Bruce Abernethy (speedway rider) explained

Bruce Abernethy
Birth Date: 14 May 1926
Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Death Place:New Zealand
Career1:Great Britain
Years2:1948–1951
Career2:Wembley Lions
Indivyear1:1950, 1951
Indivhonour1:New Zealand champion
Teamyear1:1949, 1950, 1951
Teamyear2:1949, 1950, 1951
Teamhonour2:London Cup

Bruce Mackenzie Abernethy (14 May 1926 – 2 April 1999) was a motorcycle speedway rider from New Zealand.[1]

Career

Abernethy purchased his first motorcycle in 1946 and competed in beach racing and hill climbs before taking up speedway when the Hutt speedway track in Lower Hutt opened in December 1947.[2] During his first season he was approached by Wally Kilmister who arranged for him to ride for the Wembley Lions in the 1948 Speedway National League.[3] He was loaned out for most of the year to the Rayleigh Rockets team which competed in some third division challenge matches. From 1949 to 1951 he was included in the Wembley team and helped the team win three consecutive league titles in 1949, 1950 and 1951.[4] [5] He broke the Wembley track record in 1951.[6]

He won the New Zealand Speedway Championship in 1950 and 1951[7] and although he didn't ride in the UK after 1951, he continued to compete in New Zealand until 1959.

In 1964 and 1965 he drove a Cooper Climax in the Tasman Series.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Bruce Abernethy . British Speedway . 25 July 2023.
  2. News: Glamour star of the cinder track . Evening Post . 8 April 1999 . 007.
  3. Book: Batt, Allan. Flat out!!!: the story of the Hutt Speedway 1947-1954. Speedway Classics. 2008. 11. 9780473135478.
  4. News: Norman Parker was No.1 . Daily Mirror . 28 March 1950 . 25 July 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. Web site: A_Z of Rider Averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 25 July 2023.
  6. News: Abernethy sets track record . Daily News (London) . 15 June 1951 . 25 July 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. Web site: HISTORYCZNE ZESTAWIENIE WYNIKÓW 1929-2023 . Speedway History . 25 July 2023.