Hastings Saxons

Hastings Saxons were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated for two years between 1948 and 1949 at the Pilot Field in Hastings.[1][2]

Hastings Saxons
Club information
Track addressThe Pilot Field
Elphinstone Road
Hastings
East Sussex
CountryEngland
Founded1948
Closed1949
Team managerCharles Dugard
Club facts
ColoursRed and White
Track size388 yards (355 m)
Track record time71.0 seconds
Track record date1948
Track record holderWally Green

History
View of the Pilot Field hosting Speedway

At the end of 1947, the Eastbourne Eagles were forced to close down due to a petrol ban enforced at their Arlington Stadium. They decided to transfer their team to Hastings and at the beginning of 1948 the Speedway Control Board granted a licence to Hastings to stage speedway. They entered the National League Division Three under the management of ex-Wimbledon rider Charles Dugard. In their first meeting at their track at Pilot Field, approximately 5,000 people saw Hastings beat Stoke 44–39.[3]

Hastings finished the 1948 league season in a mid table position in sixth place.[4] They completed the 1949 season in a similar mid table position (8th).[5][6] At the end of 1949, Hastings were forced to close after a group residents living near to the track took legal action to prevent further racing. The residents claimed that the noise from the speedway motorcycles was a public nuisance.[7]

Notable riders were Jock Grierson, Ken Middleditch and Wally Green, who went on to race for West Ham in the First Division and was runner up in the 1950 World Final. The Pilot Field is still in use by football team Hastings United.

Season summary
Year and league Position Notes
1948 Speedway National League Division Three6th
1949 Speedway National League Division Three8th

References
  1. Jacobs, Norman (2006). 75 Years of Eastbourne Speedway. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-3751-8.
  2. "Hastings Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. "The early days". Hastings Saxons Speedway. 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  4. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  5. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  6. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  7. "Closure". Hastings Saxons Speedway. 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
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