Dick Smythe
Born17 August 1907 (1907-08-17)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died27 February 1967(1967-02-27) (aged 59)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1931–1932Stamford Bridge
1935Wembley
1936–1937Harringay
Team honours
1932National Association Trophy

Richard Charles Smythe (17 August 1907 – 27 February 1967) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He would earn ten Australia national speedway team international caps.[1][2]

Career

Smythe a former jockey and butcher's roundsman[3] was an early pioneer speedway rider in Australia and the United Kingdom.[4] He first arrived in the UK during 1928 and rode in various exhibition matches.[5] He returned to Australia for 1929 and 1930 and won the 1930 Golden Sash and First Division handicap during 1930.[6]

His first taste of league speedway in Britain was for the Stamford Bridge Pensioners, when he joined the London club for the 1931 Speedway Southern League season.[7] On the formation of the National League in 1932, he was retained by the Pensioners and won the National Association Trophy with them.[1]

Smythe spent 1933 and 1934 in his native Australia before being signed by Wembley Lions for the 1935 Speedway National League.[8] The following season he moved clubs after joining Harringay Tigers, his 1936 season was ended following a crash in which Smythe suffered spinal injuries.[9] His last season in Britain was in 1937, again with Harringay.[1][7]

Players cigarette cards

Smythe is listed as number 42 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Dicky Smythe" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Dicky Smythe". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "the Bridge". Gus Kuhn. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Dirt Tracks and Democracy". Derby Daily Telegraph. 17 August 1928. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Crystal Palace Speedway". Reynolds's Newspaper. 29 July 1928. Retrieved 5 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Smythe scores again". Sunday Mail Brisbane. 19 January 1930. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Crystal Palace Speedway". Daily News (London). 26 January 1935. Retrieved 5 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "Speedway rider badly hurt". The Courier-Mail Brisbane. 20 July 1936. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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