Gordon McGregor (speedway rider) explained

Gordon McGregor
Nationality:British (Scottish)
Birth Place:Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
Years1:1947–1950, 1967
Career1:Glasgow Tigers
Years2:1951–1954
Career2:Motherwell/Lanarkshire Eagles
Years3:1955–1956
Career3:Leicester Hunters
Years4:1957–1962
Career4:Oxford Cheetahs
Years5:1963–1966
Career5:Belle Vue Aces
Years6:1967
Career6:Long Eaton Archers
Years7:1969
Career7:King's Lynn Starlets
Years8:1970
Career8:Doncaster Dragons
Years9:1971
Career9:Birmingham Brummies
Teamyear1:1963
Teamhonour1:National League

James Ramsay Gordon McGregor (28 November 1921 – 29 September 2001) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Scotland.[1]

Career

McGregor started racing in the British leagues during the 1947 Speedway National League Division Two season, when riding for the Glasgow Tigers but struggled to achieve a decent average during the first two seasons with the club.[2]

During the 1949 season, he improved significantly,[3] almost doubling his average and in 1950 he helped his team finish runner-up in the league table. Despite a last successful season with the Tigers he switched to the Motherwell Eagles for the 1952 season.[2] He would spend the next four years in Motherwell (becoming captain) before asking for a transfer in 1954.[4] He moved south to join the Leicester Hunters for the 1955 Speedway National League Division Two season. During this period he was consistently averaging over 8 and was a heat leader for his team.[2]

In 1957, he rode for the first time in the highest league of British Speedway with the Oxford Cheetahs. The step up made little difference as he continued to impress as a heat leader and averaged 8.31 in 1959. After six years with Oxford, he still had no silverware to his name but this changed when he joined the Belle Vue Aces in 1963. In his first season with the Manchester club he was a league champion.[1] He remained with Belle Vue on the formation of the new British League in 1965.[5]

During this period McGregor was winning international caps and won 19 England national speedway team caps;[1] Scottish riders competed for England at the time.

After the 1967 season, he only made a handful of appearances over the next five years from 1967 to 1971, with the exception of a full season with Doncaster Dragons in 1970.[2] [1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, James Ramsay Gordon McGregor . British Speedway . 10 August 2023.
  2. Web site: Rider averages 1929 to 2009 . Speedway Researcher . 10 August 2023.
  3. News: At Last They Have Own Challanger . Daily Mirror . 24 May 1949 . 10 August 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  4. News: Eagles' riders shaped well in practice spins last week . Motherwell Times . 2 April 1954 . 10 August 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. Web site: Gordon McGregor . WWOS Backup . 10 August 2023.