Rochdale Hornets (speedway) explained

Clubname:Rochdale Hornets
Track:Athletic Grounds
Milnrow Road
Rochdale
Country:England
Founded:1928, 1970
Closed:1930, 1971
Colours:yellow and black
Tracksize:441yd

The Rochdale Hornets were a British speedway team from Rochdale in the north west of England.

History

They were founded in 1928 and competed in the inaugural season of British Speedway in 1929 but closed in 1930.[1] [2] [3]

In 1970, they were reformed by the promotion from the Belle Vue Aces to give their junior riders a chance to progress when they moved their Belle Vue Colts team to the stadium under the control of Dent Oliver.[4]

The team arrived in 1970 but moved on to Ellesmere Port at the end of the 1971 season. The track was not a good shape and proved to be unpopular with supporters. The safety fence was unusual in that it was made of steel plates supported on wire ropes. The most famous rider to progress from the Hornets was 1976 World Champion Peter Collins.[5]

Season summary

width=350Year and leaguewidth=50Positionwidth=350Notes
6th
3rd
9th

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Year by Year. Speedway Researcher. 16 August 2021.
  2. Book: Rogers, Martin. The Illustrated History of Speedway. 1978. 129. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. 0-904584-45-3.
  3. Web site: BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939). Official British Speedway website. 16 August 2021.
  4. Bamford, R & Jarvis J. (2001). Homes of British Speedway.
  5. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing.