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Reg West

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Reg West
Born24 April 1907 (1907-04-24)
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Died21 April 1968(1968-04-21) (aged 60)
Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1931Manchester (Belle Vue)
Individual honours
1930Australian Solo Championship (2 miles)

Reginald Aldgate West also known as Reg Thorne (24 April 1907 – 21 April 1968) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Australia.[1]

Biography

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West, born in Launceston, Tasmania and won the 2 miles Australian Solo Championship in 1930.[2]

West travelled to the United Kingdom for the first time in 1931[3] and later began his British leagues career riding for the Manchester Belle Vue team that took over the fixtures of Harringary Canaries following their withdrawal during the 1931 Speedway Southern League season.[4] He averaged 6.00.[5]

As was the bizarre practice by a small number of speedway riders at the time he rode as Reg Thorne in later years, signing for West Ham Hammers in 1933 but not actually appearing for them.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Famous Australian's Visit to Sheffield". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 21 May 1931. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "1931 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Speedway". Daily Herald. 1 June 1933. Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.