crump
Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:...
, has won the World Speedway Championship three times, in 2004
2004 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2004 Speedway Grand Prix season is the tenth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.-Event format:The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes...
, 2006
2006 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2006 Speedway Grand Prix season is the twelfth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :...
and 2009
2009 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season will be the 15th season of the Speedway Grand Prix era, and will decide the 64th Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Speedway World Championship...
.
Engine development
In 1974-1975 and his training as a skilled engineerEngineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
came to prominence. Street had always built his own frames and tuned his engines. Ivan Tighe designed a four valve head for the Jawa engine, with input from Neil Street. The engine was off the drawing board and into manufacture in just four weeks. The engine was taken to Newcastle for a meeting there the night before the Australian championships, but the meeting was rained off, so the engine was yet to complete one lap.
Phil Crump
Phil Crump
Philip John "Phil" Crump in Mildura, Victoria is a retired Australian Motorcycle speedway rider who attained 3rd place in the 1976 World Championship...
used the engine in the Australian Championships at Sydney and, with the increased power
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
, took nearly 3 seconds off the track record held by Jim Airey
Jim Airey
James Sydney "Jim" Airey is a former international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the 1971 World Final in Göteborg, Sweden and was a member of the Great Britain team that won the 1971 Speedway World Team Cup in Wrocław, Poland.-Australia:Jim Airey started racing Speedway in the early-1960s,...
immediately. This was considered more remarkable feat considering the fact that the engine was straight from of the workshop and used in a top class 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...
meeting. Crump had been given the option of his normal 2-valve engine, but after trying the 4-valve refused to get off the motorcycle.