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{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
'''Jack Parker''' (1905 – 1990) was an international [[motorcycle speedway|speedway]] rider who made his debut at the [[Whitsun]] meeting at High Beech in 1928. He won the British Riders' Championship in 1949 and finished second in the 1949 World Championship.
| name = Jack Parker
| image = File:Jack_Parker_motorcycle_speedway_rider_cigarette_card.png
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1905|10|9}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|12|31|1905|10|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Birmingham]], England
| death_place = Birmingham, England
| years1 = 1929-1930
| career1 = [[Coventry Bees|Coventry]]
| years2 = 1931-1932
| career2 = [[Southampton Saints]]
| years3 = 1932-1933
| career3 = [[Lea Bridge (speedway)|Clapton Saints]]
| years4 = 1934-1939
| career4 = [[Harringay Tigers (speedway)|Harringay Tigers]]
| years5 = 1946-1954
| career5 = [[Belle Vue Aces]]
| indivyear1 = 1934
| indivhonour1 = [[Star Riders' Championship|Star Riders' Champion]]
| indivyear2 = 1932
| indivhonour2 = [[Speedway World Championship#Unofficial World Championships|Dirt Track Championnat du Monde]]
| indivyear3 = 1947
| indivhonour3 = [[British Riders' Championship|British Riders' Champion]]
| teamyear1 = 1946, 1947, 1949
| teamhonour1 = National Trophy winner
| teamyear2 = 1946
| teamhonour2 = National League Cup winner
| teamyear3 = 1935
| teamhonour3 = London Cup winner
}}
'''John (Jack) Parker''' (1905 &ndash; 1989) was an international [[motorcycle speedway]] rider who made his debut at the [[Whitsun]] meeting at High Beech in 1928. He won the British Riders' Championship in 1949 and finished second in the 1949 World Championship.<ref>{{cite book|last=Montague|first=Trevor|title=The A-Z of Sport|year=2004|page=527|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0-316-72645-1}}</ref> He earned 89 international caps for the [[England national speedway team]].<ref name=URI>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Parker was born in [[Birmingham]] [[England]] on 9 October 1905.<ref>Addison J. (1948). ''The People Speedway Guide''. Odhams Press Limited</ref> His early employment was in the experimental department of [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]], where his talent for racing became apparent.<ref name="Hoare">Hoare, Ron (1963) "The Jack Parker Story" in ''Speedway Digest 1963'', p. 13-13-15, 52</ref> He represented the company in road races, including the [[Isle of Man TT]].<ref name="Hoare" /> He took part in some of the earliest dirt-track races at High Beech, initially riding a stripped-down road bike, but later a specially adapted BSA.<ref name="Hoare" />
Parker was born in [[Birmingham]], England, on 9 October 1905.<ref>Addison J. (1948). ''The People Speedway Guide''. Odhams Press Limited</ref> His early employment was in the experimental department of [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]], where his talent for racing became apparent.<ref name="Hoare">Hoare, Ron (1963) "The Jack Parker Story" in ''Speedway Digest 1963'', p. 13-13-15, 52</ref> He represented the company in road races, including the [[Isle of Man TT]].<ref name="Hoare" /> He took part in some of the earliest dirt-track races at High Beech, initially riding a stripped-down road bike, but later a specially adapted BSA.<ref name="Hoare" />


He joined the Coventry team in 1929 at the Lythalls Lane, Foleshill, stadium, becoming the team captain, and switching to a Douglas bike.<ref name="Hoare" /> His brother [[Norman Parker (speedway rider)|Norman]] also rode in the Coventry team in 1930.<ref name="Hoare" /> He joined [[Southampton Saints|Southampton]] in 1931, and successfully challenged [[Vic Huxley]] for the title of British Individual Champion.<ref name="Hoare" /> Also in 1931, he captained [[England national speedway team|England]] for the first time and set a new British Mile Record.<ref name="Hoare" /> In 1932 the new [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] began. The team relocated mid-season to [[Lea Bridge (speedway)|Lea Bridge]] (becoming Clapton Saints), and Parker captained England in three test matches that year.<ref name="Hoare" />
He joined the Coventry team in 1929 at the stadium at Lythalls Lane, Foleshill, becoming the team captain, and switching to a Douglas bike.<ref name="Hoare" /> His brother [[Norman Parker (speedway rider)|Norman]] also rode in the Coventry team in 1930.<ref name="Hoare" /> He joined [[Southampton Saints|Southampton]] in 1931, and successfully challenged [[Vic Huxley]] for the title of British Individual Champion.<ref name="Hoare" /> Also in 1931, he captained England for the first time and set a new British Mile Record.<ref name="Hoare" /> In 1932, the new [[National League (1932–1964)|National League]] began. The team relocated mid-season to [[Lea Bridge (speedway)|Lea Bridge]] (becoming Clapton Saints), and Parker captained England in three test matches that year.<ref name="Hoare" /> He won the [[Speedway World Championship#Unofficial World Championships|Dirt Track Championnat du Monde]] (an early version of the [[Speedway World Championship]] and rival of the [[Star Riders' Championship]]) at [[Stade Buffalo]] in Paris during 1932.


After good early season form in 1933, Parker broke a leg in a crash towards the end of the season, but still topped the rider [[Calculated Match Average|average]]s in 1933.<ref name="Hoare" /> The team relocated to Harringay where he was re-united with his brother Norman.
After good early season form in 1933, Parker broke a leg in a crash towards the end of the season, but still topped the rider [[Calculated Match Average|average]]s in 1933.<ref name="Hoare" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> The team relocated to Harringay where he was re-united with his brother Norman.


After the war Parker spent much of his career with the [[Belle Vue Aces]].<ref name="Hoare" /> He won the [[British Riders' Championship]] in 1947.<ref name="Hoare" /> He was also match race champion on and off from 1946 to 1947, holding the title through 1948, 1949 and most of 1950, only losing the title at the end of the 1950 season to [[Aub Lawson]].<ref name="Hoare" /> He took the title back in 1951, eventually losing it to [[Split Waterman]].<ref name="Hoare" />
After the war Parker spent much of his career with the [[Belle Vue Aces]].<ref name="Hoare" /> He won the [[British Riders' Championship]],<ref name="Hoare" /> and captained England in 1947.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000669/19470627/094/0005 |title=England's speedway test team |website=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=27 June 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 October 2024 }}</ref> He was also match race champion on and off from 1946 to 1947, holding the title through 1948, 1949 and most of 1950, only losing the title at the end of the 1950 season to [[Aub Lawson]].<ref name="Hoare" /> He took the title back in 1951, eventually losing it to [[Split Waterman]].<ref name="Hoare" />


A regular visitor to [[Australia]] during his career where he raced at venues such as the [[Sydney Showground Speedway]], [[Sydney Sports Ground]], the [[Adelaide Showgrounds|Wayville Showground]] in [[Adelaide]], [[Perth]]'s [[Claremont Showgrounds|Claremont Speedway]], and the [[Brisbane Exhibition Ground]]. He won the [[Australian Individual Speedway Championship|1938 Australian Championship]] at the Camden Motordrome in Adelaide, defeating [[Cordy Milne]] ([[United States of America|USA]]) and Frank Woodroofe in the 5 lap final. He also won the 1950/51 and 1951/52 [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|New South Wales State Championships]] at the Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Showground respectively.
A regular visitor to Australia during his career where he raced at venues such as the [[Sydney Showground Speedway]], [[Sydney Sports Ground]], the [[Adelaide Showgrounds|Wayville Showground]] in Adelaide, [[Perth]]'s [[Claremont Speedway]], and the [[Brisbane Exhibition Ground]]. He won the [[Australian Individual Speedway Championship|1938 Australian Championship]] at the Camden Motordrome in Adelaide, defeating [[Cordy Milne]] and Frank Woodroofe in the 5 lap final. He also won the 1950/51 and 1951/52 [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|New South Wales State Championships]] at the Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Showground respectively. During his time in Australia, Parker was also a regular captain of the England team in test matches against the [[Australia national speedway team|Australians]] (who included such riders as [[Lionel Van Praag]], [[Bluey Wilkinson]], [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]], Aub Lawson and [[Vic Duggan]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway Test team |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=1 February 1950 |access-date=28 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19500201/111/0006 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

During his time in Australia, Parker was also a regular captain of the [[Great Britain national speedway team|Great Britain]] team in test matches against the [[Australia national speedway team|Australians]] (who included such riders as [[Lionel Van Praag]], [[Bluey Wilkinson]], [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]], Aub Lawson and [[Vic Duggan]]).


Parker was involved in a car crash in Australia during the 1951/52 season which left him seriously injured, and he never regained his top form. He retired from active speedway racing in 1954.<ref name="Hoare" />
Parker was involved in a car crash in Australia during the 1951/52 season which left him seriously injured, and he never regained his top form. He retired from active speedway racing in 1954.<ref name="Hoare" />


Parker died in 1990 at the age of 84.{{cn|date=December 2014}}
Parker died in December 1989 at the age of 84.{{cn|date=December 2014}}


==World Final Appearances==
==World Final Appearances==
Parker qualified for the first World Championship final in 1936, but missed it due to injury.<ref name="Hoare" /> His best finish was second place in 1949.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5</ref>
Parker qualified for the first World Championship final in 1936, but missed it due to injury.<ref name="Hoare" /> His best finish was second place in 1949.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref>

⚫
* [[1936 Individual Speedway World Championship|1936]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 14th - 12 semi-final points
⚫
* [[1937 Individual Speedway World Championship|1937]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 4th - 10pts + 11 semi-final points
⚫
* [[1938 Individual Speedway World Championship|1938]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 10th - 6pts + 4 semi-final points
⚫
* [[1949 Individual Speedway World Championship|1949]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''2nd''' - 14pts
⚫
* [[1950 Individual Speedway World Championship|1950]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 8pts
⚫
* [[1951 Individual Speedway World Championship|1951]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 10pts


==Players cigarette cards==
⚫
* [[1936 Individual Speedway World Championship|1936]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 14th - 12 semi-final points
Parker is listed as number 35 of 50 in the 1930s Player's [[cigarette card]] collection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/playerscigarettecards7.html|title=Speedway Riders|website=Speedway Museum Online|access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref>
⚫
* [[1937 Individual Speedway World Championship|1937]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 4th - 10pts + 11 semi-final points
⚫
* [[1938 Individual Speedway World Championship|1938]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 10th - 6pts + 4 semi-final points
⚫
* [[1949 Individual Speedway World Championship|1949]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - '''2nd''' - 14pts
⚫
* [[1950 Individual Speedway World Championship|1950]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 6th - 8pts
⚫
* [[1951 Individual Speedway World Championship|1951]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 5th - 10pts


==References==
==References==
Line 35: Line 68:
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.motorsport-fanatic.co.uk/speedway-parker.htm Biography of Jack Parker]
*[http://www.motorsport-fanatic.co.uk/speedway-parker.htm Biography of Jack Parker]
*[http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/High%20Beech.htm High Beech Speedway] with tale of Parker's last ride in February 1978 at the 50th Anniversary, for [[Len Silver]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Jack}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Jack}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:British speedway riders]]
[[Category:British speedway riders]]
[[Category:English motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:English motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:Coventry Bees riders]]
[[Category:Coventry Bees riders]]
[[Category:Harringay Racers riders]]
[[Category:Harringay Tigers riders]]
[[Category:Belle Vue Aces riders]]
[[Category:Belle Vue Aces riders]]
[[Category:Southampton Saints riders]]
[[Category:Southampton Saints riders]]

Latest revision as of 08:51, 4 October 2024

Jack Parker
Born(1905-10-09)9 October 1905
Birmingham, England
Died31 December 1989(1989-12-31) (aged 84)
Birmingham, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1929-1930Coventry
1931-1932Southampton Saints
1932-1933Clapton Saints
1934-1939Harringay Tigers
1946-1954Belle Vue Aces
Individual honours
1934Star Riders' Champion
1932Dirt Track Championnat du Monde
1947British Riders' Champion
Team honours
1946, 1947, 1949National Trophy winner
1946National League Cup winner
1935London Cup winner

John (Jack) Parker (1905 – 1989) was an international motorcycle speedway rider who made his debut at the Whitsun meeting at High Beech in 1928. He won the British Riders' Championship in 1949 and finished second in the 1949 World Championship.[1] He earned 89 international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]

Biography

[edit]

Parker was born in Birmingham, England, on 9 October 1905.[3] His early employment was in the experimental department of BSA, where his talent for racing became apparent.[4] He represented the company in road races, including the Isle of Man TT.[4] He took part in some of the earliest dirt-track races at High Beech, initially riding a stripped-down road bike, but later a specially adapted BSA.[4]

He joined the Coventry team in 1929 at the stadium at Lythalls Lane, Foleshill, becoming the team captain, and switching to a Douglas bike.[4] His brother Norman also rode in the Coventry team in 1930.[4] He joined Southampton in 1931, and successfully challenged Vic Huxley for the title of British Individual Champion.[4] Also in 1931, he captained England for the first time and set a new British Mile Record.[4] In 1932, the new National League began. The team relocated mid-season to Lea Bridge (becoming Clapton Saints), and Parker captained England in three test matches that year.[4] He won the Dirt Track Championnat du Monde (an early version of the Speedway World Championship and rival of the Star Riders' Championship) at Stade Buffalo in Paris during 1932.

After good early season form in 1933, Parker broke a leg in a crash towards the end of the season, but still topped the rider averages in 1933.[4][5] The team relocated to Harringay where he was re-united with his brother Norman.

After the war Parker spent much of his career with the Belle Vue Aces.[4] He won the British Riders' Championship,[4] and captained England in 1947.[6] He was also match race champion on and off from 1946 to 1947, holding the title through 1948, 1949 and most of 1950, only losing the title at the end of the 1950 season to Aub Lawson.[4] He took the title back in 1951, eventually losing it to Split Waterman.[4]

A regular visitor to Australia during his career where he raced at venues such as the Sydney Showground Speedway, Sydney Sports Ground, the Wayville Showground in Adelaide, Perth's Claremont Speedway, and the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. He won the 1938 Australian Championship at the Camden Motordrome in Adelaide, defeating Cordy Milne and Frank Woodroofe in the 5 lap final. He also won the 1950/51 and 1951/52 New South Wales State Championships at the Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Showground respectively. During his time in Australia, Parker was also a regular captain of the England team in test matches against the Australians (who included such riders as Lionel Van Praag, Bluey Wilkinson, Jack Young, Aub Lawson and Vic Duggan).[7]

Parker was involved in a car crash in Australia during the 1951/52 season which left him seriously injured, and he never regained his top form. He retired from active speedway racing in 1954.[4]

Parker died in December 1989 at the age of 84.[citation needed]

World Final Appearances

[edit]

Parker qualified for the first World Championship final in 1936, but missed it due to injury.[4] His best finish was second place in 1949.[8]

  • 1936 - England London, Wembley Stadium - 14th - 12 semi-final points
  • 1937 - England London, Wembley Stadium - 4th - 10pts + 11 semi-final points
  • 1938 - England London, Wembley Stadium - 10th - 6pts + 4 semi-final points
  • 1949 - England London, Wembley Stadium - 2nd - 14pts
  • 1950 - England London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 8pts
  • 1951 - England London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 10pts

Players cigarette cards

[edit]

Parker is listed as number 35 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 527. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.
  2. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hoare, Ron (1963) "The Jack Parker Story" in Speedway Digest 1963, p. 13-13-15, 52
  5. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  6. ^ "England's speedway test team". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 27 June 1947. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Speedway Test team". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 1 February 1950. Retrieved 28 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
  9. ^ "Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
[edit]
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