Tony Clarke (speedway rider) explained

Tony Clarke
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Date:6 July 1940
Birth Place:Kensal Green, London
Death Place:South London
Career1:West Ham Hammers
Years1:1965, 1967-1970
Career2:Oxford Cheetahs
Years2:1966
Career3:Wembley Lions
Years3:1971
Career4:Newport Wasps
Years4:1972
Career5:Wimbledon Dons
Years5:1973
Career6:Wolverhampton Wolves
Years6:1973-1975
Teamyear1:1965
Teamhonour1:British League
Teamyear2:1965
Teamhonour2:Knockout Cup
Teamyear3:1965, 1967
Teamhonour3:London Cup
Teamyear4:1973
Teamhonour4:Midland Cup

Anthony Brian Clarke (6 July 1940 – 2 May 2014) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned eleven international caps for the England national speedway team and two caps for Great Britain.[1]

Biography

Clarke was born in 1940 in Kensal Green, London during World War II. In early 1965, the West Ham Hammers promoter Tommy Price spotted Clarke training at Rye House and duly signed him.[2] He began racing during the 1965 British League season for the Hammers and had a good first season averaging 4.48 but more importantly was part of the team that won the treble.[3] He was transferred to Oxford Cheetahs for the 1966 season before returning to West Ham in 1967.[4]

In 1967, he helped West Ham secure a third consecutive London Cup[5] and by 1969 had earned a British Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand,[6] built his average up to 8.49 and been made team captain of West Ham.[7]

His West Ham career came to an end after the 1970 season and he joined London rivals Wembley Lions in 1971. He then rode for Newport in 1972 but his career took a sinister turn. During the 1972 Individual Speedway World Championship, the Russian riders had three of their bikes stolen and had to borrow equipment to compete.[8] Clarke and his brother Terrence were involved in the theft acting as a fence and both received prison sentences.[9]

He joined Wimbledon Dons for the remainder of the 1973 season and finally Wolverhampton from 1973 to 1975. He won the Midland Cup with Wolves in 1973.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 1 November 2023.
  2. News: Speedway by Don Clarke . Sunday Mirror . 18 April 1965 . 1 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  3. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 1 November 2023.
  4. News: Robbing the rich to pay poor . Coventry Evening Telegraph . 2 April 1966 . 1 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. Web site: West Ham Hammers 1967 . Speedway Researcher . 30 September 2023.
  6. News: West Ham Speedway . Brentwood Gazette . 15 August 1969 . 1 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. Web site: 1969 season results . Speedway Researcher . 1 November 2023.
  8. News: Fourth World title for Mauger . Birmingham Weekly Mercury . 17 September 1972 . 1 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  9. News: Speedway rider and brother for trial . Middlesex Chronicle . 12 January 1973 . 1 November 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  10. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 1 November 2023.