Home Historical results Links Info/downloads Unidentified teams & riders: can you help? Site news

Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages

London South West: South London Rangers

About the team.

Team founded in 1951 by Derek Bacon, John Whittaker & Ron Webb, all ex Shaftsbury Stars riders. A dispute within the Stars club led to these three riders breaking away and forming the South London Club.

First ever match was away to St Helier Saints, which they lost by 41 points to 55.

1st Track on a bomb site in Winstanley Road, Battersea.

2nd Track at Falcon Terrace, Clapham Junction SW11. When they lost this, they moved in with Tooting Tigers, sharing the new track in Garratt Park(built 1955).

Track Address: Garrett Park, Garrett Lane, off Siward Road, Tooting, London SW17.

Track Dimensions: 59metres x 19ft, shale surface(1978).

Club Colours: Red/White/Black.

Raced in Southern Premier League 1953/54.

Club President:  Winifred Atwell(1950s).

Club Vice President:  Sir Hugh Linstead OBE. MP(1950s).

Club Chairman:  Derek A. Bacon, 4 Bramford Road, Wandsworth SW18.

Club Vice Chairman:  Mr D.C. Grover.

Club Secretary: R. Hunt, 282 Wandsworth Road, Fulham SW6.

Club Manager: D.A. Bacon(1960s).

Club Secretary:  J.R. Whittaker, 24 Kingsley Street, Battersea SW11(1960s).

Team Manager: Roy Baker(1960s).

Team Manager: E.P. Litt(1964).

Club Secretary: Gordon Parkhouse(resigned 1973).

Club Secretary: John Benfield, 6 Patten Road, London SW18(1978).

Club Manager: J. Major(1978).

Club Honoury Treasurer:  E.C. Dignum.

Team Manager:  Mr T. Nouch.

Team Manager: Karl Chapman(1972-73)

Team Manager 1970s: John Benfield.

Affiliated to the British Cycle Speedway Federation.

Raced in the British League.

Interesting Item.

Bryan Wood was European Boxing Champion for three years on the trot. First as a Light Middleweight, then twice as Middleweight.

David Wilson also played ice hockey for the Streatham 1st Team, alongside both British & Canadian Internationals.

Individual Honours.

1956 Bryan Wood won the British Individual Championship at Garratt Park, London, runner-up Dixie Dean, 3rd Ray Coward(Gem Pirates).

1958 Roy Baker won the Southern Premier League Individual, runner-up Geoff Penniket(Raynes Park).

1958 Roy Baker(12) won the Middlesex Grand Prix, 2nd Dixie Dean (Wembley All Stars) after a run-off with with Pete Blackwell(Kingstanding Monarchs), both scoring 11 points.

1960 Roy Baker won the English League Riders Championship(The Britannia Shield), runner up Les Westwood(Edmonton), 3rd Paul Bowden(Edmonton).

1961 Roy Baker won the English League Riders Championship(The Britannia Shield), runner up Les Westwood(Edmonton), 3rd Ray Chivers(S/London).

1961 Roy Baker(13) won the Roden Trophy, runner up was Ted Cracknell(12), after a run-off with Harry Glover(Leicester). Ted Cracknell suffered an exclusion in one of the early heats.

1961 Roy Baker & Ray Chivers won the British League Best Pairs Championship at Tottenham by just the one point. Runners up were the former champions Les Westwood & Paul Bowden, 3rd being Len Adams & Malcolm Reading.

1963 Ray Chivers won the British Riders Championship, runner up Ted Cracknell(S/London), 3rd Wally Dighton(Beckenham).

1963 Ray Chivers won the Thurrock Carnival Cup.

1964 Ray Chivers(12) won the Pride of the Midlands, runner-up was Ken Adams(11) of Leicester Monarchs, 3rd was John Cobbin(10) of Tottenham Kangaroos.

1964 Ray Chivers(14) won the Thurrock Carnival Cup, runner-up was Mike Parkins(12) of Norwich Stars, 3rd was Ken Adcock(11.5) also of Norwich Stars.

1969 Kelvin Wilson won the English League Riders Championship, runner up Dave Collins(Tottenham), 3rd Vic Haines(Tottenham).

Team Honours.

1952 won the South London League.

1953 & 1954 came runners-up in the Southern Premier League Div 1.

1959 English League "Gold Cup" winners, beating Tooting 62-45 at Edmonton.

1961 were the first winners of BCSF Spring Cup, beating Edmonton in the final at Garratt Park 49-47. In a pulsating last heat decider, World Champion Les Westwood fell whilst challenging for the lead, and was unable to continue. With his team mate Paul Bowden already out of the race, this resulted in a 5-0 win for the Baker/Chivers pairing.

1963 English League Gold Cup runners-up, being beaten by Hellingly 57-50 at Bournemouth.

1964 English League Champions(36 points), runners up Leicester Monarchs(32 points), 3rd Horspath Hammers(30 points).

1964 English League "Gold Cup" winners, beating Horspath Hammers 62 - 48 at Leicester. Presentation of the Tropphy was made by Ken McKinlay(International Speedway Rider).

1963-4-5 British League Champions,

Club Honours.

The 1956 British Senior Individual Final was staged at Garratt Park. The Referee was Mr Fred Bennett(Hampshire). The winner was Bryan Wood(South London) with 13 points, runner-up was Dixie Dean(Wembley) on 12 points, and 3rd was Ray Coward(Gem-Dorset) with 11 points. Other scorers: Ron Bridges(Melton-Suffolk) 10, Ewie Edwards(Birmingham) 9, Brian Moston(Carrs Wood) 9, Paul Murden(Tolworth) 9, Terry Potter(Wroughton) 9, Sid Tomlyn(Longbridge) 8, Les Westwood(Edmonton) 8, Rob Cooper(Belgrave) 7, Jimmy Riley(Weston) 6, Eric Buckingham(Drayton) 3, Rex Smith(Hungerford) 2, Les Trewin(Southampton) 2, Keith Bass(Offerton) 1.

Plus the World Final in 1960.

Interesting Facts.

On Wednesday 21st July 1965 South London entertained a Holland Touring Team, the result being a 63 - 45 win for South London. Scorers. SOUTH LONDON: Ray Chivers 15, Dave Chivers 12, Ted Cracknell 11, Roy Baker 10, Ray Foy 8, Ken Dare 7. HOLLAND: Johan Koudijs 15, Fred van den Dolder 11, Donald Reiche 9, Herman van Boeyan 4, Anton Kok 3, Freek van der Wilt 3.

Speedway Riders:

Ivan Mauger(six times World Champion) rode for Newcastle - Exeter - Wimbledon - Belle Vue - Hull.

Riders

1950s - 60s.

  • Billy Ansley
  • Derek Bacon
  • Roy Baker
  • Brian "Brains" Barnard
  • Brian Barnes
  • A. Barnett
  • Graham Beresford
  • Pete Blackwell
  • D. Boller
  • F. Brett
  • .... Brewer
  • A. Broderick
  • Bob Brown
  • Keith Bryant
  • K. Burrage
  • Mike Butcher
  • Bernie Cable
  • Dave Chivers
  • Ray Chivers
  • Rob Coleman
  • Dave Collins
  • E. Cooper
  • Ted Cracknell
  • Danny Daniel(capt)
  • Ken Dare
  • George David
  • Tommy Davis
  • K. Dawson
  • Norman Dighton
  • Wally Dighton
  • Adrian Elkins
  • Peter Elliott
  • Arthur "Cat" Ellis
  • Dave Ellis
  • Ray Foy
  • Andy Fryet
  • Fred Gilbert
  • Martyn Gilbert
  • Ray Gingell
  • Terry Grant
  • W. Harrison
  • Steve Hibbert
  • Alan Hodgson
  • Jimmy Hone
  • H. Humphries
  • Dave Hutton
  • Rick James
  • Ron Jarvis
  • Gary Lawrence
  • Ian Lawrence
  • Len Lawson
  • Paul Leeson
  • Ivan Mauger
  • .... Merritt
  • .... Mills
  • G. Milton
  • Peter Milton
  • Dave Morris
  • Peter Oliver
  • Steve Parnham
  • Jeff Pennicut
  • Terry Pope
  • P. Price
  • J. Pulham
  • Malcolm Redpath
  • Bob Rolfe
  • D. Shadbolt
  • Johnny Shillibeer
  • K. Smee
  • Jeff Smith
  • Mike Smith
  • Ron Smith
  • Ray Soteris
  • Graham Sutton
  • Fred Sweet
  • Dave Taylor
  • Don Taylor
  • Robin Voller
  • Gerry Watkins
  • Ron Webb(capt)
  • John Whittaker
  • Kelvin Wilson(capt)
  • Peter Wilton
  • Bryan Wood
  • Colin Wood
  • Stan Woodley
  • Trevor Woodley

1970s/80s.

  • Russel Ashdown
  • Chris Bartlett
  • John Benfield
  • Tony Birch
  • Adrian Blackmore
  • Peter Bliss
  • David Bragg
  • Terry Campbell
  • Mark Champkin
  • Graeme "Zoomer" Coombs
  • Chris Cummings
  • Steve Donovan
  • Les Elliott
  • Martin Elliott
  • Peter Elliott
  • P. Fennell
  • Gavin Ford
  • Terry Giddings
  • Fred Gilbert
  • Martyn Gilbert
  • Mick Gillett
  • Martin Guy
  • John Hayden
  • Steve Hibbett
  • Dave Hutton
  • Mark Kassell
  • Gary Lawrence
  • Ian Lawrence
  • Lee Lawrence
  • Paul Leasson
  • Bob Lewis
  • John Major
  • John Mather
  • K. Perevra
  • Roy Phipps
  • John Picket
  • Gary Price
  • Dave Probert
  • Chris 'Mad-Dog' Pullen(1974-77)
  • Chris Rosam
  • S. Sanson
  • Wayne Segice
  • Phil Stepp
  • Terry Stepp
  • Colin Turvill
  • Gerry Watkins
  • Dave Wilson
  • Kelvin Wilson(capt)