Leo McAuliffe
| Born | 16 December 1933 Clydach, Swansea[1] |
|---|---|
| Died | 13 December 2017 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | British (Welsh) |
| Career history | |
| 1956-1957 | Eastbourne Eagles |
| 1957 | Birmingham Brummies |
| 1957 | Bradford Tudors |
| 1957 | Southern Rovers |
| 1958 | Southampton Saints |
| 1959, 1964 | Swindon Robins |
| 1960–1961 | New Cross Rangers |
| 1962–1964 | Wimbledon Dons |
| 1965 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1965 | Cradley Heathens |
| 1967–1969 | Oxford Cheetahs |
| Individual honours | |
| 1963 | Speedway World Championship finalist |
| 1956, 1957 | Southern Area League Riders' Championship |
| Team honours | |
| 1962 | National Trophy winner |
| 1962 | National League KO Cup winner |
| 1957 | Southern Area League |
Leo Peter McAuliffe (16 December 1933 – 13 December 2017) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from Wales.[2] He earned one international cap for the Great Britain national speedway team.[3]
Biography
[edit]McAuliffe was born in 1933 in the village of Clydach near Swansea. In 1948, he moved to Pontardawe and appeared in court following a motorcycle offence where the magistrate suggested that he find an appropriate place for his motorcycling. After moving to London he began training at Rye House and gained his first contract with Eastbourne Eagles.
McAuliffe won the Southern Area League Riders' Championship, held at Rye House Stadium on 30 September 1956.[4]
Later, he became a protege of fellow Welshman Freddie Williams[1] and went on to ride in the top tier of British Speedway for various clubs.[5] He joined Oxford Cheetahs in 1967.[6]
His greatest moment came when he reached the final of the Speedway World Championship in the 1963 Individual Speedway World Championship.[7] He was capped by Great Britain just once.[8]
World final appearances
[edit]Individual World Championship
[edit]- 1963 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 7pts
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Court find a new Speed rider". Western Mail. 8 November 1957. Retrieved 8 July 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL - RIDER INDEX". British Speedway. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Surprises at the last speedway meeting". Eastbourne Gazette. 10 October 1956. Retrieved 10 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "James Bond to ride at Brafield". Peterborough Evening Telegraph. 4 May 1967. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "World Speedway finals" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- 1933 births
- 2017 deaths
- British speedway riders
- Welsh speedway riders
- Welsh motorcycle racers
- Birmingham Brummies riders
- Belle Vue Aces riders
- Cradley Heathens riders
- Eastbourne Eagles riders
- New Cross Rangers riders
- Oxford Cheetahs riders
- Rayleigh Rockets riders
- Southampton Saints riders
- Swindon Robins riders
- Wimbledon Dons riders