Preston

Preston's speedway was staged at only one circuit. Farringdon Park, New Hall Lane Preston Lancs. Speedway racing began in 1929 and ceased in 1932 so you would have to be pretty long in the tooth to remember the Preston team.

Here we have the 1930 team: Tom Price, Jack Chiswell, Joe Abbot, George Reynard, Claude Rye, Ham Burrill, capt

There was a new interest for the people of Preston - came the Speedway - motor cycle track racing. The track was at the Grasshoppers Rugby ground, situated at the top of Broclholes Brow, opposite the Royal Cross School for the Deaf. The rugby ground was in the centre and the dirt track around the outer perimeter. The riders were stars like Joe Abbot styled The Cock of the North, Ham Burrell, Broadside Burton, Tommy Price, who I think got killed whilst racing there, Frank Varey and The Chiswell Brothers. They raced on Saturday nights but practised on Thursday evenings and you could go and watch for nothing. Therefore every Thursday evening we all trotted up New Hall Lane to watch our idols belting round the track throwing up a cascade of cinders in their wake. When Whit Fair was on at Preston, you could see them having a go on the Wall of Death, occasionally they would pander to our whims and sign autographs. I got two off Ham Burrell and traded on for eightpence off Billie Shaw. I don't know where he got his money from because they were not well off. I could hear the roar of the bikes in bed, we had to leave before practise finished as we had to be in bed by eight o' clock. Sadly the Speedway did not create enough interest, money wise, and after a few seasons the speedway track was closed.

My late father used to tell me about Preston Speedway and his favourite rider, Ham Burrell. Our namesake, although no relation. He told me that Ham rode with a piece of tyre strapped to his left knee, and cornered on that. My late father in law lived on Oxley Road North, which backs on to the old track, I believe.
John Burrell
Space Shuttle Engineer
New Orleans