Grosskreutz + the Golden Helmet Controversy

[Guest]

I find this thread on Max Grosskreutz absolutely fascinating. Great dedicated work on your part iris123.

[iris123 20,986]

That’s quite a turnaround Gustix. Last week you was laughing at everything I posted. Still I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. Thanks 

[iris123 20,986]

Max Grosskreutz (1906 – 1994) - A Legend in the History of the Speedway Machine

From a very early age, Maximillian (Max) Grosskreutz had a yearning to become a speedway rider. Max was born at Foxdale in 1906, the youngest of eleven children of William Grosskreutz, a German who had emigrated to Australia as a child in 1873 and eventually purchased a sugar cane farm in Proserpine in 1897.  

When not helping in the cane fields, Max would be off riding his motor cycle, much to the annoyance of the neighbours. But that did not faze him. Nor did a serious accident when he rode into a barbed wire fence. He began his motor-cycle career on a makeshift grass track at the showgrounds in Bowen, riding his Indian Scout road bike to win his first race with the prize money of £10.

In 1928, Max moved to Brisbane where, as a 22 year old, he won the Australian Title at Davies Park (becoming the first official Australian Champion). Thus began a meteoric rise to fame and he became the greatest idol the Brisbane speedway-going public had ever had, known to fans as “The Northern Flash”.

In 1929, he was signed up to ride in England. For ten years, Max raced for several British clubs regularly returning for the Australian season. In 1930, Max rode in the first official Test against England and then made forty-one consecutive appearances against England, over seven years. In 1935, he finished third in the Star Riders’ Championship – the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship. In 1936, he won both NSW and Australian Championships.

When war broke out in 1939, Max and his family secured a passage on the last ship to leave England, settling in Sydney. But once hostilities ceased, Max returned to racing on Friday nights at the Sydney Sports Ground. In 1946, he was again NSW Champion. This success persuaded him to return 

to the UK for the 1947 season, again proving a great drawcard. In 1948, he broke three track records in a week, however after a serious crash on August 2, at the age of 42, he decided to call it a day.  

The “pudding basin” helmets, heavy black belted armour and bulky cumbersome machines made the speedway circuit no place for the faint-hearted. But Max was not of the faint-hearted – he rode with an injured neck, jaw, cracked ribs and even a chipped skull. Twice he was reported dead! Max once said, “You haven’t got to be mad to be a speedway rider, but it helps.”

Max Grosskreutz was not just a successful speedway rider; he was also a pioneer in the sport. In 1934, when he inspired an Australian Test victory over England, Max had ridden a machine of his own design built from pieces discarded by fellow riders - the prototype of the now famous Grosskreutz frames.

Max was offered substantial amounts of money for his secret. In an interview in 1992, he recalled – “It was easy because the bike was much lighter. My engine was put back in the centre. They were all forward, that was their problem. They didn’t wake up for a long time. They started to catch up when I sold my bike to Bluey Wilkinson.” In 1936, when Wilkinson won all of the world final races mounted on one of Max’s frames, orders poured in and so it was that the Grosskreutz frame generated the standard design of frames to follow.

Proserpine salutes your memory, Max Grosskreutz, a world-beating sporting hero from our small town.

Story courtesy of Proserpine Historical Museum and photos from “Speedway Past Australia”

https://www.mackayandwhitsundaylife.com/article/from-the-bush-to-the-big-time

[chunky 6,093]

You know, out of all the early stars of the sport, I probably know less about Max Grosskreutz than any other rider! As a kid, I certainly knew of him, alongside Farndon, Kuhn, Huxley, Johnson, Milne etc, but funny thing is, I have no idea where he should fit in status-wise. He was obviously a class act - but to what level?

His best finish in a Star Championship was 3rd, never reached a World Final, and was "only" Aussie Champion twice. His league averages generally nothing to write home about, and his highest average came well into his career - in the second division. Yet he is often classed as a "legend".

There doesn't seem to be a great deal of info about him readily available, and what there is, doesn't really answer any questions. Can anyone help? Doug? Norman?

I do find stuff like this fascinating...

[Humphrey Appleby 13,957]

12 hours ago, iris123 said:

In 1928, Max moved to Brisbane where, as a 22 year old, he won the Australian Title at Davies Park (becoming the first official Australian Champion). Thus began a meteoric rise to fame and he became the greatest idol the Brisbane speedway-going public had ever had, known to fans as “The Northern Flash”.

I lived for a while near Davies Park - which still exists as a Rugby League ground. I had no idea that it had staged speedway. 

[chunky 6,093]

45 minutes ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

I lived for a while near Davies Park - which still exists as a Rugby League ground. I had no idea that it had staged speedway. 

It wasn't around for long, but here is some more info.

http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/brisbane---davies-park-speedway.html

https://highgatehill-historical-vignettes.com/2021/05/01/davies-park-story/

[iris123 20,986]

15 hours ago, chunky said:

You know, out of all the early stars of the sport, I probably know less about Max Grosskreutz than any other rider! As a kid, I certainly knew of him, alongside Farndon, Kuhn, Huxley, Johnson, Milne etc, but funny thing is, I have no idea where he should fit in status-wise. He was obviously a class act - but to what level?

His best finish in a Star Championship was 3rd, never reached a World Final, and was "only" Aussie Champion twice. His league averages generally nothing to write home about, and his highest average came well into his career - in the second division. Yet he is often classed as a "legend".

There doesn't seem to be a great deal of info about him readily available, and what there is, doesn't really answer any questions. Can anyone help? Doug? Norman?

I do find stuff like this fascinating...

I do seem to recall a period, i think from 1934-36 when he was certainly one of the best in the world. He certainly went well in what were some of the major meetings of the season. The England v Australia test series. Taking a guess that he was injured in one, and then missed the next couple. One being his home track of Belle Vue in 1936. I also seem to recall he had some good races for the UK Golden Helmet one of those seasons

Plus ,and of course it was the year of the first proper World Championship, he did win the major-ish Aussie series in 1936. And i am wondering if the injury (guess) in the Test match also kept him out of the world championship qualis that season. Which would have been his best chance most probably. Looking on Speedway Researcher he was looking pretty formidable, almost unbeatable at Hyde Road, and then missed over a month i think.......Unfortunately the Golden Helmet history was on the Speedway History site, which seems to have disappeared......

 

1936

1.V.Huxley,N.Key, S.Langton

2. B.Wilkinson,C.Parkinson.S.Perkins

3.J.Milne, McLachlan, A.Atkinson

4.W.Phillips, D.Haigh, B.Lamont

5. T.Stevenson, F.Pearce

6.M.Grosskreutz, C.Mitchell, R.Stobart

Semi finals

1. V.Huxley, B.Wilkinson, C.Mitchell

2.W.Phillips,J.Milne, N.Key

3. M.Grosskreutz, T.Stevenson, C.Parkinson

Final

M.Grosskreutz, V.Huxley, W.Phillips

Although i'd sort of say the 'legend' title is more regional (Brisbane) than international

Edited February 12 by iris123

[chunky 6,093]

7 hours ago, iris123 said:

I do seem to recall a period, i think from 1934-36 when he was certainly one of the best in the world. He certainly went well in what were some of the major meetings of the season. The England v Australia test series. Taking a guess that he was injured in one, and then missed the next couple. One being his home track of Belle Vue in 1936. I also seem to recall he had some good races for the UK Golden Helmet one of those seasons

Plus ,and of course it was the year of the first proper World Championship, he did win the major-ish Aussie series in 1936. And i am wondering if the injury (guess) in the Test match also kept him out of the world championship qualis that season. Which would have been his best chance most probably. Looking on Speedway Researcher he was looking pretty formidable, almost unbeatable at Hyde Road, and then missed over a month i think.......Unfortunately the Golden Helmet history was on the Speedway History site, which seems to have disappeared......

 

1936

1.V.Huxley,N.Key, S.Langton

2. B.Wilkinson,C.Parkinson.S.Perkins

3.J.Milne, McLachlan, A.Atkinson

4.W.Phillips, D.Haigh, B.Lamont

5. T.Stevenson, F.Pearce

6.M.Grosskreutz, C.Mitchell, R.Stobart

Semi finals

1. V.Huxley, B.Wilkinson, C.Mitchell

2.W.Phillips,J.Milne, N.Key

3. M.Grosskreutz, T.Stevenson, C.Parkinson

Final

M.Grosskreutz, V.Huxley, W.Phillips

Although i'd sort of say the 'legend' title is more regional (Brisbane) than international

Thanks for that! At least it gives me somewhere more specific to look. Looking at 1934-36, only the last of those years produced a 10-point average, although I do wonder about the accuracy of some of those figures. What I will say is that it appears he actually got better with age! Still, I will have a more in-depth poke around...

[Bavarian 767]

8 hours ago, iris123 said:

.......Unfortunately the Golden Helmet history was on the Speedway History site, which seems to have disappeared......

 

It's here https://speedwaychampions.yolasite.com/golden-helmet-champions.php

[iris123 20,986]

On 2/12/2024 at 8:49 AM, chunky said:

It wasn't around for long, but here is some more info.

http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/brisbane---davies-park-speedway.html

https://highgatehill-historical-vignettes.com/2021/05/01/davies-park-story/

Interesting mention of speedway in Shanghai, China there

[Bavarian 767]

2 hours ago, iris123 said:

Interesting mention of speedway in Shanghai, China there

Shanghai Speedway was promoted by an Australien entrepreneur, Mr. Les Levante, who leased the local greyhound stadium. The first speedway meeting in Shanghai was held on Sunday, June 1, 1930, featuring eleven Australian riders. There were no local riders involved. 

Levante's touring party had initially travelled from Brisbane to Manila, where a track was constructed in a baseball stadium. For some reason, speedway racing did not catch on in the Philippines, and after only a short stay, Levante and his troupe of riders went on to China. The arrangement with the stadium in Shanghai also was only for a short space of time, and according to the support given, would or would not become a permanent institution in Shanghai. But as in Manila, it didn't catch on in Shanghai, either.

The names of the eleven speedway riders, who went on this enterprising tour of East Asia in 1930, they are Arthur Yenson, Jack Allen, Mannie Scofell, Harry Lillistone, Billy Lunn, Les Lawrence, Harold Meston, Harry Radford, Len Street, Bernie Rein, and Tommie Tompkins.    

[iris123 20,986]

6 minutes ago, Bavarian said:

Shanghai Speedway was promoted by an Australien entrepreneur, Mr. Les Levante, who leased the local greyhound stadium. The first speedway meeting in Shanghai was held on Sunday, June 1, 1930, featuring eleven Australian riders. There were no local riders involved. 

Levante's touring party had initially travelled from Brisbane to Manila, where a track was constructed in a baseball stadium. For some reason, speedway racing did not catch on in the Philippines, and after only a short stay, Levante and his troupe of riders went on to China. The arrangement with the stadium in Shanghai also was only for a short space of time, and according to the support given, would or would not become a permanent institution in Shanghai. But as in Manila, it didn't catch on in Shanghai, either.

The names of the eleven speedway riders, who went on this enterprising tour of East Asia in 1930, they are Arthur Yenson, Jack Allen, Mannie Scofell, Harry Lillistone, Billy Lunn, Les Lawrence, Harold Meston, Harry Radford, Len Street, Bernie Rein, and Tommie Tompkins.    

Great stuff. Lucky i didn't post, as i was going to say, seeing as there wouldn't be any greyhound stadiums in China, where would it have been held ?  And there were !!! I tried to find out where it might have been held, but could only find an Athletic stadium that was built in 1934. So too late

Thanks

[Bavarian 767]

I have just discovered on Wikipedia that in 1930 they had not just one, but in fact THREE greyhound tracks in Shanghai. 

Here is a 1930s picture with an outside view of the most impressive of the three Shanghai greyhound tracks, the "Canidrome" Greyhound Stadium. This was a pretty impressive building, but this is not the one, where the speedway racing took place. The speedway was staged at the Shen Garden Stadium, owned by the Shanghai Greyhound Racing Club.  

The "Canidrome" was one of three dog racing tracks to be built in Shanghai in 1927–1928. The first was Luna Park ("Ming Garden" in Chinese), opened in May 1928. In 1932, the Municipal Council of the Shanghai International Settlement closed Luna Park down because of concerns about gambling, and thereafter it became a general amusement park. The second was the Stadium ("Shen Garden" in Chinese), owned by the Shanghai Greyhound Racing Club, which was also closed down by the Municipal Council in 1932, and thereafter became a sports stadium, and is now the Jing'an Workers Stadium. The Canidrome, being under French jurisdiction in the French Concession, was the sole survivor after 1932. It was also the largest of the three stadiums.

 

On SPEEDWAY PLUS there is a short article written byTony Webb about the Shanghai Speedway http://www.speedwayplus.com/Shanghai.shtml

 

[Bavarian 767]

This here is an actual picture of the Shanghai Greyhound Track, the Stadium, where speedway racing took place in June of 1930 

 

[chunky 6,093]

5 hours ago, iris123 said:

Interesting mention of speedway in Shanghai, China there

What about speedway in Japan? There were several western riders who made a name for themselves over there. Rioner Revy, Loy Claighead, Lonnie Moole, Rouis Rawson etc...