Tony Lewis (speedway rider) explained

Tony Lewis
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Date: 6 June 1923
Birth Place:Bournemouth, England
Career1:Poole Pirates
Years1:1950–1955, 1960–1964, 1967–1968
Career2:Exeter Falcons
Years2:1965
Career3:West Ham Hammers
Years3:1965
Teamyear1:1952, 1955, 1961, 1962
Teamhonour1:League champion (tier 2)
Teamyear2:1951
Teamhonour2:League champion (tier 3)
Teamyear3:1952, 1955
Teamhonour3:National Trophy (tier 2)
Teamyear4:1962, 1963, 1964
Teamhonour4:Provincial Southern League Champion

Alfred Edward Lewis (6 June 1923 – 6 October 1997) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]

Biography

Lewis, born in Bournemouth, raced on local grasstracks before being offered a contract by Poole Pirates manager Sid Hazzard in 1949. He began his British leagues career riding for Poole during the 1950 Speedway National League Division Three season.[2] The following season in 1951, he was part of the team that secured the league title.[3]

Lewis would ride for Poole for 13 seasons, spanning the years 1950 to 1968[4] and would become a club legend.[5] During his time at Poole, he helped them win the League title four times, 1952, 1955, 1961 and 1962, in addition to the National Trophy in 1952 and 1955.[6] His most serious injury was in 1955, when he fractured his skull during a tour of Sweden.[7] The crash nearly cost him his life and he missed four years of speedway.[5]

Lewis averaged 10.43 and 10.32 during the 1960 and 1961 seasons respectively,[8] and scored 2,435 points over 339 appearances for Poole.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 7 January 2024.
  2. Web site: 1950 season . Speedway Researcher . 7 January 2024.
  3. Book: Oakes, Peter . 1978 Speedway Yearbook . 1978 . Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd . 978-0904584509.
  4. Web site: Tony Lewis . WWOS backup . 7 January 2024.
  5. Web site: The History of Poole Speedway . Poole Speedway . 7 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 7 January 2024.
  7. News: Speedway man hurt . Hull Daily Mail . 15 October 1955 . 7 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  8. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 7 January 2024.