Jack Parker (speedway rider): Difference between revisions

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Jack Parker (1907 – 1990) was an international 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.

Biography

Parker was born in Birmingham England.^[1] His early employment was in the experimental department of BSA, where his talent for racing became apparent.^[2] He represented the company in road races, including the Isle of Man TT.^[2] 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.^[2]

He joined the Coventry team in 1929 at Foleshill Stadium, becoming the team captain, and switching to a Douglas bike.^[2] His brother Norman also rode in the Coventry team in 1930.^[2] He joined Southampton in 1931, and successfully challenged Vic Huxley for the title of British Individual Champion.^[2] Also in 1931, he captained England for the first time and set a new British Mile Record.^[2] 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.^[2]

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.^[2] The team relocated to Harringay where he was re-united with his brother Norman.

In May 1930, he had two fingers amputated after slicing the tops off them attempting to repair his car, returning from a meeting.^{[citation needed]}

After the war Parker spent much of his career with the Belle Vue Aces.^[2] He won the British Riders' Championship in 1947.^[2] 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.^[2] He took the title back in 1951, eventually losing it to Split Waterman.^[2]

A car crash in Australia during the 1951/52 close season left him seriously injured, and he never regained his top form, retiring from the sport in 1954.^[2]

Jack Parker was involved in the post-war re-introduction of speedway to Coventry's Brandon Stadium where the team are known as the Bees.^{[citation needed]}

World Final Appearances

Parker qualified for the first World Championship final in 1936, but missed it due to injury.^[2] His best finish was second place in 1949.^[3]

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

References

^ Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited
^ ^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
^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5

External links

Biography of Jack Parker

Template:Persondata

[1] Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited

[Hoare-2] ^ ^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

[3] Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5

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@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Parker was born in [[Birmingham]] [[England]].<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 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 [[Speedway National League|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 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" />
 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.