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Jack Chapman (speedway rider)

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Jack Chapman
Born3 March 1907 (1907-03-03)
Adelaide, Australia
Died14 February 1994(1994-02-14) (aged 86)
City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, Adelaide
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1930Sheffield Blades
1932Stamford Bridge Pensioners
1933Wimbledon Dons
1933Nottingham
1934Birmingham Bulldogs
1939Harringay Tigers
1939Edinburgh Thistles
Individual honours
1930Australian champion (3 lap)
Team honours
1932National Association Trophy

Wenley Jack Chapman (3 March 1907 – 14 February 1994) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2] He earned 17 official and unofficial international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[3]

Biography

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Chapman, born in Adelaide, was credited with holding the world mile record in 1928.[4] He was one of the early pioneers of speedway, particularly in the United Kingdom, when he travelled over from Australia for the second season of the sport in 1929.[5]

After making one just cup appearance for the Sheffield in 1929, he returned home for the 1930 Australian season and became the 1930 Australian champion over 3 laps.[6] He began his British leagues career riding for Sheffield Blades during the 1930 Speedway Northern League season.[7] He averaged 8.41 for the Sheffield team.[8]

He missed the 1931 season but joined Stamford Bridge Pensioners in 1932,[9] a season where he also captained the Australian select team.[10]

In 1933, he rode for Nottingham and also made a couple of appearances for Wimbledon Dons.[11] However, in 1934, the entire Nottingham team was transferred to the Birmingham Bulldogs, following the demise of the Nottingham team.[12]

After the 1934 season, Chapman returned home once again but this time stayed in Australia, selling Motorcycles in Adelaide.[13] Five years later in 1939, Chapman now aged 32, made a comeback, joining the Harringay Tigers,[14] Before finishing his UK career with Edinburgh Thistles, operating at Marine Gardens in Portobello.

References

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  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Frank Duckett and Jack Chapman, PRG 1631/101/32, Photograph". State Library of Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Australia". International Speedway. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Glasgow Speedway results". The Scotsman. 13 May 1929. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Glasgow Speedway results". The Scotsman. 13 May 1929. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. ^ "1930 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Return of Stars". Daily Herald. 16 March 1932. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Southampton Beaten". Daily News (London). 21 April 1932. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Nottingham team Move to Hall Green". Nottingham Evening Post. 28 February 1934. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Wembley remembers the Old Timers". Sunday Mirror. 11 August 1935. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Speedway stars will soon adopt football training methods". Manchester Evening News. 15 May 1939. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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