Norman Evans (speedway rider) explained

Norman Evans
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Place:Middlesbrough, England
Death Place:Northallerton, England
Career1:Middlesbrough
Years1:1929
Career2:Wembley Lions
Years2:1930–1933, 1935
Career3:Harringay Tigers
Years3:1934–1935
Career4:New Cross Lambs/Tamers/Rangers
Years4:1935–1937, 1939
Career5:Wimbledon Dons
Years5:1938–1939
Career6:Newcastle Brough/Diamonds
Years6:1946–1948
Career7:Ashfield Giants
Years7:1949
Teamyear1:1932
Teamhonour1:National League
Teamyear2:1930, 1931
Teamhonour2:Southern League
Teamyear3:1931, 1932, 1938
Teamhonour3:National Trophy
Teamyear4:1930, 1932, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1939
Teamhonour4:London Cup

Norman Evans (13 August 1905 – July 1981) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned one international cap for the England national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Evans, born in Middlesbrough rode in the pioneer years of British speedway beginning his British leagues career riding for Middlesbrough during the 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League[2] and became the team's captain.[3]

His performances during 1929 were noticed by the Wembley Lions and they signed him for the 1930 Speedway Southern League.[3] The team became the first 'star' team, winning the league and London Cup double[4] and the 1931 league and National Trophy double.[5]

On the formation of the first National League in 1932, Evans helped Wembley claim the treble of league, national trophy and London Cup before Belle Vue Aces arrived on the scene to challenge Wembley's domination. In 1934, Evans was released by Wembley and he was allocated to the Harringay Tigers.[6] After starting the 1935 season with Harringay he went on to ride for Wembley again but at the end of August joined the New Cross Lambs.[7]

He spent two more seasons with New Cross, known as the Tamers in 1936 and the Rangers in 1937, where he won the London Cup with the latter. During the 1938 season and 1939 season he won three more trophies with Wimbledon Dons.[8]

World War II robbed Evans of six years of racing before he joined Newcastle Brough for the 1946 Speedway Northern League.[9] He was still able to score heavily in the second division with Newcastle from 1946 to 1948.

His final season was in 1949, when he captained the newly formed Ashfield Giants in Glasgow. His retirement was prompted by a crash he was involved in during September 1949, that injured eight spectators when two bikes tangled together.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 17 November 2023.
  2. Web site: 1929 season results . Speedway Researcher . 17 November 2023.
  3. News: Wembley's speedway recruit . Daily Mirror . 4 February 1930 . 17 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  4. News: Speedway Honours . Weekly Dispatch (London) . 12 October 1930 . British Newspaper Archive. 15 September 2023 . subscription .
  5. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 17 November 2023.
  6. News: Test match dates . Daily Herald . 23 March 1934 . 17 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. News: Tom Farndon's condition . Daily News (London) . 30 August 1935 . 17 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  8. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 17 November 2023.
  9. News: An England Star . Sunday Sun (Newcastle) . 19 August 1945 . 17 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  10. News: The speed cycle boys get their chance . Daily Mirror . 10 May 1949 . 17 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .