Dick Campbell
Born5 June 1923 (1923-06-05)
Christchurch, New Zealand
DiedNovember 1990(1990-11-00) (aged 67)
NationalityNew Zealander
Career history
1947Belle Vue
1947Sheffield
1948–1962Edinburgh
1954Ipswich

Richard Challiner Campbell (5 June 1923 – November 1990) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from New Zealand. He earned 6 international caps for the New Zealand national speedway team.[1][2]

Biography

Campbell, born in Christchurch, New Zealand was a stunt rider on the 'wall of death' at fairgrounds and raced cars in South Africa[3] before he travelled to Britain to begin his British leagues career riding for Belle Vue Aces during the 1947 Speedway National League season.[4] He initially struggled and finished the season with the Sheffield Tigers in division 2.

In 1948, he signed for Edinburgh Monarchs and would spend nine seasons with the club, spanning the years 1948 to 1962 and becoming one of Edinburgh's most legendary riders. He averaged 9.87 in 1954.[5]

He regularly reached the Championship round of the Speedway World Championship during the 1950s and his only season away from Edinburgh was when they withdrew from the league in 1954, forcing him to see out the season at Ipswich Witches.[6]

He decided to race cars again in New Zealand from 1955 to 1960[7] but returned to Britain for two more seasons at Edinburgh from 1961 to 1962, topping the team's averages in 1961.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Dick Campbell". 500 race. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Dick Campbell is name to note". Manchester Evening News. 9 October 1947. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "1947 season". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Dick Campbell determined to fulfil ambition". Edinburgh Evening News. 23 August 1956. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Monarchs may sign Australian speedway rider". Edinburgh Evening News. 12 January 1961. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.


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