PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The track cost £30,000, took six months to build and won unstinting praise. The Managing Director was Mr Jack Andrew and the Racing Manager was Mr J A Chapman. The first race was won by "Tabiffa", owned by Miss Wynter. But the new stadium had competition because at Beacon Park, near the Albion Ground, on the same day, Princess Motors, Mr H Wilson and secretary, Mr G Shobrook, organised the Plymouth Greyhound Races, for which the admission charges were only 2/4d or 1 shilling. On the previous Easter Saturday, April 7th 1928, they had organised the Plymouth Greyhound Races for the benefit of local hospitals at the Polo Ground opposite the George Hotel at Roborough. (This field subsequently became the City's aerodrome). On Saturday May 18th 1929 the Stadium reopened under new management who ran greyhound meetings every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. A full report of the first meeting appears in the "Western Morning News" dated Saturday May 11th 1929. Speedway started on Saturday June 13th 1931, under the auspices of Western Speedway Ltd. The chairman of the Company was Mr Percy Fletcher, a local car dealer. A crowd of some 6,000 watched the Plymouth team beat an Exeter team by 32 points to 21. However, Exeter beat the Plymouth team on their ground and thus won the first ever Devon Derby on aggregate.
Speedway racing in progress at
Pennycross The Plymouth team acquired the name of the "Tigers" and sported orange and white racing jackets. Unfortunately their initial success fell apart in 1934 and the crowds stayed away, causing the promoters to announce that racing would not be continued in 1935. However, racing did take place, under a new promoter, Mr Jack Colebach, and the first meeting on July 17th 1935 drew a crowd of some 4,000. He renamed the team the "Panthers" but kept the original colours. Although racing continued in 1937, albeit with only one meeting on May 12th, that was the last to be held there for a decade. After the rigours of the Second World War, Plymothians were eager for any sort of sporting action and so on Thursday April 24th 1947 speedway once again returned to Pennycross Stadium. There was even an opening ceremony conducted by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor W Harry Taylor. The promoter was Mr George "Jimmy" Baxter, whose Company, Southern Speedways Ltd, also ran events at Southampton. The Plymouth team was now christened the "Devils" and the new colours comprised a yellow racing jacket emblazoned with a red devil. In readiness for the 1949 season, a new track surface of powdered brick dust was laid. By the start of the 1951 season the stadium's owners, Plymouth Sports Stadium Ltd, had taken over running the speedway. Mr Fred Parr was their general manager. In 1952 the speedway club had 811 members. Racing continued until the end of the 1954 season, when it once again ceased. In 1954 greyhound racing took place every Wednesday at 7.30pm and stock car racing every Thursday at 7.45pm.
Speedway returned to Pennycross once again on Good Friday, March 27th 1959. Five meetings were run during that year by Western Promotions. There was a grand re-opening meeting, after the closed season, on Thursday September 8th 1960 when Plymouth ran against Bristol in front of a crowd of some 4,000. Admission was 4 shillings and 2/6d, with children 2/- and 1/-. The Plymouth team consisted of Alan Kidd, Ross Gilbertson, Norman Strachan and Tony Lewis. The result was a 36 points draw. At the stock car meeting at 8pm on Friday September 4th 1964, Mr W Frost was the promoter on behalf of the Plymouth Stock Car Association. The reminder of the team were: steward, Mr R J Stafford; time keeper, Mr W Pope; Clerk of the Course, Mr T Bromley; pit marshal, Mr R Moyse; commentator, Mr G Hambly; chief lap scorer, Miss P Glanville; lap scorer, Miss P Tamblin; scrutineer, Mr A Wood; medical officer, Doctor J Clark; and starter, Mr R Rowe. The recovery vehicle was provided by Messrs R E Leaves (Contractors) Ltd. The track measured 413 yards. As far as the speedway was concerned, attendance went from bad to worse. The last race was held on July 17th 1970. There had been only two fatalities at the Pennycross Stadium: Mr Noel Johnson, a popular Australian rider, in August 1931 and Mr Richard "Dick" Jenkins in May 1951, on his first appearance. Pennycross Stadium was demolished in 1972. It was the City Council's intention to build a new school for Sutton High to replace their outdated premises in Regent Street but that never came about and the site is now covered by a business park.
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