Post by speedyguy on Jan 26, 2016 11:01:56 GMT
I have across the interesting item about the long-speedway serving Australian rider Steve Langton, sent to me by speedway historian Tony Webb. Does any BSF member remember Steve Langton?
::::::
--- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "WebbT" <binbooks@...> wrote:
I do not have a date of death for steve langton,it would have been around 1975
.
By TONY WEBB
Steve Langton Speedway Pioneer and Gold prospector
Steve Langton. One of the pioneer Australians had a long racing career from 1928 –1953. Born in Gowrie mining camp between Oakey and Toowoomba Queensland 3-9-1909. H
is father was named as Joseph Steven, miner, and his mother Nellie Gertrude nee Mason. Steve first rode at Toowoomba Showground 1928/29 where he met up with Tiger Hart. He went to UK 1930 with Tiger and raced at Portsmouth. Joined Lea Bridge and Southampton in 1931.The following year he moved to Clapton .
Returned to Australia with the Johnnie Hoskins Australian team 1932/33 Rode in first test [unofficial] in Perth 10/12/1932. 1 point and 7th test at the Sydney Showground 11/3/1933 scoring 4 points. Returned to Brisbane for remainder of the 1933 season. Steve was reported as importing a Scott Squirrel speedway machine to Queensland in 1931
Returned to England 1934 after missing 1933 season and joined Lea Bridge again, they were taken over by Walthamstow mid season where he remained until the end the season Returned to Australia for the 1936/7 season and rode in one test match in Sydney 12/12/1936 but failed to score. Joined Birmingham in 1937 and 1938 seasons.
Enlisted in 2/4 Australian Armed Regiment as number NX422650 in NSW on August 12 1941, rose to rank of Warrant Officer class 2 and was discharged on December 21 1945.
Returned to England in 1947 and joined Tamworth Hounds where his old mate Tiger Hart was the team manager, he stayed with the Hounds for 3 seasons. Steve's last club was Southampton Saints in 1950. Rode a total of 11 seasons total in England, the best year was 1949 .
He had ridden in Brisbane for the 1948/49 season winning the Vic Huxley points score. Selected for Australian team in Brisbane on 2/2 1952 at the age of 43 he was one of the oldest riders in an International match.
Sold his bike to Keith Blicharski of Toowoomba and retired in 1953. Raced for 9 British clubs in a 23 year career.
Gold prospecting was his hobby it was said he always carried a gold nugget which he considered to be an insurance against hard times. The Langton/ McCafferty family ran a bus service from Toowooomba to Gympie, on his retirement from racing Steve set up a service station which was a logical location for the buses. at Woombye off the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane.
His cousin George Stephen langton [b.22/10/1910] ran a mechanical workshop nearby. Steve prospected and around the Gympie area often going bush for long periods. He always bought his supplies at the same local store. Steve moved to Victoria after his first wife Constance passed away. Steve died at Gaffneys Creek Ballarat Victoria.
Another story was that Constance always carried a port which contained all the programs and press cuttings of Steve's speedway events.
Steve had a nephew, Bonnie, son of cousin George, who rode at the Exhibition grounds 1950-1956.
Legend has that Steve's ancestor Stephen Langton was a signatory to the Magna Charter in 1215. As will be noted the Christian name Stephen was carried by the male line to the present day. A nightmare for researchers, however Steve's nephew Bonnie chose to ride under his name of Bonnie therefore breaking a tradition.
1930 Portsmouth Open meets
1931 Lea Bridge
1931 Southamptn 10-24-2.4 Southern L.
1932 Clapton 13-28-2.3 NL
1934-35 Wal/Lea B. 12-3 NL
1937 Nottingham 5-14- 2.80
1937 Birmingham 11-80-7.27
1938 Birmingham 13-102- 7.8
1947 Tamworth 209
1948 Tamworth 45-277-6-15
1949 Tamworth 22-227-5.95
1950 Southamptn 28-162-5.78
1932/33 Australia England 2-5 PER. SYD
1936/37 Australia England 1-0 SYD
1951/52 Australia England 1-0 BNE
1937 Australia England 1-6 Birmingham
::::::
--- In oldtimespeedway@yahoogroups.com, "WebbT" <binbooks@...> wrote:
I do not have a date of death for steve langton,it would have been around 1975
.
By TONY WEBB
Steve Langton Speedway Pioneer and Gold prospector
Steve Langton. One of the pioneer Australians had a long racing career from 1928 –1953. Born in Gowrie mining camp between Oakey and Toowoomba Queensland 3-9-1909. H
is father was named as Joseph Steven, miner, and his mother Nellie Gertrude nee Mason. Steve first rode at Toowoomba Showground 1928/29 where he met up with Tiger Hart. He went to UK 1930 with Tiger and raced at Portsmouth. Joined Lea Bridge and Southampton in 1931.The following year he moved to Clapton .
Returned to Australia with the Johnnie Hoskins Australian team 1932/33 Rode in first test [unofficial] in Perth 10/12/1932. 1 point and 7th test at the Sydney Showground 11/3/1933 scoring 4 points. Returned to Brisbane for remainder of the 1933 season. Steve was reported as importing a Scott Squirrel speedway machine to Queensland in 1931
Returned to England 1934 after missing 1933 season and joined Lea Bridge again, they were taken over by Walthamstow mid season where he remained until the end the season Returned to Australia for the 1936/7 season and rode in one test match in Sydney 12/12/1936 but failed to score. Joined Birmingham in 1937 and 1938 seasons.
Enlisted in 2/4 Australian Armed Regiment as number NX422650 in NSW on August 12 1941, rose to rank of Warrant Officer class 2 and was discharged on December 21 1945.
Returned to England in 1947 and joined Tamworth Hounds where his old mate Tiger Hart was the team manager, he stayed with the Hounds for 3 seasons. Steve's last club was Southampton Saints in 1950. Rode a total of 11 seasons total in England, the best year was 1949 .
He had ridden in Brisbane for the 1948/49 season winning the Vic Huxley points score. Selected for Australian team in Brisbane on 2/2 1952 at the age of 43 he was one of the oldest riders in an International match.
Sold his bike to Keith Blicharski of Toowoomba and retired in 1953. Raced for 9 British clubs in a 23 year career.
Gold prospecting was his hobby it was said he always carried a gold nugget which he considered to be an insurance against hard times. The Langton/ McCafferty family ran a bus service from Toowooomba to Gympie, on his retirement from racing Steve set up a service station which was a logical location for the buses. at Woombye off the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane.
His cousin George Stephen langton [b.22/10/1910] ran a mechanical workshop nearby. Steve prospected and around the Gympie area often going bush for long periods. He always bought his supplies at the same local store. Steve moved to Victoria after his first wife Constance passed away. Steve died at Gaffneys Creek Ballarat Victoria.
Another story was that Constance always carried a port which contained all the programs and press cuttings of Steve's speedway events.
Steve had a nephew, Bonnie, son of cousin George, who rode at the Exhibition grounds 1950-1956.
Legend has that Steve's ancestor Stephen Langton was a signatory to the Magna Charter in 1215. As will be noted the Christian name Stephen was carried by the male line to the present day. A nightmare for researchers, however Steve's nephew Bonnie chose to ride under his name of Bonnie therefore breaking a tradition.
1930 Portsmouth Open meets
1931 Lea Bridge
1931 Southamptn 10-24-2.4 Southern L.
1932 Clapton 13-28-2.3 NL
1934-35 Wal/Lea B. 12-3 NL
1937 Nottingham 5-14- 2.80
1937 Birmingham 11-80-7.27
1938 Birmingham 13-102- 7.8
1947 Tamworth 209
1948 Tamworth 45-277-6-15
1949 Tamworth 22-227-5.95
1950 Southamptn 28-162-5.78
1932/33 Australia England 2-5 PER. SYD
1936/37 Australia England 1-0 SYD
1951/52 Australia England 1-0 BNE
1937 Australia England 1-6 Birmingham