Wally Green
Encyclopedia
Walter 'Wally' Green was a former international motorcycle speedway
rider who finished second in the World Championship
final in 1950
.
in 1946 after being spotted at a training school run by Dicky Case
. He was not a regular in the side at that time, so in 1947 he was loaned to the Eastbourne Eagles
where he won the National League Division Three
championship and finished as the Eagles' top rider. He was still making a few appearances for the Hammers.
When the Eastbourne closed down at the end of 1947 he moved with the promotion along the south coast to Hastings with the Saxons
. Green set the track record at Hastings and in the opening meeting on 21 April 1948, he won all six of his rides. He again finished the season as the top rider. His form did not go unnoticed by West Ham star Aub Lawson
and in 1948 he returned to the Hammers full time.
In 1949, he made steady progress and was second in the West Ham average
s. Green made his only appearance in a World final in 1950 and finished second, just a point behind the winner Freddie Williams
. Again in 1950 he was second in the West Ham average
s. He also captained England
in 1954.
Green stayed with the Hammers for the rest of his career. The club closed in 1955 and Green retired in the same season due to ill health.
. He built frames to order and could name Alf Engers
as a customer.
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 second in the 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 in 1950
1950 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1950 Individual Speedway World Championship.Speedway riders from New Zealand, Wales and Republic of Ireland was started in World Championship first time.:# Freddie Williams# Wally Green# Graham Warren-Qualification:...
.
Career
Green started his career with the West Ham HammersWest Ham Hammers
The West Ham Hammers were a speedway team, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929.. They operated from the West Ham Stadium until the outbreak of World War II under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of Johnnie Hoskins....
in 1946 after being spotted at a training school run by Dicky Case
Dicky Case
Roy George Arthur 'Dicky' Case was an international speedway rider who finished sixth in the 1936 Speedway World Championship, the first ever final.-Career:...
. He was not a regular in the side at that time, so in 1947 he was loaned to the Eastbourne Eagles
Eastbourne Eagles
The Eastbourne Eagles are a British speedway team based near Eastbourne, England who compete in the British Elite League. They became Elite League Champions in 2000. They were also Elite League Knockout Cup winners in 2002 and again in 2008. Speedway was initially introduced to Eastbourne in...
where he won the National League Division Three
Speedway National League Division Three
The National League Division Three was the third division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. The league was created as a third tier in 1947 but ran for only 5 years. In 1952 it was replaced by more regional leagues such as the Southern League.-References:...
championship and finished as the Eagles' top rider. He was still making a few appearances for the Hammers.
When the Eastbourne closed down at the end of 1947 he moved with the promotion along the south coast to Hastings with the Saxons
Hastings Saxons
Hastings Saxons were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated for two years between 1948 and 1949 at the Pilot Field in Hastings.-History:...
. Green set the track record at Hastings and in the opening meeting on 21 April 1948, he won all six of his rides. He again finished the season as the top rider. His form did not go unnoticed by West Ham star Aub Lawson
Aub Lawson
Aubrey "Aub" Lawson was an Australian international speedway rider who featured in ten World Championship finals including the 1939 final which was never run due to the outbreak of World War II.-Career:Lawson first came to the UK in 1939 and rode for the Wembley Lions but at his mother's...
and in 1948 he returned to the Hammers full time.
In 1949, he made steady progress and was second in the West Ham average
Calculated Match Average
Calculated Match Averages are calculated for every motorcycle speedway rider.The CMA is calculated from the following:\left \times4...
s. Green made his only appearance in a World final in 1950 and finished second, just a point behind the winner Freddie Williams
Freddie Williams
Freddie Williams may refer to:*Frederic Calland Williams , English engineer*Freddie Williams , motorcycle speedway world champion*Freddie Williams II, comics artist*Freddie Williams , Scottish bookmaker...
. Again in 1950 he was second in the West Ham average
Calculated Match Average
Calculated Match Averages are calculated for every motorcycle speedway rider.The CMA is calculated from the following:\left \times4...
s. He also captained 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 1954.
Green stayed with the Hammers for the rest of his career. The club closed in 1955 and Green retired in the same season due to ill health.
World Final appearances
- 19501950 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1950 Individual Speedway World Championship.Speedway riders from New Zealand, Wales and Republic of Ireland was started in World Championship first time.:# Freddie Williams# Wally Green# Graham Warren-Qualification:...
-
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 - 2nd - 13pts
Bike building
Green was a renowned bike frame builder whose business was based in HendonHendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
. He built frames to order and could name Alf Engers
Alf Engers
Alfred 'Alf' Robert Engers was an English racing cyclist who set national records and won national individual time trial championships from 1959 to the late 1970s. He established a British record of 49 minutes and 24 seconds in 1978, averaging 30.364 mph...
as a customer.