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Whitley Bay
Speedway
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Tyneside
Speedways Ltd introduced Dirt Track Racing to the Tyneside public when they laid
a 440 yard dirt track around the Rockcliffe Rugby Club's pitch in the Hillheads
ground on the outskirts of the seaside town of Whitley Bay. This was in
1929 and pre-dates the first speedway at Newcastle's Brough Park by a month.
![](whitley%20bay%201929%20magazine%20clip.jpg)
Unfortunately racing at Whitley Bay only lasted 2 months at the Hillheads track
when the company who started it all on Tyneside, (Tyneside Speedways Ltd)., went
into voluntary liquidation.
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Advert From Sunderland Echo |
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![](whitley%20bay%20advert%20in%20sunderland%20echo%201929.jpg) |
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![](aug203pleasure_gardens_whitley_bay.jpg) |
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View from the top of the old
water chute in the Spanish City amusement park in Whitley Bay
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I am
advised by Bob Grainger that, "It was rumoured that George Formby rode at
Whitley Bay in one event." Quite likely Bob, I have read somewhere that
George was a keen motorcyclist and owned a JAP engined Brough Superior. Anyone care to browse the George Formby
sites to see if it is mentioned? "It's turned out nice again, oh me, oh
my!" |
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![](george_formby.jpg) |
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Colin
Greenwell of Middlesborough informs us that George Formby was interested
in speedway. He visited Preston speedway a few times and in either the
late 1920's or early 1930's he had a race against Frank Chiswell a Preston
rider. George was given a lap start and won by a few yards! In later years he
used to support Fleetwood. |
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![Meeting 18th May 1929](wbay%20programme.jpg) |
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Racing at
Hillheads did not have the benefit of track lights so meetings were arranged for
afternoons only Saturday and Wednesday at 3.00pm. The opening meeting
attracted a crowd of 4,000 but the second meeting on a bitter cold day, was
poorly supported and the Wednesday afternoon meetings were soon done away with.
The largest crowd that I know of was around 8,000 over the Whit holiday weekend.
However, the same promoters intended making a go of the Newcastle Gosforth venue and the
close proximity of the two tracks signaled the end for Whitley Bay. |
Hillheads
is now the home of Whitley Bay FC who unfortunately, were unable to supply me
with a hoped for picture old enough to show us a glimpse of the track around
their pitch. |
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I have
been advised by Bruce Haagensen of the
following: -
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Whilst you are correct about the
location you are incorrect about the current situation. Whitley Bay FC is in a
different place and never had a speedway track round the pitch. However the
rugby club is still there and particularly in the summer when the weather has
been hot and dry you can still see the outline of where the track used to be. This is
particularly clear when standing on the banking which surrounds the first team
pitch. |
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Thank you Bruce, maybe someday I will get to Hillheads Rugby Ground on a hot
dry day and take a picture of the area around the pitch or maybe you can get one
to put on this page?
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![](wbay%20map.jpg) |
Courtesy of Richard Houghton |
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Richard may have found the tracks location? If the oval
outline isn't the speedway track then what is it? |
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![](wbay%20now.jpg) |
Courtesy of John Spoor
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![](wbay%20rfc.jpg) |
Courtesy of John Spoor
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I paid Whitley Bay a visit and got to see both WBFC's ground at Hillheads
and WBRFC's at Rockliffe also just off Hillheads. I asked both sets
of grounds men etc if they knew about dirt track racing that was operating
from one of these grounds back in 1929 but was met by blank looks and "no
definitely not speedway here no way"! |
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![](whitley%20bay%20photos%20from%20sunderland%20echo.jpg) |
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Not many photos exist of Whitley Bay Speedway but here we
have some action from the track in 1929. The pictures are courtesy
of the Sunderland Echo. On the left
shows a push start which was common at the time. |
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Bruce Haagensen says: Hi John, You will
recall I wrote to clarify the site of Whitley Bay Speedway at Rockcliff
Rugby Club. With the dry weather July 2018 the old track is more
visible and unfortunately they are currently installing an all weather
rugby pitch which has gone over part of the old track. However it is
possible to make out the two bends and one straight with a drive off
strip across one bend for the grader presumably. |
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![](whitley%20bay%20ariel%20shot%201.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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![](whitley%20bay%20pic%201.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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![](whitley%20bay%20pic%202.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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![](whitley%20bay%20pic%203.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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![](whitley%20bay%20pic%205.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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Whitley Bay Flyer |
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![](whitley%20bay%20flyer.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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![](whitley%20bay%20newspaper%20report.jpg) |
Courtesy of Bruce Haagensen |
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The northeast of England came up with 3 venues
in 1929. Newcastle's Brough Park, Newcastle Gosforth and seaside
town Whitley Bay. Such a shame that the 3 venues had all folded by
1930/31 with only the Brough Park venue making a comeback |
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Not much received yet on this
Whitley Bay
track, so If you can scan any pictures, programmes or badges send
me an email John |
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The contents of the site are © and should not be
reproduced elsewhere for financial gain. The contributors to this site
gave the pictures and information on that understanding. If anyone has
any issue or objections to any items on the site please
e-mail
and I will amend or remove the item. Where possible credit
has been given to the owner of each item. |