1934-36 Luton

[Guest]

I would appreciate if more details other than that in the LINK can be offered in regard to Luton.

This track is generally recognised as being where Tommy Price first gained prominence - which culminated in being England's first speedway world champion in 1949.

What has happened to the site where the speedway was in recent times?

http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Luton.htm

Edited February 23, 2017 by Guest

[Guest compost]

There are some details regarding the 1935 season at

 

http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/luton.html

[HertsRacer 222]

I would appreciate if more details other than that in the LINK can be offered in regard to Luton.

This track is generally recognised as being where Tommy Price first gained prominence - which culminated in being England's first speedway world champion in 1949.

What has happened to the site where the speedway was in recent times?

http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Luton.htm

The stadium was built by the Luton and Dunstable Greyhound Racing Club in 1931 on the south side of the Dunstable Road and east side of Skimpot Road in Luton. The speedway track was 311 yards in length and operated from 1934 to 1936. The stadium closed in November 1973, and is now the site of industrial units. It was primarily used as a training track for the Wembley Lions riders and mainly ran junior matches and open meetings. The team was known as the Luton Hatters.

Though the speedway closed in 1936 there were ambitious plans for the 1937 season as the following newspaper article shows

 

Luton News and Chronicle 15 Oct 1936 talking about the 1937 season.

‘We are to have a resumption of speedway in Luton, I hope it will be more successful than last season. People with knowledge of the game told me the track is splendidly laid out, as one would expect from the fact that Luton Stadium authorities had advice from no less an expert as Jim Kempster.

The reason for the failure last season was because there were not sufficient competition at the meetings. The riding was “friendly matches” with no league championship to fight for.

Well when the game resumes at Luton the club will be members of The Provincial League. A company has been formed, and the speedway is to be leased to the company. There will probably be a little arrangement of the track in order to ensure greater speed for the circuit – more oval in shape.

All this I am told by Arthur Westwood, who has achieved no little success on the track, and a good deal as a manager. He says the new company will be styled The Luton Speedways Ltd , and he himself will be managing director. There will be affiliation to the ACU, and arrangements are being made to sign experienced riders, and to enter the Provincial League”.

 

Westwood started organising regular social events for the supporters to build up enthusiasm for the coming season, but sadly nothing further happened. It is believed financial difficulties together with increased noise complaints put an end to Luton.

Edited February 23, 2017 by HertsRacer

[HertsRacer 222]

A picture of Luton Stadium taken a few years before closure . Copyright - Dunstable Gazette, Herald & Post.

 

[cityrebel 2,960]

Excellent photo of a stadium that I have never seen before.

[Guest compost]

Superb photo. Guess they must have raced at the weekend as there is no sign of floodlights (can't see a car park for spectators either unless off the bottom right of the picture).

 

Seeing how close the track was to the factory next door presumably it the weekend racing that lead to the noise complaints that closed it.

 

It goes to show that NIMBY's and noise is not a modern (ish when you think of Romford in 1971 ?) excuse to close tracks.

[Guest]

The South African rider Keith Harvey was among regular starters in the meetings staged at Luton.